Quotes from Timothy E. Heron

If the plane you fly has a true airspeed of 120 to 180 knots, you need to be thinking about weather at least 120 miles to 180 miles ahead of your present position. That means the conditions you'll face at least one hour in front of your present position should be carefully considered now.

the WRIMTMS (weather, radios, instruments, minimums, time, missed approach procedure, and stuff) pre-landing briefing begins with weather. It's just that important.

With respect to altitude, MEA means you would fly the highest of the following: Minimum en route altitude, Expected altitude, or Assigned altitude. When do you leave your clearance limit? That depends.

Hold east of Appleton VOR on the 090 degree radial, 5 nautical mile legs, left turns, expect further clearance at 1630 Zulu, time now 1600 Zulu.").

The third and final point is to anticipate an EFC time from air traffic control all the time. If the controller does not issue an EFC to you, request one as soon as possible. You may need that time should your communications radio fail after receiving your clearance. The expect-further-clearance time sets the occasion for the next steps to take should a radio failure occur.

e.g., "Hold east of the Tiverton VOR, as published, expect further clearance at 1415 Zulu, time now 1345 Zulu.").

Instrument pilots cannot descend from an en route altitude to an approach-level altitude or ultimately the minimum descent altitude when they wish.

Three criteria must be met. The pilot must be (1) cleared for the approach by air traffic control, (2) within the prescribed distance, and (3) on a published segment of the approach (i.e., positive course guidance).

You are X miles from the marker; turn left heading 120 degrees, maintain 3,000 feet until established on the localizer, cleared for the ILS 9R approach at KXYZ.

However, FAR 91.167 does not take into account the additional fuel reserves that might be needed for vectoring while en route toward—or in the terminal area of—your destination.

N2864F, line up and wait.