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The FAA Safety Team sends emails from time to time that contain useful information for pilots. Unfortunately, they don’t seem to archive the information anywhere. This is Safety Tip: NOTC2917 Pilot altitude deviations often occur when flying a published departure or standard arrival procedure. Many procedures have published altitudes that ATC expects the pilot to [...]

I just stumbled upon the NFDC Preferred Routes Database at the Air Traffic Control System Command Center Website. If you plug in you departure and arrival airport, it gives you the preferred IFR route. This information is already contained in the A/FD but it is easier to access here. This is a sample output for [...]

This document covers the holding patterns that are on the FAA Instrument Knowledge Test.

Attitude Instrument Flying—Primary and Supporting Method The Instrument Flying Handbook is the source for the questions on the FAA Knowledge Test about the primary and supporting instrument method. Bold added for emphasis. Portions were left out. A summary of the Primary and Supporting Method in Tabular form is here. I used the 2001 version in [...]

This is a summary of the information contained in the detailed Primary and Supporting Method for IFR post. Primary and Supporting Method for Instrument Flying Maneuver Primary Supporting   Pitch Bank Power Pitch Bank Power Straight and Level Altimeter Heading Indicator Airspeed Indicator Vertical Speed Indicator,Attitude Indicator Turn CoordinatorAttitude Indicator Tach or MP Standard-Rate TurnEstablishing [...]

AIM 5-4-3.f Approach Control Visual Descent Points (VDPs) are being incorporated in nonprecision approach procedures. The VDP is a defined point on the final approach course of a nonprecision straight-in approach procedure from which normal descent from the MDA to the runway touchdown point may be commenced, provided visual reference required by 14 CFR Section [...]

AIM 5-4-7. Instrument Approach Procedures a. Aircraft approach category means a grouping of aircraft based on a speed of VREF, if specified, or if VREF is not specified, 1.3 VSO at the maximum certified landing weight. … A pilot must use the minima corresponding to the category determined during certification or higher. Helicopters may use [...]

FAR §91.175 (c) Operation below DA/ DH or MDA. Except as provided in paragraph (l) of this section, where a DA/DH or MDA is applicable, no pilot may operate an aircraft, except a military aircraft of the United States, below the authorized MDA or continue an approach below the authorized DA/DH unless— (1) The aircraft [...]