IFR month is a four-week focus on the challenges and rewards of instrument flying. As part of the IFR focus, Sporty’s is providing webinars, videos, articles and interactive exercises. The goal is to encourage pilots to earn their instrument rating, get current, enjoy more utility from their pilot certificate—and have fun!
Get Rated. Get Current. Get Better.
IFR FAQs
Intro to IFR Question #11: What's the difference between VFR, MVFR, IFR, and LIFR?
Intro to IFR Question #18: What are IFR standard takeoff minimums?
Intro to IFR Question #27: How many hours for an Instrument Rating?
Intro to IFR Question # 24: What is the 1-2-3 rule?
Intro to IFR Question # 6: What is the IFR required equipment?
Upcoming Webinars for IFR Month
Home Simulation for IFR Training and Proficiency—From a Pilot's Perspective
Wednesday, February 18, 2026, 3:00 PM EST.
Today's flight simulators offer more versatility and feasibility to instrument flight rules training than ever expected. Join Sporty's, Chris McGonegle, as he covers how to build and feature-set an at-home flight simulator tailored towards instrument flying. He'll cover what type of computer is recommended, what simulator hardware works best, and today's leading-edge software options.
Pilot Workshops Mastery LIVE: Instrument Approach Challenge
Wednesday, February 25, 2026, 4:00 PM EST.
Join the team from Pilot Workshops as they present a thought-provoking instrument approach scenario from the IFR Mastery series and discuss the pros and cons of each possible outcome. You'll be placed in the cockpit of a Bonanza and faced with a decision about how to enter and execute an instrument approach in Wichita Falls, Kansas, with low ceilings and strong winds.
Ryan Koch from Pilot Workshops will be joined by Catherine Cavagnaro (CFI/DPE), Kevin Plante (ATC controller and pilot), Bruce Williams (CFI and IFR expert), and Mark Kolber (CFI and aviation attorney) in a lively roundtable to discuss how they would complete this IFR flight.
Articles, Quizzes, and Videos
IFR Month is celebrated across Sporty’s Media Network, including the popular Flight Training Central, Air Facts, iPad Pilot News, and Sporty’s PIREPS blog. Each will include articles, videos, quizzes and webinars on instrument flying topics.
Getting Started with Instrument Training
- Transitioning to IFR flying with an Instrument Rating
- Getting started with IFR training – tips for ensuring success
- Basic attitude instrument flying - the foundation for IFR flight
- From the archives: The real value of an instrument rating
- Round Out Your Pilot Skills with an Instrument Rating
- The joy of IFR - John Zimmerman, Air Facts
- The value of actual IFR conditions
IFR Quizzes
IFR Videos
- Understanding TEC routes in busy IFR airspace — Advanced IFR
- Choosing an IFR arrival procedure (STAR) — Advanced IFR, by Pilot Workshops
- RNAV/GPS Instrument Approach Tips - LPV, LNAV+V and more (video tip)
- Choosing the best IFR departure procedure (SID) — Advanced IFR, by Pilot Workshops
- IFR Flight Plans: What really matters to ATC (video tip)
Interactive Exercises
- Interactive exercise: Unusual attitude recovery procedures
- IFR holding pattern interactive scenarios
Advanced IFR
- Keeping One Step Ahead of ATC when flying IFR
- How to prepare for checkride day
- The art of instrument approaches - 7 tips for proficient flying
- How to get an IFR clearance at a non-towered airport
- Fly a contact approach from Pilot Workshops
- Go or No Go: Gulf Coast rain showers
- 3 holding scenarios to perfect in a flight simulator
- Understanding and Executing IFR Holding Procedures
- Chart Smart: IFR Enroute Low Altitude Chart airport depictions
- 5 “must-have” products for IFR training
- What matters for IFR proficiency? The answer is quite simple
IFR Focus
Articles, quizzes, and video tips from our team of pilots to help you become a safer instrument pilot.
Featured Posts:
- Video Tip: Getting Started in Your Instrument Training
- Practical IFR: Off-Route Thinking
- Choosing the Best IFR Route — Advanced IFR, by PilotWorkshops
- Quiz: IFR Arrivals and Departures
- New Interactive Series: What’s Wrong?
- Video Tip: Instrument Scanning Technique
- Winter IFR: Practical Strategies for Cold-Weather Flying
- Too Much Info: How to Focus IFR Thinking
- It’s Personal: Managing Your Own Minimums
IFR Insights, with Spencer Suderman
Sporty’s has partnered with record-setting airshow pilot and instrument flight instructor Spencer Suderman for a new video series, called “IFR Insights,” available free on YouTube. In each episode, Suderman shows how to use modern tools like iPad apps and datalink weather to make IFR flying safer and easier. Multiple camera angles and real world ATC audio allow viewers to ride along and see why “flying IFR” doesn’t have to mean shooting approaches to 200 feet.
Episode 1: Flying an RNAV approach in IMC
Episode 2: Circle to land approach
