Ask a CFI: What to Do If You Lose Comms While IFR

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Losing communications in IMC is a rare but serious scenario that every instrument pilot should be prepared for. Fortunately, the FAA provides clear guidance in AIM 6-4-1 and §91.185, but interpreting and applying that information on the flight deck—especially under stress—can be confusing. In this installment of Ask a CFI, we’ll break it down and offer some practical tips along the way.

FAA Issues New Safety Alert on Risks of Visual Approaches

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The FAA recently issued a new Safety Alert for Operators (SAFO) 23004 to highlight operational risks associated with visual approaches. Released on April 2, 2025, this SAFO urges operators, flight departments, and training providers to take proactive steps in mitigating potential hazards during visual approaches—particularly as they relate to controlled flight into terrain (CFIT), loss of separation, and unstable approaches.

Basic attitude instrument flying – the foundation for IFR flight

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As the complete instrument pilot, you should be able to maintain heading, altitude, and airspeed at speeds ranging from cruise to approach. Within the normal speed range of an airplane, there are many combinations of power and pitch which will maintain altitude at different airspeeds.
Approaches

Mastering Approach Lighting Systems: Key Insights for IFR Pilots

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Approach lighting systems are critical during low ceiling and low visibility conditions when you must decide whether to continue to land or execute a missed approach. If when reaching the minimum descent altitude or decision altitude on the approach and you have the approach lights in sight, you are permitted to descend to 100 feet above the touchdown zone elevation published for the runway.

Video Tip: How to perform a self-weather briefing for an IFR flight

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The FAA encourages pilots to use the self-briefing technique when checking the weather before each flight. In this video, we'll highlight various sources of weather products you can use and how to ensure you always get a complete briefing.
Clearance

How to get an IFR clearance at a non-towered airport

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Flying a light airplane offers access to thousands more airports than the airlines serve, which means you can land closer to your destination, avoid long taxi routes, and save time. For an instrument pilot, though, there is one key difference between a smaller, non-towered airport and a larger one with an air traffic control tower: obtaining an IFR clearance.

How to Choose the Best Alternate Airport for Your IFR Flight: A Pilot’s Guide

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Keep an eye on the weather as you approach the destination, using both ADS-B datalink weather, and by tuning in the local ATIS/AWOS on the radio. If it looks like the weather will be near the minimums for the approach, it is time to start thinking about what the best alternate airport will be based on the current weather. If it still looks like the planned alternate is the best option, go for it.

How to prepare for instrument checkride day

Communication is key to the examiner understanding your thought process and decision making. Checkrides have plenty of emotion and pressure that will hopefully allow you to excel. Don’t bring unnecessary pressure or emotion to the flight by overreaching or trying to do too much. Fly like you’ve trained and be the PIC.

Webinar Video: How to Ace Your FAA Instrument Written

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The FAA Instrument Written is the source of plenty of angst and stress for IFR pilots. But not to worry as this webinar presentation we'll show you how to use reliable study methods and advanced learning features within Sporty's Instrument Rating Course, including Aviation Intelligence℠ (AI).

An actual instrument approach to minimums

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During your instrument training, you routinely fly instrument approach procedures to “minimums” under simulated conditions. The more likely scenario when flying under instrument flight rules (IFR) is the option to complete the flight under visual flight rules (VFR), flying a visual approach procedure, or flying an instrument procedure in which you acquire the runway visually well above the charted “minimums.”