IREX exam - questions?

[halfmoon]

I am having great difficulty passing the IREX exam. I have failed 3 times! My last results were 63%. I believe some questions were not answered correctly on behalf of CASA or whoever grades them. I have included a couple that i remember here!

1) PVT NGT VFR flight, what are the recency requirments to act as PIC? NOT CHTR!!

2) Looking at the Cairns approach charts, what is the ALTERNATE MINIMA if the HIAL are not operational?

Is the alternate minima changed if the HIAL is not operational? I can't find anywhere it says that.

thanks.. just curious how many people fail this much?

all help appreciated

[hair of the dogma]

I passed mine on the third attempt - 69 %, 69% and then 72%. I think there is a lot to be desired about the marking on that exam.

There was one question on one of the attempts that I got wrong that was simply extracting a LSALT from an ERC. I double checked in the exam, checked it when I got home and I was right. The wonderful people at ASL have it all sown up though - it costs more to have the marking checked than to do the exam. I took the exam again.

[UnderneathTheRadar]

Halfmoon

The IREX exam struck me as an exercise in me being required to show that I knew where to find all the relevant info to make the flight legal before departure. The CIR test should check that you're legal once you've departed!

I think in your situation you need to have a little bit of a mental checklist in your head for each question type - for each type of question I need to check x, y and z. The ATC IFR reference quide might be worth investment to help you grasp the various locations of relevant info....

Using your second example first, alternate minima for Cairns is going to depend upon whether your aircraft and the airport allow you to use the special alternate minimum. Just looking at the chart won't tell you when you can/can't use the special alternate - you need to reference what the AIP tells you (I think AIP ENR 1.5 refers). So for EVERY question related to minima I wouldn't chose an answer until I'd referenced (I use Jepps) the AIR TRAFFIC CONTOL section, the TERMINAL text section and the charts - even if I thought I knew what the answer was from the chart. If there was any doubt about the aircraft I would also check the CAOs too. In the end, I changed my mind on 2 answers after going through this process. Likewise, any question relating to lighting - reference each of the AIP, CAOs (for a/c & pilot issues) and ERSA.

For PVT NVFR ops - it's spelt out very clearly in the CAOs. DON'T try and learn all the combinations - just remember which orders are important and go and read them in the exam. (Please tell me you are taking the CAOs in - you can print off the relevant ones if you don't own a set (although my ASL lady was pretty dopy - others may not let you do this)).

The only other advice I can offer is to use all the time they offer. Of the 4 people sitting IREX with me, I was the last left by a good 45 minutes. 2.5 hours is plenty of time to check every reference you have for every question so use it - 150 minutes for 50 marks is 3 minutes per question - if you know where to find stuff in your books then that's plenty.

HTH - UTR.

PS Everyone makes stupid mistakes and I have a wonderful habit of overcomplicating some questions - but the above served me well and 93% first time should back that up.

PPS Dogma - the LSALT question 'trick' that always seemed to crop up in practice questions and on the exam was the method of LSALT calculation that involves drawing a circle around your DR position of radius 20% of the distance from the last positive fix and working out LSALT from there. Even my ATO had no idea what I was talking about during the flight test.

Not saying you were wrong but I didn't find any LSALT questions that involved simply extracting the info from the ERC - there was always a secondary consideration in there somewhere!

[LUCKY-1]

IREX Exam Tips

Halfmoon. I tried self study several times with results of 69% etc. Did a two week course with the old Master "Bob Tait" in Brisbane and managed to top the class. One great trick is to purchase a CD of practice exams and work through them. This is a fair ball buster of an exam, but there is a fair chance that knowing your stuff may save your passengers life one day, not to mention a perfectly good aeroplane. Work hard and you'll get there.
Cheers, Lucky

[Aussie]

Mate, i agree with lucky.

Use the bob tait book. I self studied Bob tait and passed with flying colours first go.

Try him, he knows his stuff!!

Aussie

[Going Nowhere]

I also agree with the others,
88% first time with Bob Tait's book.

[SPEEDI]

Who is bob tait? and can someone PM me details on where i could buy his book or get in contact with him

thanks

[Capt Fathom]

Originally Posted by SPEEDI

Who is bob tait?

Do not pass GO, do not collect $200! Young people today...!!

[dxbpilot]

check out http://www.bobtait.com.au/

If your not the most proficient at theory try bobs books , I did 2 CPL subjects in his classes and self studied the rest using his books, had no issues , hes a real character !

heres a extract from his CPL Performance book

-What if the ZFW is not in the envelope ?

1.You may shift your weight
2.You may add extra weight as ballast
3. you may subtract weight and leave it behind
4.You may do any combination of these
5.You may slash your wrists

ha good luck next time !

[halfmoon]

thanks for all the input. I have been using the ATC book. it is straight forward but lacks practise exams.

Can someone answer this questions-

Is it in the AIP that if the HIAL is out of service then the ALTERNATE MINIMA is changed??

ALSO, In CAO 40.2.?? if operating under PVT NGT VFR flight what are the recency requirements? i took it word by word from the CAO and not one choice on the cyber exam was there. There was CHTR ops but not PVT/AWK.

thanks

[Capt Fathom]

It's all in the books. You need to know where everything is, and practice finding it.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Does the ALTERNATE Minima change if the HIALS is out of service?
Not that I'm aware. (It's been a while!!)
It DOES change the LANDING Visibility Minima!
All in AIP ENR 1.5, paras 5 to 9 (in particular 5.4)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CAO's

SECTION 40.2.1 Para 14
FLIGHT BY NIGHT UNDER NIGHT V.F.R. PROCEDURES

14.1 A particular grade of command instrument rating authorises the holder of the rating to fly an aircraft...etc...etc...in the following circumstances:

(a) Private and aerial work flights under night V.F.R. procedures provided the pilot meets the aeronautical and recent experience requirements applicable to a night V.F.R. endorsement.

For those recency requirements, you GOTO:

SECTION 40.2.2 Para 5
RECENT EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

Keep Practicing!

[novicef]

IREX Difficult

Is this IREX exam this difficult? A friend of mine did IREX and passed it first time. Then self studied all his ATPL, had to repeat 2 of his exams because he spent more time on his play station games then studying.

His opinion on the exams were that they were reasonably straight forward compared to university and the only reason for the repeats was that after 4 years of study at uni he couldn't get motivated.

[rmcdonal]

Some people find the IREX hard, others find it easy. Same way some people find Flight Planning harder then Systems, and vis versa. I think it depends on your learning style.

[halfmoon]

Capt Fathom,

You are right!! And that is exactly where I looked in the CAO's. THIS IS WHY I THINK THERE ARE BOGUS QUESTIONS! There was no option for PVT or AWK NGT VFR recency in in the 4 options available on the exam.
Not to mention the ALT MINIMA for Cairns with the HIAL out. To the best of my knowledge and the hours I have spent studying this, the ALT MINIMA does not change if the HIAL is out of service.
It's really frustrating when I fork out $175 for each exam plus a 4 hour drive to the nearest exam centre to have this crap pulled on me by CASA and ASL.

[Naughty S]

Study program after failing IREX.
DAY 1 - Insert 6 pack (full strength) x 2 if required.
DAY 2 - Get AIP look in section Pg no ENR 1.5 -31 refer to 5.4 runways equipped with HIAL NO ILS. If its out and the vis is below the minima plus the 900m then alternate required. ILS ENR 1.5 -33 Section 8 for ILS 1.5Km no HIAL then vis <1.5Km alternate required.
DAY 3 - Pass IREX
DAY 4 - Refer to Day 1

[AerocatS2A]

Originally Posted by halfmoon

Capt Fathom,
You are right!! And that is exactly where I looked in the CAO's. THIS IS WHY I THINK THERE ARE BOGUS QUESTIONS! There was no option for PVT or AWK NGT VFR recency in in the 4 options available on the exam.
Not to mention the ALT MINIMA for Cairns with the HIAL out. To the best of my knowledge and the hours I have spent studying this, the ALT MINIMA does not change if the HIAL is out of service.

Are you sure you read and understood the exam questions?

Can you remember what the actual questions were? How they were worded and what the possible answers were?

You're right that the alternate minima doesn't change, but the landing minima does for an NPA. (Add 900m to the required visibility.)

[UnderneathTheRadar]

Originally Posted by Naughty S

Study program after failing IREX.
DAY 1 - Insert 6 pack (full strength) x 2 if required.
DAY 2 - Get AIP look in section Pg no ENR 1.5 -31 refer to 5.4 runways equipped with HIAL NO ILS. If its out and the vis is below the minima plus the 900m then alternate required. ILS ENR 1.5 -33 Section 8 for ILS 1.5Km no HIAL then vis <1.5Km alternate required.
DAY 3 - Pass IREX
DAY 4 - Refer to Day 1

Naughty S - no disrespect but you're incorrect. Lack of HIAL makes no difference to the alternate planning rules You're quoting from the section on applying the approach minima when you actually arrive - as Aerocat and others have said, HIAL or lack thereof makes no difference to alternate planning.

Halfmoon - a very good example of reading the question and referring to ALL relevant sections of the docs.

For the PVT/AWK NVFR recency information CAO40.2.2 Appendix 1 Section 5 spells out the recency requirements for a NVFR rating. Other documents (the CARs) then add on ADDITIONAL requirements for each of PVT/AWK with passengers; CHTR etc etc. The key numbers are:
- 1 hour night in last 12 months (note that a 100nm cross country trip doesn't apply to pvt/awk) PIC or dual or ICUS
- 1 takeoff & landing in last six months for solo
And that's all (the 3 takeoffs and landings in last 90 days is in the CARs)


UTR

[Naughty S]

No offence taken my post was a little tongue in cheek.

For the exam and operationally however if the visibility is below the approach minima an altrnate should be planned. Have a look at CS 15 ILS note 5 the alternate minima is 4.4 above the app min of 1.2 and when the HIAL is not working.

Cheers

[UnderneathTheRadar]

Fair call - except if the visibility is below the minima then it is certain to be below the alternate minima - therefore even if you make the adjustments to the approach minima (from 1200 to 1500m at CS), the alternate minima vis of 4400m hasn't changed - which is what Halfmoon was asking for the exam.

UTR

[halfmoon]

Originally Posted by UnderneathTheRadar

For the PVT/AWK NVFR recency information CAO40.2.2 Appendix 1 Section 5 spells out the recency requirements for a NVFR rating. Other documents (the CARs) then add on ADDITIONAL requirements for each of PVT/AWK with passengers; CHTR etc etc. The key numbers are:
- 1 hour night in last 12 months (note that a 100nm cross country trip doesn't apply to pvt/awk) PIC or dual or ICUS
- 1 takeoff & landing in last six months for solo
And that's all (the 3 takeoffs and landings in last 90 days is in the CARs)
UTR

Thankyou. This was not an option in the exam. I studied this one question for probably 20 min in the exam room. I know this is the correct answer though. This is why I say there are BOGUS questions in there by mistake or carlessness on behalf of both CASA and ASL and i'm sure others agree with me.

But thanks for the help everyone. This post is making me angry.