Ask an IFR Expert: What actually counts towards IFR currency?

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IFR currency seems simple on paper—six approaches every…

Quiz: IFR Arrivals and Departures

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Arrivals and departures are where IFR flying shifts from procedure memorization to real chart interpretation. This quiz challenges you to read SIDs and STARs the way they’re actually used—identifying transitions, understanding altitude requirements, and knowing what to do when things don’t go as planned. The answers are all on the chart, but only if you know where (and how) to look.

Practical IFR: Understanding the Transitions

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Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (KBZN) RNAV and ILS…

Video: IFR Cross-Country with Spencer Suderman

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Join CFI-I Spencer Suderman for a real-world IFR cross-country from Jacksonville to Daytona Beach, Florida, flown in a G1000-equipped Cessna 172. From preflight planning and filing in ForeFlight to copying a clearance, flying in the system, and executing an RNAV approach at the destination, this is a complete, end-to-end look at how everyday IFR flying actually works.

The Anti-PIC

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Staying IFR current doesn’t guarantee proficiency. This article explains how to flip the script—putting proficiency first so currency takes care of itself, without the stress of constant IPCs.

Icing: Awareness, Avoidance, and the IFR Pilot’s Escape Plan

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Icing isn’t subtle—and it isn’t forgiving. In this IFR Focus article, veteran CFII and safety advocate Parvez Dara explains how aircraft icing forms, why it remains one of the most dangerous threats to IFR pilots, and how quickly conditions can deteriorate in the wrong temperature band. Drawing on decades of experience, he walks through real-world encounters with rime and clear ice and outlines practical escape strategies.

A New Year, a Sharper Focus: Practical Strategies for Maintaining Instrument Proficiency

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January is a natural reset point for pilots. Logbooks flip to a new page and many of us quietly resolve to be better in the cockpit this year. For instrument pilots, that resolution often comes down to one word: proficiency.

Choosing the Best IFR Route — Advanced IFR, by PilotWorkshops

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Follow along on this scenario-based IFR route selection exercise as we plan a flight from Oceana, CA (L52) to Monterey, CA (KMRY) using ForeFlight Route Advisor.

Ask the IFR Expert: How Should I Adjust My Personal Minimums for Winter IFR Flying

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Most pilots think of personal minimums as static numbers, but winter is a reminder that they should be dynamic. Rather than simply raising ceilings and visibility across the board, start by identifying the risks winter uniquely adds—and then build buffers around them.

Instrument Maneuver Spotlight: Circling Approach Procedure

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Few instrument maneuvers require a smoother transition from procedures to judgment than the circling approach. In this spotlight, we’ll break down how to fly a circling approach safely and within standards—maintaining the correct circling altitude, managing wind and aircraft positioning, staying within protected airspace, and knowing exactly when it’s appropriate to leave MDA and descend for landing.