Editing Instrument flight rules (section)

===Instrument flight rules===
When operation of an aircraft under VFR is not safe, because the visual cues outside the aircraft are obscured by weather, instrument flight rules must be used instead. IFR permits an aircraft to operate in [[instrument meteorological conditions]] (IMC), which is essentially any weather condition less than VMC but in which aircraft can still operate safely. Use of instrument flight rules is also required when flying in "Class A" airspace regardless of weather conditions. Class A airspace extends from 18,000 feet above mean sea level to flight level 600 (60,000 feet [[pressure altitude]]) above the contiguous 48 United States and overlying the waters within 12 miles thereof.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.airweb.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgFAR.nsf/0/D32C5D905064AF1286257BE80061CDC5?OpenDocument |title=FAR Part 71 Sec. 71.33 |access-date=24 Aug 2015 |archive-date=23 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170223034807/http://www.airweb.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgFAR.nsf/0/D32C5D905064AF1286257BE80061CDC5?OpenDocument |url-status=dead }}</ref> Flight in Class A airspace requires pilots and aircraft to be instrument equipped and rated and to be operating under instrument flight rules (IFR). In many countries commercial airliners and their pilots must operate under IFR as the majority of flights enter Class A airspace.<ref>Federal Aviation Regulations Title 14, Chapter I, Subchapter E, [http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=bbf147e9365fd8eeb50e73177f8c1bd8&node=sp14.2.71.a&rgn=div6 §71.31], [http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=bbf147e9365fd8eeb50e73177f8c1bd8&node=sp14.2.71.a&rgn=div6 §71.33]</ref> Procedures and training are significantly more complex compared to VFR instruction, as a pilot must demonstrate competency in conducting an entire [[Cross-country flying|cross-country flight]] solely by reference to instruments.

Instrument pilots must carefully evaluate weather, create a detailed flight plan based around specific instrument departure, en route, and arrival procedures, and dispatch the flight.<ref name="flying_rc" /><ref name="flying_rg">{{cite journal
 | title = IFR Flight Prep: A Whole New Game
 | journal = [[Flying (magazine)|Flying]]
 | date = 2010-04-30
 | first = Robert
 | last = Goyer
 | volume = 137
 | issue = 4
 | pages = 56
 | url = http://www.flyingmag.com/pilot-technique/instrument-flight-rules/ifr-flight-prep-whole-new-game
 | access-date = 2010-11-27}}</ref>