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Instrument Rating Helicopter test codes, explained
Your FAA knowledge test report lists a code like IH.I.A.K1 for each area where you missed a question. Type or paste one below to see what it means, in the FAA's own words.
Source: FAA-S-ACS-14, Instrument Rating - Helicopter ACS (November 2023, effective May 31, 2024). Used on: Instrument Rating Helicopter Canadian Conversion (ICH), Instrument Rating Helicopter (IRH).
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I. Preflight Preparation
- IH.I.A.K1Certification requirements, recency of experience, and recordkeeping.
- IH.I.A.K2Privileges and limitations.
- IH.I.A.K3Part 68 BasicMed privileges and limitations.
- IH.I.A.R1Proficiency versus currency.
- IH.I.A.R2Personal minimums.
- IH.I.A.R3Fitness for flight and physiological factors that might affect the pilot’s ability to fly under instrument conditions.
- IH.I.A.R4Flying unfamiliar helicopters or operating with unfamiliar flight display systems and avionics.
- IH.I.B.K1Sources of weather data (e.g., National Weather Service, Flight Service) for flight planning purposes.
- IH.I.B.K2Acceptable weather products and resources required for preflight planning, current and forecast weather for departure, en route, and arrival phases of flight such as:
- IH.I.B.K2aAirport Observations (METAR and SPECI) and Pilot Observations (PIREP)
- IH.I.B.K2bSurface Analysis Chart, Ceiling and Visibility Chart (CVA)
- IH.I.B.K2cTerminal Aerodrome Forecasts (TAF)
- IH.I.B.K2dGraphical Forecasts for Aviation (GFA)
- IH.I.B.K2eWind and Temperature Aloft Forecast (FB)
- IH.I.B.K2fConvective Outlook (AC)
- IH.I.B.K2gInflight Aviation Weather Advisories including Airmen's Meteorological Information (AIRMET), Significant Meteorological Information (SIGMET), and Convective SIGMET
- IH.I.B.K3Meteorology applicable to the departure, en route, alternate, and destination for flights conducted under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) to include expected climate and hazardous conditions such as:
- IH.I.B.K3aAtmospheric composition and stability
- IH.I.B.K3bWind (e.g., windshear, mountain wave, factors affecting wind, etc.)
- IH.I.B.K3cTemperature and heat exchange
- IH.I.B.K3dMoisture/precipitation
- IH.I.B.K3eWeather system formation, including air masses and fronts
- IH.I.B.K3fClouds
- IH.I.B.K3gTurbulence
- IH.I.B.K3hThunderstorms and microbursts
- IH.I.B.K3iIcing and freezing level information
- IH.I.B.K3jFog/mist
- IH.I.B.K3kFrost
- IH.I.B.K3lObstructions to visibility (e.g., smoke, haze, volcanic ash, etc.)
- IH.I.B.K4Flight deck instrument displays of digital weather and aeronautical information.
- IH.I.B.R1Making the go/no-go and continue/divert decisions, including:
- IH.I.B.R1aCircumstances that would make diversion prudent
- IH.I.B.R1bPersonal weather minimums
- IH.I.B.R1cHazardous weather conditions, including known or forecast icing or turbulence aloft
- IH.I.B.R2Use and limitations of:
- IH.I.B.R2aInstalled onboard weather equipment
- IH.I.B.R2bAviation weather reports and forecasts
- IH.I.B.R2cInflight weather resources
- IH.I.C.K1Route planning, including consideration of:
- IH.I.C.K1aAvailable navigational facilities
- IH.I.C.K1bSpecial use airspace
- IH.I.C.K1cPreferred routes
- IH.I.C.K1dPrimary and alternate airports
- IH.I.C.K1eEnroute charts
- IH.I.C.K1fChart Supplements
- IH.I.C.K1gNOTAMs
- IH.I.C.K1hTerminal Procedures Publications (TPP)
- IH.I.C.K2Altitude selection accounting for terrain and obstacles, IFR cruising altitudes, and effect of wind and oxygen requirements.
- IH.I.C.K3Calculating:
- IH.I.C.K3aTime, climb and descent rates, course, distance, heading, true airspeed, and groundspeed
- IH.I.C.K3bEstimated time of arrival, including conversion to universal coordinated time (UTC)
- IH.I.C.K3cFuel requirements, including reserve
- IH.I.C.K4Elements of an IFR flight plan.
- IH.I.C.K5Procedures for activating and closing an IFR flight plan in controlled and uncontrolled airspace.
- IH.I.C.R1Pilot.
- IH.I.C.R2Helicopter.
- IH.I.C.R3Environment (e.g., weather, icing, airports/heliports/helipads/landing areas, airspace, terrain, obstacles).
- IH.I.C.R4External pressures.
- IH.I.C.R5Limitations of air traffic control (ATC) services.
- IH.I.C.R6Limitations of electronic planning applications and programs.
- IH.I.C.R7Fuel planning.
II. Preflight Procedures
- IH.II.A.K1The general operational characteristics and limitations of applicable anti-icing and deicing systems, including airframe, rotor, intake, fuel, and pitot-static systems.
- IH.II.A.K2Flight control systems.
- IH.II.A.R1Operations in icing conditions.
- IH.II.A.R2Limitations of anti-icing and deicing systems.
- IH.II.A.R3Use of automated systems in instrument conditions.
- IH.II.B.K1Operation of the helicopter’s applicable flight instrument system(s), including.
- IH.II.B.K1aPitot-static instrument system and associated instruments
- IH.II.B.K1bGyroscopic/electric instrument system and associated instruments
- IH.II.B.K1cElectrical systems, electronic flight instrument displays [primary flight display (PFD), multi-function display (MFD)], transponder and automatic dependent surveillance - broadcast (ADS-B)
- IH.II.B.K1dMagnetic compass
- IH.II.B.K2Operation of the helicopter's applicable navigation system(s), including:
- IH.II.B.K2aVery high frequency (VHF) Omnidirectional Range (VOR), distance measuring equipment (DME), instrument landing system (ILS), marker beacon receiver/indicators
- IH.II.B.K2bArea navigation (RNAV), global positioning system (GPS), Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS), flight management system (FMS), autopilot
- IH.II.B.K3Use of an electronic flight bag (EFB), if used.
- IH.II.B.R1Monitoring and management of automated systems.
- IH.II.B.R2Difference between approved and non-approved navigation devices.
- IH.II.B.R3Modes of flight and navigation instruments, including failure conditions.
- IH.II.B.R4Use of an electronic flight bag.
- IH.II.B.R5Use of navigation databases.
- IH.II.C.K1Purpose of performing an instrument flight deck check and how to detect possible defects.
- IH.II.C.K2IFR airworthiness, including helicopter inspection requirements and required equipment for IFR flight.
- IH.II.C.K3Required procedures, documentation, and limitations of flying with inoperative equipment.
- IH.II.C.R1Operating with inoperative equipment.
- IH.II.C.R2Operating with outdated navigation publications or databases.
III. Air Traffic Control (ATC) Clearances and Procedures
- IH.III.A.K1Elements and procedures related to ATC clearances and pilot/controller responsibilities for departure, en route, and arrival phases of flight, including clearance void times.
- IH.III.A.K2Pilot-in-Command (PIC) emergency authority.
- IH.III.A.K3Lost communication procedures and procedures for flights outside of radar environments.
- IH.III.A.R1Less than full understanding of an ATC clearance.
- IH.III.A.R2Inappropriate, incomplete, or incorrect ATC clearances.
- IH.III.A.R3ATC clearance inconsistent with helicopter performance or navigation capability.
- IH.III.A.R4ATC clearance intended for other aircraft with similar call signs.
- IH.III.B.K1Elements related to holding procedures, including reporting criteria, appropriate speeds, and recommended entry procedures for standard, nonstandard, published, and non-published holding patterns.
- IH.III.B.R1Recalculating fuel reserves if assigned an unanticipated expect further clearance (EFC) time.
- IH.III.B.R2Scenarios and circumstances that could result in minimum fuel or the need to declare an emergency.
- IH.III.B.R3Scenarios that could lead to holding, including deteriorating weather at the planned destination.
- IH.III.B.R4Holding entry and wind correction while holding.
IV. Flight by Reference to Instruments
- IH.IV.A.K1Elements related to attitude instrument flying during straight-and-level flight, climbs, turns, and descents while conducting various instrument flight procedures.
- IH.IV.A.K2Interpretation, operation, and limitations of pitch, bank, and power instruments.
- IH.IV.A.K3Normal and abnormal instrument indications and operations.
- IH.IV.A.R1Situations that can affect physiology and degrade instrument cross-check.
- IH.IV.A.R2Spatial disorientation and optical illusions.
- IH.IV.A.R3Flying unfamiliar helicopter or operating with unfamiliar flight display systems and avionics.
- IH.IV.B.K1Prevention of unusual attitudes, including flight causal, physiological, and environmental factors, and system and equipment failures.
- IH.IV.B.K2Procedures for recovery from unusual attitudes in flight.
- IH.IV.B.K3Procedures available to safely regain visual meteorological conditions (VMC) after flight into inadvertent instrument meteorological conditions or unintended instrument meteorological conditions (IIMC)/(UIMC).
- IH.IV.B.K4Appropriate use of automation, if applicable.
- IH.IV.B.R1Situations that could lead to loss of control in-flight (LOC-I) or unusual attitudes in-flight (e.g., stress, task saturation, inadequate instrument scan distractions, and spatial disorientation).
- IH.IV.B.R2Assessment of the unusual attitude.
- IH.IV.B.R3Control input errors inducing undesired aircraft attitudes, e.g. low G rotor.
- IH.IV.B.R4Pilot responses that lead to mast bumping in a low G condition, if applicable.
- IH.IV.B.R5Collision hazards.
- IH.IV.B.R6Distractions, task prioritization, loss of situational awareness, or disorientation.
- IH.IV.B.R7Interpreting flight instruments.
- IH.IV.B.R8Control application solely by reference to instruments.
- IH.IV.B.R9Operating envelope considerations.
V. Navigation Systems
- IH.V.A.K1Ground-based navigation (orientation, course determination, equipment, tests, and regulations), including procedures for intercepting and tracking courses and arcs.
- IH.V.A.K2Satellite-based navigation (orientation, course determination, equipment, tests, regulations, interference, appropriate use of databases, Receiver Autonomous Integrity Monitoring (RAIM), and Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS)), including procedures for intercepting and tracking courses and arcs.
- IH.V.A.R1Management of automated navigation and autoflight systems.
- IH.V.A.R2Distractions, task prioritization, loss of situational awareness, or disorientation.
- IH.V.A.R3Limitations of the navigation system in use.
- IH.V.B.K1Elements related to ATC routes, including departure procedures (DPs) and associated climb gradients; standard terminal arrival (STAR) procedures and associated constraints.
- IH.V.B.K2Pilot/controller responsibilities, communication procedures, and ATC services available to pilots.
- IH.V.B.R1ATC communications and compliance with published procedures.
- IH.V.B.R2Limitations of traffic avoidance equipment.
- IH.V.B.R3Responsibility to use "see and avoid" techniques when possible.
VI. Instrument Approach Procedures
- IH.VI.A.K1Procedures and limitations associated with a non-precision approach, including the differences between Localizer Performance (LP) and Lateral Navigation (LNAV) approach guidance.
- IH.VI.A.K2Navigation system indications and annunciations expected during an area navigation (RNAV) approach.
- IH.VI.A.K3Ground-based and satellite-based navigation systems used for a non-precision approach.
- IH.VI.A.K4A stabilized approach, including energy management concepts.
- IH.VI.A.K5Copter Point-in-Space (PinS) approaches.
- IH.VI.A.R1Deviating from the assigned approach procedure.
- IH.VI.A.R2Selecting a navigation frequency.
- IH.VI.A.R3Management of automated navigation and autoflight systems.
- IH.VI.A.R4Helicopter configuration during an approach and missed approach.
- IH.VI.A.R5An unstable approach, including excessive descent rates.
- IH.VI.A.R6Deteriorating weather conditions on approach.
- IH.VI.A.R7Operating below the minimum descent altitude (MDA) without proper visual references.
- IH.VI.B.K1Procedures and limitations associated with a precision approach, including determining required descent rates and adjusting minimums in the case of inoperative equipment.
- IH.VI.B.K2Navigation system displays, annunciations, and modes of operation.
- IH.VI.B.K3Ground-based and satellite-based navigation systems (orientation, course determination, equipment, tests and regulations, interference, appropriate use of navigation data, signal integrity).
- IH.VI.B.K4A stabilized approach, including energy management concepts.
- IH.VI.B.R1Deviating from the assigned approach procedure.
- IH.VI.B.R2Selecting a navigation frequency.
- IH.VI.B.R3Management of automated navigation and autoflight systems.
- IH.VI.B.R4Helicopter configuration during an approach and missed approach.
- IH.VI.B.R5An unstable approach, including excessive descent rates.
- IH.VI.B.R6Deteriorating weather conditions on approach.
- IH.VI.B.R7Continuing to descend below the Decision Altitude (DA)/Decision Height (DH) when the required visual references are not visible.
- IH.VI.C.K1Elements related to missed approach procedures and limitations associated with standard instrument approaches, including while using a flight management system (FMS) or autopilot, if equipped.
- IH.VI.C.R1Deviations from prescribed procedures or ATC instructions.
- IH.VI.C.R2Holding, diverting, or electing to fly the approach again.
- IH.VI.C.R3Helicopter configuration during an approach and missed approach.
- IH.VI.C.R4Factors that might lead to executing a missed approach procedure before the MAP or to a go-around below DA, DH, or MDA, as applicable.
- IH.VI.C.R5Management of automated navigation and autoflight systems.
- IH.VI.D.K1Elements related to the pilot’s responsibilities, and the environmental, operational, and meteorological factors that affect landing from a straight-in approach.
- IH.VI.D.K2Airport signs, markings, and lighting, including approach lighting systems.
- IH.VI.D.K3Appropriate landing profiles and aircraft configurations.
- IH.VI.D.R1Attempting to land from an unstable approach.
- IH.VI.D.R2Flying below the glidepath.
- IH.VI.D.R3Transitioning from instrument to visual references for landing.
- IH.VI.D.R4Aircraft configuration for landing.
VII. Emergency Operations
- IH.VII.A.K1Procedures to follow in the event of lost communication during various phases of flight, including techniques for reestablishing communications, when it is acceptable to deviate from an instrument flight rules (IFR) clearance, and when to begin an approach at the destination.
- IH.VII.A.R1Possible reasons for loss of communication.
- IH.VII.A.R2Deviation from procedures for lost communications.
- IH.VII.B.K1Instrument approach procedures with one engine inoperative.
- IH.VII.B.R1Potential engine failure during approach and landing.
- IH.VII.B.R2Aircraft/powerplant limitations.
- IH.VII.B.R3Distractions, task prioritization, loss of situational awareness, or disorientation.
- IH.VII.B.R4Collision hazards.
- IH.VII.B.R5Configuring the helicopter.
- IH.VII.B.R6Performing a go-around/rejected landing with an engine failure.
- IH.VII.C.K1Recognizing if primary flight instruments are inaccurate or inoperative, and advising ATC or the evaluator.
- IH.VII.C.K2Possible failure modes of primary instruments and how to correct or minimize the effect of the loss.
- IH.VII.C.R1Use of secondary flight displays when primary displays have failed.
- IH.VII.C.R2Maintaining helicopter control.
- IH.VII.C.R3Distractions, task prioritization, loss of situational awareness, or disorientation.