Primary and Supporting Method for IFR – Table
This is a summary of the information contained in the detailed Primary and Supporting Method for IFR post.
Update: 2017-02-18 The FAA has decided that they will no longer ask questions on this method on the Instrument Rating Airplane (IRA) Knowledge Test.
Questions in the following topic areas have been deleted:
Designation of instruments as “primary” or “secondary” for aircraft control
| Maneuver | Primary | Supporting | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pitch | Bank | Power | Pitch | Bank | Power | |
| Straight and Level | Altimeter | Heading Indicator | Airspeed Indicator | Vertical Speed Indicator, Attitude Indicator |
Turn Coordinator Attitude Indicator |
Tach or MP |
| Standard-Rate Turn Establishing |
Altimeter | Attitude Indicator then Turn Coordinator |
Airspeed Indicator | Attitude Indicator Vertical Speed Indicator |
Turn Coordinator, Attitude Indicator |
Tach or MP |
| Standard-Rate Turn Turning |
Altimeter | Turn Coordinator | Airspeed Indicator | Vertical Speed Indicator Attitude Indicator |
Turn Coordinator, Attitude Indicator |
Tach or MP |
| Constant Speed Climb or Descent Entry |
Attitude Indicator | Heading Indicator | Tach or MP | Vertical Speed Indicator | Turn Coordinator Attitude Indicator |
Airspeed Indicator |
| Constant Speed Climb or Descent Stabilized |
Airspeed Indicator | Heading Indicator | Tach or MP | Vertical Speed Indicator | Turn Coordinator Attitude Indicator |
Airspeed Indicator |
| Constant Rate Climb or Descent Entry |
Attitude Indicator | Heading Indicator | Tach or MP | Vertical Speed Indicator | Turn Coordinator Attitude Indicator |
Airspeed Indicator |
| Constant Rate Climb or Descent Stabilized |
Vertical Speed Indicator | Heading Indicator | Airspeed Indicator | Attitude Indicator | Turn Coordinator Attitude Indicator |
Tach or MP |
| Changing Airspeed In Turns |
Altimeter | Turn Coordinator | Tach or MP, then Airspeed Indicator |
Vertical Speed Indicator, Attitude Indicator |
Attitude Indicator | |
The Attitude Indicator is the only instrument that instantly and directly portrays the actual flight attitude. It should always be used, when available, in establishing and maintaining pitch-and-bank attitudes.
The magnetic compass provides heading information and is considered a bank instrument when used with the heading indicator.