Required IFR Preflight Actions: A Practical Guide Using WKFARTN (or NWKRAFT)
- wifiCFI
- Dec 18, 2025
- 4 min read
Updated: Dec 19, 2025
Before an IFR flight ever leaves the ground, a pilot in command must complete a specific set of required preflight actions. These requirements go beyond a normal VFR preflight and are designed to ensure the pilot is legally compliant, situationally aware, and prepared for the dynamic IFR environment.
The FAA outlines these requirements in 14 CFR §91.103, and instrument pilots often remember them using the acronyms WKFARTN or NWKRAFT. While the order varies, the content is the same—and every letter matters.
This article breaks down each element, explains what the FAA expects, and provides practical guidance on how to complete a thorough IFR preflight.
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The Regulatory Foundation: 14 CFR §91.103
Under §91.103, the pilot in command must become familiar with all available information concerning the flight before departure. For IFR operations, the regulation explicitly requires knowledge of:
Weather reports and forecasts
Fuel requirements
Alternatives available if the planned flight cannot be completed
Any known traffic delays
Runway lengths and takeoff/landing distance data (when applicable)
WKFARTN (or NWKRAFT) is simply a structured way to ensure compliance with these requirements.
WKFARTN / NWKRAFT Explained
W / N — Weather
This is more than checking the METAR at your departure airport.
IFR weather review should include:
METARs for departure, destination, and alternates
TAFs covering your planned time of arrival
AIRMETs, SIGMETs, and Convective SIGMETs
Freezing levels and icing forecasts
Winds aloft
PIREPs (especially for icing and turbulence)
You should be able to answer:
Can I legally depart and arrive?
Will I encounter IMC, icing, or convection?
Do conditions support my aircraft and personal minimums?
K — Known ATC Delays
IFR flights are subject to Air Traffic Control flow management, especially at busy or weather-impacted airports.
This includes:
Ground Delay Programs (GDPs)
Airspace flow programs
Expect Departure Clearance Times (EDCTs)
NOTAMs indicating ATC restrictions
Check:
FAA ATC advisories
Flight Service briefings
Airline-style delay info if flying into major hubs
Known delays can affect fuel planning, alternates, and legality.
F — Fuel Requirements
IFR fuel planning is explicitly defined:
You must have enough fuel to:
Fly to the first airport of intended landing
Then fly to the alternate airport (if required)
Then fly for 45 minutes at normal cruising speed
Best practices go beyond the legal minimum:
Account for holding, vectors, and missed approaches
Consider stronger-than-forecast headwinds
Add personal reserves for weather uncertainty
Fuel planning should always be conservative in IFR.
A — Alternate Airports
An alternate is required unless the 1-2-3 rule is met:
1 hour before to 1 hour after ETA
Ceiling at least 2,000 feet
Visibility at least 3 statute miles
If an alternate is required:
Ensure it has a usable instrument approach
Verify alternate minimums
Check weather trends, not just forecasts
Confirm fuel sufficiency to reach it
Also evaluate practical alternates, not just legal ones.
R — Route to Be Flown
Your IFR route must be:
Legal
Efficient
Compatible with aircraft performance and weather
This includes:
Preferred routes
Airway MEAs and MOCA
Obstacle clearance
Terrain and special use airspace
Expected ATC routing vs. filed routing
Consider whether your route:
Avoids icing or convection
Provides reasonable outs if weather worsens
Keeps you within aircraft and pilot capabilities
T — Takeoff and Landing Distance Data
While not always required for every Part 91 flight, this is critical:
Short or contaminated runways
High density altitude
High weight operations
Instrument approaches to minimums
Evaluate:
Accelerate-stop distance
Takeoff distance over a 50-foot obstacle
Landing distance factoring in weather and runway conditions
IFR often means reduced margins—know your numbers.
N — NOTAMs
NOTAMs can dramatically affect an IFR flight.
Review NOTAMs for:
Runway and taxiway closures
NAVAID outages
Approach procedure changes
Lighting failures
GPS outages or RAIM issues
Airspace restrictions
Pay particular attention to:
NOTAMs affecting your alternate
NOTAMs that invalidate an approach
Temporary restrictions near your route
Why This Matters in Real IFR Flying
WKFARTN is not just a checklist—it’s a risk management framework.
Skipping or rushing IFR preflight planning can lead to:
Illegal departures
Inadequate fuel reserves
Missed alternates
In-flight surprises with weather or ATC
Increased workload during critical phases of flight
A thorough IFR preflight reduces workload in the air, where time, visibility, and options are limited.
Practical Tips for IFR Preflight Success
Use flight planning software, but verify critical items manually
Brief your alternate approach before departure
Write down expected clearances and delays
Think through “what if” scenarios
Treat every IFR flight like a training event
Final Thoughts
The acronyms WKFARTN and NWKRAFT exist for a reason: they help ensure that IFR pilots comply with the regulations while preparing for the complexity of instrument flying.
An IFR clearance does not make a flight safe—preparation does.
If you consistently apply these required IFR preflight actions, you’ll not only stay legal, but you’ll also fly smarter, calmer, and more confidently in the system.
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