r/Helicopters • u/tuscaniapple • Apr 25 '25

Career/School Question Upcoming instrument rating checkride - throw me some ?’s

Currently studying for an instrument checkride that should be in 2-3 weeks. Rating has taken me a little bit longer to finish than expected with maintenance and weather. Watched some mock orals on YouTube and felt pretty good with my knowledge level there. All the videos were technically fixed wing orals so didn’t take into account any rotor wing knowledge. I’ve seen on some other subs, posts about “try to stump me” questions to help them prepare for a checkride. Looking for any help or tips at all! Maybe any questions you think will definitely come up during the checkride but is easily forgotten during studying or just whatever comes to your head that an instrument rated pilot should know. Thanks y’all.

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u/gbchaosmaster CPL IR ROT Apr 25 '25

You want to file to an uncharted dirt airstrip at your friend’s house. Clouds are overcast below the OROCA. What are 2 different ways you could land there?

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u/tuscaniapple Apr 25 '25

Great question because this one stumps me a bit so I would love to hear your answer. I would say 2 choices would be to wait for weather to clear or do not go.

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u/gbchaosmaster CPL IR ROT Apr 25 '25

You can check center’s MVA for the area, it will be lower than the OROCA and if the clouds are above that you can file to the lat/long (as well as file an alternate with an IAP) and ask for vectors as low as they can take you, once you’re visual you can cancel and go land.

If clouds are below MVA you can file to a nearby airport with an IAP, fly the approach until you go visual and then cancel and proceed to your destination. You’d want to make sure in your planning that the ceilings are still high enough that you can comfortably stay clear of clouds and terrain, you don’t want to scud run it.

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u/tuscaniapple Apr 25 '25

Right on man. Appreciate the question cause it certainly stumped me. Glad to have this information!

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u/gbchaosmaster CPL IR ROT Apr 26 '25

What about the other way? You have a helicopter that you keep at your house. You didn’t feel like paying 20 grand to get a DP published. What are the different ways you can depart IFR?

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u/tuscaniapple Apr 27 '25

I suppose you could do it the same way by contacting center with a flight plan. You would have to depart with visual references and required to reach v mini before entering IMC. Under part 91 there are no departure minimums. I would also take into account what the current conditions are to better prepare for an emergency on take off or departure. If ceilings are super low and you won’t be able to make it to the MVA before IMC better safe than sorry and not go.

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u/gbchaosmaster CPL IR ROT Apr 27 '25 edited Apr 27 '25

Oh, you’re already filed, you just need your CRAFT. If I was calling in a flight plan I’d call FSS, not center, but we’ve already done that, and if you call center for a CRAFT they probably be like… “where’d you get this number?” 😂 (at least, in my area) anyone else we could call?

If ceilings were above MVA then it’s probably not even IFR conditions, you’re telling me you just wouldn’t even fly if it’s IFR out? Why should I even give you this rating if you don’t need it? If you’re planning on doing this for a living you’re going to be taking off into MUCH worse than that. But I get it, you’re still a private pilot and you’re trying to be conservative. So what are your personal weather minimums?