為了幫助我的教練的其他後進學生，我把IR考試口試的心得寫下來與他分享，也貼在這邊
給有興趣的同好參考。
Flight plan
===========
Prior to the exam day, DPE Grandpa asked me to plan for a trip from KAUS to
KNEW.
From aviationweather.gov, I checked METAR, TAF, Surface Analysis Chart, Radar
Summary Chart, Constant Pressure Chart, Wind Aloft Chart, G-AIRMET to figure
out weather conditions in the departure airport, destination, and enroute.
Given the weather conditions of the day we would have strong headwind from
the East, so the trip would require an extra fuel stop to be compliant with
IFR regs.
I created the flight plan with 2 legs:
1) KAUS -> KLCH : KAUS ILEXY2.JAYJO TNV V306 DAS V306 STRUT KLCH
2) KLCH -> KNEW : KLCH LCH.AWDAD1 VOODO HRV KNEW
I used ForeFlight and also TPP publication to figure out SID and STAR
normally used between these airports. Since I was given the condition that
GPS was acting up I made the plan using VOR navigation and Victor airways.
I plotted the course on IFR low-enroute chart, and created the IFR navigation
log, with WCA, MC, MH, CH, GS, GPH, ETE all computed.
Because the FAA has recommended all flight plan switch to ICAO format, I also
looked up how to use the ICAO flight plan format. The most important part is
to figure out Equipment Code.
The FAA has a page for that:
https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ato/service_units/systemops/fs/res_links/media/icao_flight_plan_filing.pdf
And there is a very good web page from ForeFlight teaching you how to do that
properly:
https://support.foreflight.com/hc/en-us/articles/360049193173-ICAO-Equipment-Guide
I find the page on ForeFlight even better than the one from the FAA.
I also computed weight and balance to ensure we are well within the normal
category envelope.
I also checked NOTAM, Known ATC delay on the FAA website.
I also checked runway lengths of the airports in the flight plan, made sure
they are well beyond the required takeoff/landing roll distance of Cessna
172S.
I also checked if there's any special obstacle departure procedures in the
TPP.
COVID-19 test
=============
At the early morning of the exam day, I went to an emergency room specified
by DPE Grandpa to take a COVID-19 test for pilots. It's a PCR test so it's
very accurate.
The test took about 45 minutes. It came back negative so we can commence the
exam.
Oral exam
=========
After verifying my ID and certificates and all the paperworks, DPE Grandpa
checked my knowledge test result and logged the questions I was wrong, and
began to quiz me.
We talked about when instrument rating is required, 6HITS, currency v
proficiency.
We also talked about the requirements of a safety pilot.
We talked about some weather, I explained what is stable and unstable air,
what is temperature inversion. I drew a diagram to explain what the lapse
rate looks like in an inversion layer, and I explained what kind of weather
we can expect within an inversion layer and at the boundary of an inversion
layer.
I briefly explained what gauges are driven by the pitot-static system, and
what are in the gyroscopic system. I also explained why the turn coordinator
is not driven by the engine vacuum pump. I also explain what the symptoms
would be should we encounter a vacuum system failure, and how we act.
I explained the different kinds of GPS minimums : LNAV, LNAV/VNAV, LP, LPV. I
also explained that to shoot an LP and an LPV approach we need a
WAAS-equipped GPS receiver, and how the WAAS system works.
DPE Grandpa checked my IFR flight plan, and gave me a simulated IFR
clearance. I copied and read back correctly. He then asked me to explain the
AWDAD1 STAR into KNEW. I brought up the chart and explained it to him. He
also asked me when can we descend from cruise altitude to the altitude
stipulated on the chart. I said when we are cleared "descend via" the arrival.
We brought up the low enroute chart, and he randomly picked several spots
asking me to explain what they are. We covered some
airports/fixes/navaids/SUAs. And I also explained how to identify a fix with
2 VOR receivers. He also asked me how the CDI needles are deflected before
reaching the fix.
He asked me about my personal minimums. I answered ceiling 1000' AGL, 3sm
visibility.
He then asked me what weather phenomenon, and what adverse conditions I might
anticipate flying above Lake Pontchartrain shooting an approach into KNEW. I
said given the weather condition of the day we should expect rain and fog. He
asked me what else, and do I have any experiences flying over water in a low
altitude. I said I have zero time flying over water yet. He told me we might
become spatially disoriented and I should be aware of that in the future.
We examined the maintenance logbooks of N12345. I showed him the most recent
annual inspection, VOR check, 100 hour inspection, pitot-static system check,
transponder check, ELT check.
We know EGT gauge is inop on N12345. I explained how we follow 91.213 to
determine can we legally fly IFR with an inop EGT:
- MEL? no MEL for N12345.
- day VFR? EGT is not required for day VFR.
- 91.205 kind of operation? EGT is not in ATOMATOFLAMES, FLAPS, GRABCARD.
- required equipment according to POH? we walked through the eqiupment list
of Cessna 172S POH. EGT is NOT a required device with suffix R.
- AD? I brought up the FAA AD webpage and loaded ADs for Cessna 172S. There
is nothing specific about EGT.
Therefore we can placard EGT gauge as inop and legally fly N12345 under IFR.
I also pointed out the maintenance entry in the airframe logbook.
He gave me a set of conditions (MTOW, 90F, dew 40F, 3014 altimeter) at KSEZ,
and asked me if we could fly OATES ONE ODP. After some computations, we can
barely meet the climb gradient, but just barely. Would it be another Cessna
with a smaller engine we might not be able to make the climb. He asked me
what should we do? I answered we'll wait for a lower temperature so the
density altitude becomes lower and we'd have better performance.
He said that's all for the oral exam and let's fly.
個人覺得口試的難易適中，比我教練噹我的一些問題要簡單許多:
- Explain attitude indicator self-erecting mechanism (pendulous vanes).
- Explain the mechanism how VOR radials are determined (phase difference
between reference and variable signals).
- Explain errors associated in the GPS system.
- Explain the differences of climb gradients between ODP/VCOA/DVA.