CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 10 Issue 3 - 25
ACS TIDBITS AND BEGINNINGS
STANDARDS DISSECTED
BY WILLIAM E. DUBOIS
THE AIRMAN CERTIFICATION STANDARDS (ACS) ARE THE FAA'S BLUEPRINTS FOR CHECKRIDES. In the case of the private pilot airplane
checkride, the current format is that of a simulated cross-country flight, and as such, the flow of the private pilot ACS starts at preflight planning
and ends with tying the airplane down. But before we start at the beginning, let's turn instead to the last pages of the ACS.
A "BOOK" TO READ FROM THE BACK
You probably know that your appendix serves no
biological or anatomical function. In fact, medical
experts can't even agree on why everyone has
one. Likewise, the appendixes of most books are
treated with the same disregard by most readers.
But ignoring the appendixes of the ACS would be a
grave disservice to your students, as there's a ton of
information worth knowing in the back of each ACS.
There are ten of these appendixes in the private
pilot ACS, nearly as many as there are sections of
the test itself! Appendixes 6 and 7 are particularly
full of gems. For instance: If the checkride
airplane has an autopilot, or FMS, the candidate
is expected to know how to use it; momentary
activation of stall horn in slow fight is OK, so long
as corrective action is taken at once; examiners
are encouraged to use "realistic distractions";
your student can bust the ride by not maintaining
scanning and collision avoidance throughout the
entire test; and much, much more.
THE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION SECTION
All flights start on the ground, and the ACS
divides preflight prep into eight separate
elements, each, of course, with the triumvirate of
knowledge, risk management issues, and skills
required. Under pilot qualifications for instance,
your student (called the applicant in the ACS)
is expected to demonstrate an understanding
of certification requirements, recent flight
experience, recordkeeping, privileges and
limitations, and the intricacies of medical
certificates and BasicMed. Where on earth can
risk management enter this picture? The ACS
guides examiners to find out if applicants can
"distinguish proficiency versus currency," and to
ask questions about flying unfamiliar airplanes
or operating with unfamiliar flight displays
or avionics. The skill in this case is to "apply
requirements to act as PIC" in a scenario.
See the FAA Airman Certification Standards online
(https://www.faa.gov/training_testing/testing/acs/)
https://www.faa.gov/training_testing/testing/acs/
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 10 Issue 3
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 10 Issue 3
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter—Vol. 10, Issue 3
CFI Notes and letters
CFI Notes: Did You Know? ASI's In-Person Flight Instructor Refresher Course—Then and Now
On landings—Finding the Sweet Spot
Safety Seminar: Difficult Decisions—What Would You Do?
Collected Wisdom: Tricks of the Trade
CFI News
CFI Tips: Maintenance Minded—Get Your Hands Dirty!
ASI Message: We Need Mentors Like You
Real Pilot Story: Backcountry Flight—One Way In, No Way Out
Standards Dissected: ACS Tidbits and Beginnings
Chart Challenge: I Follow Railroads
You Can Fly: The AOPA Flight Training Advantage—Take a Sneak Peek
Safety Quiz: Obstacle Departure Procedure
CFI Tools: Air Masses and Fronts—What Will the Weather Do?
Chief's Corner: Get Excited—Share that Excitement!
Safety Tip: Hot Starts—Demystified
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 10 Issue 3 - CFI-to-CFI Newsletter—Vol. 10, Issue 3
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 10 Issue 3 - CFI Notes and letters
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 10 Issue 3 - CFI Notes: Did You Know? ASI's In-Person Flight Instructor Refresher Course—Then and Now
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 10 Issue 3 - 4
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 10 Issue 3 - On landings—Finding the Sweet Spot
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 10 Issue 3 - 6
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 10 Issue 3 - 7
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 10 Issue 3 - 8
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 10 Issue 3 - 9
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 10 Issue 3 - Safety Seminar: Difficult Decisions—What Would You Do?
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 10 Issue 3 - Collected Wisdom: Tricks of the Trade
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 10 Issue 3 - CFI News
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 10 Issue 3 - 13
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 10 Issue 3 - 14
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 10 Issue 3 - 15
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 10 Issue 3 - CFI Tips: Maintenance Minded—Get Your Hands Dirty!
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 10 Issue 3 - 17
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 10 Issue 3 - 18
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 10 Issue 3 - 19
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 10 Issue 3 - ASI Message: We Need Mentors Like You
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 10 Issue 3 - 21
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 10 Issue 3 - Real Pilot Story: Backcountry Flight—One Way In, No Way Out
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 10 Issue 3 - 23
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 10 Issue 3 - 24
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 10 Issue 3 - Standards Dissected: ACS Tidbits and Beginnings
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 10 Issue 3 - 26
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 10 Issue 3 - Chart Challenge: I Follow Railroads
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 10 Issue 3 - 28
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 10 Issue 3 - You Can Fly: The AOPA Flight Training Advantage—Take a Sneak Peek
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 10 Issue 3 - Safety Quiz: Obstacle Departure Procedure
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 10 Issue 3 - 31
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 10 Issue 3 - CFI Tools: Air Masses and Fronts—What Will the Weather Do?
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 10 Issue 3 - Chief's Corner: Get Excited—Share that Excitement!
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 10 Issue 3 - 34
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 10 Issue 3 - 35
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 10 Issue 3 - Safety Tip: Hot Starts—Demystified
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