What instrument requirements apply for IFR/extended over-water operations when not using authorized exceptions?

• A. Marker beacon receiver and ILS are required; RNAV is optional.
• B. VOR receiver alone is sufficient.
• C. ADF is required; ILS is optional.
• D. GPS is required in all extended over-water operations.

Answer: (B)

Minimum instrument navigation equipment for IFR or extended over-water operations, when you aren’t using any authorized exceptions, is a VOR receiver. This provides the baseline means to determine position and maintain course on IFR routes published for oceanic or extended segments, using conventional VOR navigation. Marker beacon receivers and ILS are tied to specific airport approaches and landing procedures, not to en route navigation over water, so they aren’t required for this scenario. An ADF is not part of the standard oceanic IFR baseline, since NDB/navigation via ADF is outdated for modern IFR over-water ops. GPS capacity isn’t universally required for all extended over-water operations; it may be used if the operator’s approvals authorize RNAV/GPS procedures, but it’s not the mandatory minimum.