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  2. Certification Standards
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  4. Area X
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Private Pilot for Powered-Lift Category
  1. I. Preflight Preparation
  2. II. Preflight Procedures
  3. III. Airport and Heliport Operations
  4. IV. Hovering Maneuvers
  5. V. Takeoffs, Landings, and Go-Arounds
  6. VI. Performance Maneuvers
  7. VII. Ground Reference Maneuvers
  8. VIII. Navigation
  9. IX. Slow Flight and Stalls
  10. X. Basic Instrument Maneuvers
    1. Task A Straight-and-Level Flight
    2. Task B Constant Airspeed Climbs
    3. Task C Constant Airspeed Descents
    4. Task D Turns to Headings
    5. Task E Recovery from Unusual Flight Attitudes
    6. Task F Radio Communications, Navigation Systems/Facilities, and Radar Services
  11. XI. Emergency Operations
  12. XII. Night Operations
  13. XIII. Postflight Procedures

Private Pilot for Powered-Lift Category|FAA-S-ACS-13

Area of Operation X

Basic Instrument Maneuvers

6 Tasks

Task A Straight-and-Level Flight

References

FAA-H-8083-2, FAA-H-8083-15, FAA-H-8083-25

Objective

To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with flying during straight-and-level flight solely by reference to instruments.

Knowledge

PL.X.A.K1

Flight instruments as they relate to:

PL.X.A.K1a

a. Instrument limitations and potential errors

PL.X.A.K1b

b. Indication of the aircraft attitude

PL.X.A.K1c

c. Function and operation

PL.X.A.K1d

d. Instrument cross-check techniques

Risk Management

PL.X.A.R1

Instrument flying hazards, including failure to maintain visual flight rules (VFR), spatial disorientation, loss of control, fatigue, stress, and emergency off airport landings.

PL.X.A.R2

When to seek assistance or declare an emergency in a deteriorating situation.

PL.X.A.R3

Collision hazards.

PL.X.A.R4

Distractions, task prioritization, loss of situational awareness, or disorientation.

PL.X.A.R5

Fixation and omission.

PL.X.A.R6

Instrument Interpretation.

PL.X.A.R7

Control application solely by reference to instruments.

PL.X.A.R8

Trimming the aircraft.

Skills

PL.X.A.S1

Maintain straight-and-level flight using proper instrument cross-check and interpretation, and coordinated control application.

PL.X.A.S2

Maintain altitude ±200 feet, heading ±20°, and airspeed ±10 knots.

Task B Constant Airspeed Climbs

References

FAA-H-8083-2, FAA-H-8083-15, FAA-H-8083-25

Objective

To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with attitude instrument flying during constant airspeed climbs solely by reference to instruments.

Knowledge

PL.X.B.K1

Flight instruments as they relate to:

PL.X.B.K2a

a. Instrument limitations and potential errors

PL.X.B.K2b

b. Indication of the aircraft attitude

PL.X.B.K2c

c. Function and operation

PL.X.B.K2d

d. Proper instrument cross-check techniques

Not in the captured text: PL.X.B.K2. Read it in the official PDF from the page tools.

Risk Management

PL.X.B.R1

Instrument flying hazards, including failure to maintain visual flight rules (VFR), spatial disorientation, loss of control, fatigue, stress, and emergency off airport landings.

PL.X.B.R2

When to seek assistance or declare an emergency in a deteriorating situation.

PL.X.B.R3

Collision hazards.

PL.X.B.R4

Distractions, task prioritization, loss of situational awareness, or disorientation.

PL.X.B.R5

Fixation and omission.

PL.X.B.R6

Instrument Interpretation.

PL.X.B.R7

Control application solely by reference to instruments.

PL.X.B.R8

Trimming the aircraft.

Skills

PL.X.B.S1

Transition to the climb pitch attitude and power setting on an assigned heading using proper instrument cross-check and interpretation, and coordinated flight control application.

PL.X.B.S2

Climb at a constant airspeed to specific altitudes in straight flight and turns.

PL.X.B.S3

Level off at the assigned altitude and maintain altitude ±200 feet, heading ±20°, and airspeed ±10 knots.

Task C Constant Airspeed Descents

References

FAA-H-8083-2, FAA-H-8083-15, FAA-H-8083-25

Objective

To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with attitude instrument flying during constant airspeed descents solely by reference to instruments.

Knowledge

PL.X.C.K1

Flight instruments as they relate to:

PL.X.C.K1a

a. Instrument limitations and potential errors

PL.X.C.K1b

b. Indication of the aircraft attitude

PL.X.C.K1c

c. Function and operation

PL.X.C.K1d

d. Proper instrument cross-check techniques

Risk Management

PL.X.C.R1

Instrument flying hazards, including failure to maintain visual flight rules (VFR), spatial disorientation, loss of control, fatigue, stress, and emergency off airport landings.

PL.X.C.R2

When to seek assistance or declare an emergency in a deteriorating situation.

PL.X.C.R3

Collision hazards.

PL.X.C.R4

Distractions, task prioritization, loss of situational awareness, or disorientation.

PL.X.C.R5

Fixation and omission.

PL.X.C.R6

Instrument Interpretation.

PL.X.C.R7

Control application solely by reference to instruments.

PL.X.C.R8

Trimming the aircraft.

Skills

PL.X.C.S1

Transition to the descent pitch attitude and power setting on an assigned heading using proper instrument cross-check and interpretation, and coordinated flight control application.

PL.X.C.S2

Descend at a constant airspeed to specific altitudes in straight flight and turns.

PL.X.C.S3

Level off at the assigned altitude and maintain altitude ±200 feet, heading ±20°, and airspeed ±10 knots.

Task D Turns to Headings

References

FAA-H-8083-2, FAA-H-8083-15, FAA-H-8083-25

Objective

To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with attitude instrument flying during turns to headings solely by reference to instruments.

Knowledge

PL.X.D.K1

Flight instruments as they relate to:

PL.X.D.K1a

a. Instrument limitations and potential errors

PL.X.D.K1b

b. Indication of the aircraft attitude

PL.X.D.K1c

c. Function and operation

PL.X.D.K1d

d. Proper instrument cross-check techniques

Risk Management

PL.X.D.R1

Instrument flying hazards, including failure to maintain visual flight rules (VFR), spatial disorientation, loss of control, fatigue, stress, and emergency off airport landings.

PL.X.D.R2

When to seek assistance or declare an emergency in a deteriorating situation.

PL.X.D.R3

Collision hazards.

PL.X.D.R4

Distractions, task prioritization, loss of situational awareness, or disorientation.

PL.X.D.R5

Fixation and omission.

PL.X.D.R6

Instrument Interpretation.

PL.X.D.R7

Control application solely by reference to instruments.

PL.X.D.R8

Trimming the aircraft.

Skills

PL.X.D.S1

Turn to headings, maintain altitude ±200 feet, maintain a standard rate turn, roll out on the assigned heading ±10°, and maintain airspeed ±10 knots.

Task E Recovery from Unusual Flight Attitudes

References

FAA-H-8083-2, FAA-H-8083-25; Flight Manual

Objective

To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with attitude instrument flying while recovering from unusual attitudes solely by reference to instruments.

Note

See Appendix 3: Aircraft, Equipment, and Operational Requirements & Limitations for information related to this Task.

Knowledge

PL.X.E.K1

Prevention of unusual attitudes, including flight causal, physiological, and environmental factors, and system and equipment failures.

PL.X.E.K2

Procedures for recovery from unusual attitudes in flight.

PL.X.E.K3

Procedures available to safely regain visual meteorological conditions (VMC) after flight into inadvertent instrument meteorological conditions or unintended instrument meteorological conditions (IIMC)/(UIMC).

PL.X.E.K4

Appropriate use of automation, if applicable.

Risk Management

PL.X.E.R1

Situations that could lead to loss of control in-flight (LOC-I) or unusual attitudes in-flight (e.g., stress, task saturation, inadequate instrument scan distractions, and spatial disorientation).

PL.X.E.R2

Assessment of the unusual attitude.

PL.X.E.R3

Control input errors, inducing undesired aircraft attitudes.

PL.X.E.R4

Collision hazards.

PL.X.E.R5

Distractions, task prioritization, loss of situational awareness, or disorientation.

PL.X.E.R6

Interpreting flight instruments.

PL.X.E.R7

Control application solely by reference to instruments.

PL.X.E.R8

Operating envelope considerations.

Skills

PL.X.E.S1

Use proper instrument cross-check and interpretation to identify an unusual attitude (including both nose-high and nose-low) in flight, and apply the appropriate flight control, power input, and aircraft configuration in the correct sequence, to return to a stabilized level flight attitude.

PL.X.E.S2

Use single-pilot resource management (SRM) or crew resource management (CRM), as appropriate.

Task F Radio Communications, Navigation Systems/Facilities, and Radar Services

References

FAA-H-8083-2, FAA-H-8083-15, FAA-H-8083-25

Objective

To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with radio communications, navigation systems/facilities, and radar services available for use during flight solely by reference to instruments.

Knowledge

PL.X.F.K1

Operating communications equipment, including identifying and selecting radio frequencies, requesting and following air traffic control (ATC) instructions.

PL.X.F.K2

Operating navigation equipment, including functions and displays, and following bearings, radials, or courses.

PL.X.F.K3

Air traffic control facilities and services.

Risk Management

PL.X.F.R1

When to seek assistance or declare an emergency in a deteriorating situation.

PL.X.F.R2

Using available resources (e.g., automation, ATC, and flight deck planning aids).

Skills

PL.X.F.S1

Maintain aircraft control while selecting proper communications frequencies, identifying the appropriate facility, and managing navigation equipment.

PL.X.F.S2

Comply with ATC instructions.

Previous AreaIX. Slow Flight and StallsNext Area XI. Emergency Operations

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Task A Straight-and-Level Flight