IFR- Instrument flight rules for dummies

           IFR – Instrument flight rules.

          The IFR were created in order to overcome the basic limitations of military and civil aviation operations, the weather. Bad weather and particularly the low visibility dew to mist, fog , storm, snowstorms etc in the vicinity of an airport, confronted the flight  crews with unparallel challenges .When you and in an equation the problem they had to encounter you might be astonished that there were brave man to undertake that task. 

Primitive runways X Gusting X Rain,hail X limited visibility X Approaching Speed  = Problem

                       MONEY+SCEDULES+COSTS+UNRELAIBILITY+NIGHT

And not to forget that we don`t even take into consideration the ever present possibility of an emergency. That will drain even the last drops of airmanship of the flight crews and demand the best out of them. But luckily advances in aviation and radio beacons especially throughout the WWII gave humanity the knowhow, of making safe, useful and reliable navigation aids, both for the pilots and the Air traffic controllers.

                In IFR flights (Instrument Flight rules), the flight is contacted with sole reference to the aircraft instruments and under the full control of ATC(Air Traffic Control) units. During these procedures the pilots must take off-fly-land using standardized procedures published by the aviation authorities of the member state of the airspace or airdromes to be used, and with full harmony with the CAA regulations (Civil Aviation Authority).This standardized procedures are published in the AIP document (Aeronautical Information Publication) every 28 days and are called AIRAC(Aeronautical Information Regulation And Control). These consist of:

SID Chart plate 

Final Approach chart plate

     A)     Facilities-information-and taxi maps/charts for the airport to be used so that the aircraft can taxi safely to the runway and by fully aware of any difference or danger usually encountered in this particular airdrome.

     B)      Initial approach, final approach and go around charts(STAR) so that the pilot can be informed and navigate safely through any obstacles during his/her   attempt to get the aircraft  decent/approach/landing/go around

     C)      Departure charts(SID) that depict path and the minimum safe altitude after take off  and during the climb to, so the flight crew be safe of any obstacles or/and other traffic .

     D)     Enroute maps, in which there are depicted the airways safe altitudes and navaids,with which the aircraft must be navigated trough using navigation aids, advance avionics, and skill.

Cockpit view from Airbus A320 Passenger Jet. Airliners.net

    In order to contact a flight in IFR there must be 3 requirements met.

1)The aerodrome must be equipped and have in use the  appropriate facilities, equipment and navigation aids up and running, with published SID/STAR publications in effect.

2)The aircraft must be equipped and certified to undertake the task of IFR flights, and meet the minimum operational equipment requirements for the planned flight.

3)The flight crew must be trained, certified and current in IFR flights, be prepared by preflight preparation (Weather,NOTAM,Sigmet,Alternative airports,Fuel) equipped with the needed maps and charts and medically feet to execute the flight.
             But when it happens is never the less breathtaking,as illustrated in this video