Page 34 - Volume 16 Number 5

Holding Procedures (Area III.C)Recovery From Unusual Flight Attitudes (Area IV.B)Intercepting and Tracking Navigation Systems and DME Arcs (Area V)Precision & Non-Precision Approaches (Area VI.A & B)Missed Approach (Area VI.C) Circling Approach (Area VI.D)Landing From a Straight-In or Circling Approach (Area VI.E)One Engine Inoperative During Straight-and-Level Flight and Turns (Area: VII.B)One Engine Inoperative – Instrument Approach (Area VII.C)Approach with Loss of Primary Flight Instrument Indications (aka: “Partial Panel”) (Area VII.D)Postflight Procedures (Area VIII)Within the above areas, specific performance standards are included for each task. Based on this, no IPC should include any real surprises and no standard you’re held to should be a mystery. If so, ask for a thorough explanation from your CFII and feel free to challenge the answer; that’s your right as the client. Your CFII should be creative enough to find ways to incorporate the required elements while keeping the IPC fresh and challenging.Random exclusion: the IPC’s missing linksI’ve given hundreds of IPCs over the years. In doing so, I generally look over the client’s logbook for evidence of their instrument activity in the preceding year and in previous IPCs. One of the things I see most is previous IPCs that were technically incomplete (judging by the list of maneuvers logged by theCFII). During or after the IPC, I often hear a client say, “I never had to do a (insert required maneuver) on an IPC before!” Nearly every IPC includes precision and non- precision approaches, at least one missed approach, and some amount of partial panel work, but, based on my investigations, all other required tasks are subject to random exclusion. Here are some thoughts on why I think that is:Holding Procedures: Depending on where you fly most, holds may be rarely, if ever, encountered. Therefore, holding practice and training often get set aside after acquiring the rating, despite the currency requirement regarding them. Regardless, holding proficiency is critical to safe instrument flying. Holds can be truly challenging, ATC can issue one anytime/anywhere, and one is included in nearly every published missed approach procedure.32 • TWIN & TURBINEMAY 2012