The IFR Emergency You Didn’t Train For

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When most pilots think about IFR emergencies, the mind immediately jumps to the big ones: engine failures, engine fires, pressurization issues—high-consequence events that dominate simulator sessions and recurrent training. We rehearse these scenarios repeatedly, building muscle memory and confidence that if something catastrophic happens, we’ll respond correctly. But in the real world, not every emergency announces itself with sirens and smoke.

Video Tip: Required IFR Reports

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Even in an era of advanced avionics and near-constant radar coverage, IFR flying still depends on clear, timely communication with ATC. Some reports are expected as part of the normal flow of a flight, but others are specifically required. In this video tip, we’ll break down the key IFR reports every pilot needs to know, including when to speak up, what to say, and how these calls help keep the system running safely and efficiently.

Why Advisory Glideslope +V Can Get You in Trouble

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On WAAS-equipped GPS units, many non-precision approaches (like LNAV or LP) will display LNAV+V or LP+V. That “+V” indicates advisory vertical guidance—an internally generated glidepath from the final approach fix (FAF) to the runway. It’s designed to help you fly a continuous descent final approach—a safer, more stabilized alternative to the old “dive and drive” technique. That’s the good news.

Try These New FAA Questions

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How well do you really know your instrument flying procedures? Here are 5 of the newest FAA-style questions, recently added to Sporty’s comprehensive online Instrument Rating Course. They’re designed to make you think like an IFR pilot—whether you’re prepping for a rating or just keeping your skills sharp.

Instrument Maneuver Spotlight: Intercepting and Tracking VOR Radials

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Whether you’re joining an airway, flying direct, or correcting for wind en route to the next fix, this maneuver is at the core of traditional IFR navigation. In this spotlight, we’ll break down how to properly tune and identify the VOR, set the desired radial, choose an appropriate intercept angle, and smoothly transition to accurate tracking

Practical IFR: Behold the Power of Uninterrupted Descents

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 “Descend and maintain” is such a staple of IFR communications…

Quiz: IFR Navigation

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Modern IFR flying relies heavily on GPS, but that doesn’t mean the fundamentals of IFR navigation have gone away. Between NOTAMs about GPS interference, legacy ground-based navaids, and the occasional ATC instruction that references victor airways or VOR radials, instrument pilots still need a solid understanding of how the entire navigation system works.

Airspace: Who Cares?

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Even when you’re flying IFR, airspace still matters. From hidden Class D boundaries to surprise speed limits and VFR traffic in Class G, staying aware of the airspace around you is key to safe instrument flying. In this article, professional pilot and instructor Elaine Kauh explains why.

Video: Understanding TEC Routes — Advanced IFR, by Pilot Workshops

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Follow along on this scenario-based IFR flight from Riverside, California (KRAL) to Long Beach (KLGB). The short, 20-minute flight presents immediate challenges as the workload is high from start to finish in the busy southern California airspace. The flight will utilize and explain a Tower Enroute Control (TEC) route which is an FAA program of standard routes that keep a flight solely within approach control airspace

The Go/No-Go Decision Isn’t Binary

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“Do I fly or not?” It’s a question that may seem simple in the comfort of your living room couch, but in truth, it’s rarely a single, definitive moment. Weather changes. Equipment issues appear. Fatigue creeps in. By the time you reach your destination, you’ve already made dozens of go/no-go decisions. Some of those may have been conscious decisions, but some are instinctive.