During IIMC recovery, after establishing aircraft control, what is the required action for airspeed?

• A. Attitude-Level the wings and adjust pitch for desired airspeed while maintaining the aircraft in trim.
• B. Heading-Maintain heading; turn only to avoid known obstacles.
• C. Airspeed-Adjust to appropriate climb airspeed.
• D. Altitude-Climb to a minimum safe altitude as prescribed by DOD FLIP, local regulation, or SOP after establishing aircraft control.

Answer: (C)

After you regain control in an inadvertent IMC situation, the immediate priority is to set the aircraft to the appropriate climb airspeed. This choice ensures you have enough lift and a safe margin above stall while you begin to climb out of the degraded conditions. Climb airspeed supports a positive rate of climb and reliable engine performance, helping you regain visual reference or continue safely in instrument conditions.

Attitude stabilization and trimming are part of restoring control, but they don’t specify the necessary airspeed to optimize performance during the climb. Maintaining a heading or climbing to a minimum safe altitude are important goals, but they depend on first achieving the proper climb airspeed to ensure you can safely execute the climb and avoid stalling or other instability.