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IRA · 7% of the exam

Flight by Reference to Instruments practice questions

10 free Flight by Reference to Instruments questions for the Instrument Rating Airplane (IRA) Knowledge Test exam, each with the correct answer and an explanation for every option.

Start the questionsFree 10-question IRA quiz

What this domain covers

Flying by reference to instruments: scan, control and recognising illusions.

Exam weight
7%
On a real exam
≈ 4 questions
In our bank
43 questions

Topics that come up most

  • Instrument scan techniques
  • Control and performance instruments
  • Unusual attitude recovery
  • Spatial disorientation
  • Partial-panel flying

How to study it

Learn the recovery steps for nose-high and nose-low unusual attitudes in order.

Sample Flight by Reference to Instruments questions

Try each one before opening the answer. Original questions written to the official exam objectives.

  1. Question 1

    While holding a constant heading in level flight, which instrument is primary for bank control?

    • AAirspeed indicator
    • BAltimeter
    • CHeading indicator
    • DVSI
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: C) Heading indicator

    • AIncorrect. This is primary for power in level flight.
    • BIncorrect. This is primary for pitch.
    • CCorrect. Holding heading confirms wings level.
    • DIncorrect. This supports pitch.

  2. Question 2

    In a constant-airspeed climbing turn, the primary pitch instrument is the:

    • AMagnetic compass
    • BAltimeter
    • CHeading indicator
    • DAirspeed indicator
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: D) Airspeed indicator

    • AIncorrect. This is not used for pitch.
    • BIncorrect. Altitude is changing.
    • CIncorrect. Heading is changing.
    • DCorrect. Pitch holds airspeed; the turn coordinator is primary for bank.

  3. Question 3

    To slow down while holding altitude in level flight, what should the pilot do?

    • AExtend the gear and lower the nose
    • BLower the nose and keep power constant
    • CAdd power and keep pitch constant
    • DReduce power and raise the nose to hold altitude
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: D) Reduce power and raise the nose to hold altitude

    • AIncorrect. Lowering the nose would lose altitude.
    • BIncorrect. That would cause a descent.
    • CIncorrect. That would increase speed.
    • DCorrect. Pitch is adjusted as speed decreases.

  4. Question 4

    To level off from a 500 fpm climb, the pilot should begin leveling about how far before the target altitude?

    • A50 feet
    • B500 feet
    • C5 feet
    • D200 feet
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: A) 50 feet

    • ACorrect. Lead the level-off by about 10% of the vertical speed.
    • BIncorrect. This is too early.
    • CIncorrect. This is too late.
    • DIncorrect. This is too early.

  5. Question 5

    How does rate of turn change if bank stays the same but true airspeed increases?

    • AThe airplane stops turning
    • BThe rate of turn increases
    • CThe rate of turn stays the same
    • DThe rate of turn decreases
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: D) The rate of turn decreases

    • AIncorrect. It still turns, but more slowly.
    • BIncorrect. Higher speed reduces turn rate.
    • CIncorrect. Turn rate depends on speed.
    • DCorrect. Faster airplanes turn more slowly at the same bank.

  6. Question 6

    Using the control and performance method, a pilot wants to change from cruise to a constant-airspeed climb. Which instruments does the pilot use to set the new condition before checking the results?

    • AAltimeter and vertical speed indicator
    • BAttitude indicator and tachometer or manifold pressure gauge
    • CAirspeed indicator and heading indicator
    • DHeading indicator and course deviation indicator
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: B) Attitude indicator and tachometer or manifold pressure gauge

    The control and performance method splits instruments into control instruments (attitude indicator and power instruments), performance instruments (altimeter, airspeed, VSI, heading, turn coordinator) and navigation instruments. The pilot sets attitude and power first, then checks performance.

    • AIncorrect. These are performance instruments. They show the result of the attitude and power that were set; the pilot checks them afterward rather than using them to set the condition.
    • BCorrect. In the control and performance method, the control instruments are the attitude indicator and the power instruments (tachometer and/or manifold pressure). The pilot sets pitch, bank and power on these, then checks the performance instruments.
    • CIncorrect. These are performance instruments. Airspeed and heading respond to the attitude and power settings rather than being used to set them directly.
    • DIncorrect. The CDI is a navigation instrument showing position relative to a course, and the heading indicator is a performance instrument. Neither is used to set attitude or power.

  7. Question 7

    In moderate turbulence on instruments, what should the pilot try to hold?

    • AFull power at all times
    • BAn exact altitude with large pitch changes
    • CThe highest possible airspeed
    • DA steady attitude, accepting small altitude changes
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: D) A steady attitude, accepting small altitude changes

    • AIncorrect. Power should be set for the proper speed.
    • BIncorrect. That increases structural loads.
    • CIncorrect. Turbulence penetration speed should be used.
    • DCorrect. Chasing altitude increases stress on the airplane.

  8. Question 8

    In the radial scan pattern, which instrument does the pilot's eye return to after each glance at another flight instrument?

    • AHeading indicator
    • BAttitude indicator
    • CAltimeter
    • DAirspeed indicator
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: B) Attitude indicator

    The radial scan uses the attitude indicator as its hub. The pilot glances out to each performance instrument and back to the attitude indicator, which gets most (about 80 to 90 percent) of the scan time.

    • AIncorrect. The heading indicator sits at the bottom center of the standard six-pack, but it is a performance instrument that is glanced at briefly. It is not the hub the scan returns to.
    • BCorrect. In the radial (hub-and-spoke) scan, the eyes go from the attitude indicator to a performance instrument and back to the attitude indicator before checking the next one. The attitude indicator gets roughly 80 to 90 percent of the scan time because it gives a direct picture of pitch and bank.
    • CIncorrect. The altimeter is a performance instrument showing the result of pitch and power changes. It is one of the spokes of the radial scan, not the center.
    • DIncorrect. The airspeed indicator is a performance instrument checked briefly during the cross-check. The scan always comes back to the attitude indicator, not to airspeed.

  9. Question 9

    How long does a standard-rate turn take to complete 360°?

    • A4 minutes
    • B1 minute
    • C3 minutes
    • D2 minutes
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: D) 2 minutes

    • AIncorrect. That is a half-standard-rate turn.
    • BIncorrect. That is a 6°/s turn.
    • CIncorrect. That is 2°/s.
    • DCorrect. At 3° per second, 360° takes 120 seconds.

  10. Question 10

    Once established in a standard-rate turn, which instrument is primary for bank?

    • AAltimeter
    • BTurn coordinator
    • CAirspeed indicator
    • DTachometer
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: B) Turn coordinator

    • AIncorrect. This is primary for pitch.
    • BCorrect. The turn coordinator shows the standard rate once established.
    • CIncorrect. This relates to power and pitch.
    • DIncorrect. This is primary for power.

Flight by Reference to Instruments: FAQs

How much of the IRA exam is Flight by Reference to Instruments?

Flight by Reference to Instruments is 7% of the IRA exam by the official exam guide's weighting, which on a 60-question form works out to roughly 4 questions. The real exam's exact split varies by form.

What does the Flight by Reference to Instruments domain cover?

Flying by reference to instruments: scan, control and recognising illusions.

How should I study Flight by Reference to Instruments for IRA?

Learn the recovery steps for nose-high and nose-low unusual attitudes in order.

Where can I practise more Flight by Reference to Instruments questions?

This page has 10 free Flight by Reference to Instruments questions with answers. The ExamWize IRA question bank has 43 questions in this domain. Every practice exam result breaks your score down by domain, and Review Mode re-drills the questions you missed.

Other IRA topics

Also: 15 free questions across all topics, the IRA cheat sheet and the study guide.

Get Flight by Reference to Instruments exam-ready

The full IRA bank has 43 Flight by Reference to Instruments questions. Timed practice exams match the real exam's length and domain weights, every result shows your score per domain, and Review Mode re-drills the questions you missed.

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Not affiliated with FAA; questions are original, written from the official exam outline, and never copied from the real exam.