By Leslie Caubble, CFI/IGI
There was quite a buzz in the flight instruction world when the FAA published the Flight Instructor Airman Certification Standards (ACS) over Easter weekend this year. The change from the Practical Test Standards (PTS) to the ACS was a long-anticipated update for flight instructor applicants and Designated Pilot Examiners (DPEs). The newest update was effective for checkrides on 5/31/24 or later.
At the same time, the FAA also made an update to the Private Pilot ACS. These updates happen occasionally, but this one was overshadowed by the bigger announcement regarding the Flight Instructor ACS. Examiners have had to update their Private Pilot plans of action, and a few instructors have been caught unaware of some minor, but noteworthy, changes.
WHY IS THE LATEST ACS UPDATE IMPORTANT?
The Private Pilot checkride is based on the Private Pilot ACS. The ACS is the guidebook that contains the knowledge, risk management, and skills standards a private pilot applicant must maintain to pass the checkride. There weren’t many major changes to this update, but there are a few that are worth noting so you and your CFI aren’t taken by surprise on your checkride day.
Here are some important things to know about the latest Private Pilot ACS update:
CURRENT VERSION: FAA-S-ACS-6C
First, you need to verify you are training to the current version. If you do a Google search for “Private Pilot ACS” you might see multiple documents. The current version is FAA-S-ACS-6C Private Pilot for Airplane Category Airman Certification Standards, November 2023. FAA.gov offers a free download of the document. For important FAA documents and handbooks, I personally recommend purchasing a hard copy.
APPLICANT CHECKLIST AND SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
Regulatory guidelines remain in the ACS document, but the Applicant Checklist and supplemental (non-regulatory) information have been moved from the ACS to the Airman Certification Standards Companion Guide for Pilots (FAA-G-ACS-2). This is important because the Applicant Checklist is a helpful document to have at your side when preparing for your checkride. After you’ve started training, be sure to read this document for other useful information such as a helpful FAA document reference list, abbreviations and acronyms, and instructions for taking the FAA knowledge exam.
ACS CODE ADDITIONS AND REMOVALS
The updated ACS for Private Pilot Airplane has some minor changes that we will note in more detail, but there are no new Tasks or maneuvers included in the update. Multiple ACS codes have been removed, and new ones have been added. This is standard practice when any revisions are made to the ACS. The list of these codes can be found in the front of the ACS, as well as in the ACS Companion Guide document. Be sure to check your knowledge exam missed test codes to see if your code has been removed from the ACS.
WEATHER INFORMATION
One of the minor changes you’ll notice on the updated Airman Certification Standards for Private Pilots is related to aviation weather products. This isn’t a new Task that applicants are being tested on, but the updated ACS gives more detail and guidance as to specific weather products that a private pilot should be familiar with and use in flight planning.
Task C: Weather Information, Knowledge element PA.I.C.K2, states, “Acceptable weather products and resources required for preflight planning, current and forecast weather for departure, en route, and arrival phases of flight…” now contains a list of subparts:
PA.I.C.K2a a. Airport Observations (METAR and SPECI) and Pilot Observations (PIREP)
PA.I.C.K2b b. Surface Analysis Chart, Ceiling and Visibility Chart (CVA)
PA.I.C.K2c c. Terminal Aerodrome Forecasts (TAF)
PA.I.C.K2d d. Graphical Forecasts for Aviation (GFA)
PA.I.C.K2e e. Wind and Temperature Aloft Forecast (FB)
PA.I.C.K2f f. Convective Outlook (AC)
On one hand, this shouldn’t be new information for the student pilot. Student pilots should be learning about these products in a ground school and with their CFI. Good pilots continue to utilize all these weather products in flight planning.
However, I’ve found in conducting dozens of mock oral checkrides that weather theory and the use of fundamental aviation weather products continues to be a weak area for the majority of checkride applicants. Many student pilots have never looked at the Graphical Forecasts for Aviation (GFA) or fully understand what a Pilot Observation (PIREP) is and how useful it is in preflight planning and as an inflight weather resource.
USE OF AN ELECTRONIC FLIGHT BAG (EFB)
The ACS provides clear acceptance of the use of an electronic flight bag (EFB), such as ForeFlight. The use of an EFB is specifically noted in the ACS under the tasks for Cross-Country Flight Planning & Navigation Systems and Radar Services. This allowance brings the standards up to date with best practices in the industry using electronic tools for weather briefings and flight planning. This means that you do not have to bring a paper chart or navigation log with you to your checkride. However, it doesn’t take away the value of working through a weather briefing and nav log by hand to understand where the data is coming from. Be assured the examiner will ask questions along those lines, and an incorrect answer would be, “I got it from ForeFlight.”
EMERGENCY OPERATIONS
There are a few updates in Area of Operation IX: Emergency Operations that are worth noting, especially if you’re training in a more advanced aircraft. If you’re flying an aircraft equipped with a ballistic parachute system, such as a Cirrus with a CAPS system, you’re now responsible several knowledge, risk management and skills items. The same is true for an aircraft equipped with the new auto-land system.
NIGHT OPERATIONS
Area of Operation XI: Night Operations has expanded with the addition of several Knowledge and Risk Management elements. These elements could’ve previously been incorporated into discussion under other elements in the ACS, but this update provides helpful detail to guide your studies. Look for new elements such as night taxi operations, night currency vs. proficiency, and weather conditions specific to night operations.
OTHER ADDITIONS TO NOTE
A few other additions that even your CFI might not be aware of to pay attention to are:
PA.I.B.K1e e. Owner/Operator and pilot-in-command responsibilities
PA.I.D.K6 Inflight intercept procedures
PA.I.H.R4 Confirmation and expectation bias
PA.II.A.S3,4 Perform self-assessment; Continue to assess the environment for safe flight.
PA.II.B.K4 Securing items and cargo
PA.II.B.R3 Passenger distractions
PA.II.C.K4 Conditions leading to and procedures for an aborted start
PA.III.A.R4 Use of non-standard phraseology
PA.IX.C.R4 Startle response
This isn’t a complete list of additions, but these are new elements that I have seen take some recommending instructors by surprise.
CONCLUSION
As with all the Areas of Operations, be sure that the ACS is not skimmed over. Do a thorough line-by-line review of every element to prevent any surprises on your checkride. Review it together with your CFI and make note of any element that you don’t understand. The guidance I give my students is: If you can’t talk about each line for a least two minutes, that’s an indication that you may need more study on that subject.
Best of luck on your checkride!
By Leslie Caubble, CFI/IGI
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