Practical IFR: Don’t Disable. Revert!

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What should you do when the autopilot fails to capture the glideslope or turns right when you expected left? You should disengage the autopilot and hand-fly, right? Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. Think about this objectively for a moment. Right at a critical moment in the approach, you’ve been hit with a surprise, so you double your workload by throwing out one of your best IFR tools. You do it right when a precise flying action is required.

Quiz: Preflight Planning an IFR Flight

There are many details to consider when planning a flight under Instrument Flight Rules. Mix in some inclement weather, and the workload increases exponentially. Answer all these questions correctly and prove you have the keys to unlock a successful IFR flight.

Ask an IFR Expert: LPV vs. ILS—Which Should You Fly in Low Weather?

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I see more and more approaches labeled LPV in the GPS database, but I’ve heard pilots talk about them as ‘GPS ILS equivalents.’ What exactly is an LPV approach, how is it different from an ILS, and why should I care as an instrument pilot?

Video Tip: How to Fly an LPV Approach with a Garmin GTN 650

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For many IFR pilots today, flying a GPS approach is second nature. Among the most capable options is the LPV approach, which offers ILS-like lateral and vertical guidance—but with far wider availability. Thanks to WAAS-enabled GPS, pilots can fly precision-style approaches at thousands of airports that don’t have an ILS installed.

Don’t Just Read the Notes—Use Them

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Picture this: you’re flying an ILS approach right down to the absolute minimums. At 200 feet above the ground, the only thing you can see are the approach lights flashing through the fog. You quickly run through FAR 91.175 in your head and remind yourself: yep, this means you’re allowed to keep going down to 100 feet above the touchdown zone.

Instrument Maneuver Spotlight: Instrument Takeoff

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When the weather’s down and the runway is disappearing into the clouds, you can’t rely on outside references to stay on centerline and maintain control. That’s where the instrument takeoff comes in. In this maneuver spotlight, we’ll break down the step-by-step technique for conducting a safe and precise instrument takeoff