# AA.III.A — Normal Takeoff and Climb — Airline Transport Pilot Airplane ACS

> AA.III.A from FAA-S-ACS-11A, including the official objective, references, notes, and 31 exact knowledge, risk-management, and skill descriptions.

Canonical HTML: [https://www.check-ride.ai/acs/airplane/airline-transport-pilot/aa-iii-a](https://www.check-ride.ai/acs/airplane/airline-transport-pilot/aa-iii-a)

Site reference: [https://www.check-ride.ai/llms.txt](https://www.check-ride.ai/llms.txt)

## Official Task context

- FAA document: Airline Transport Pilot and Type Rating for Airplane Category Airman Certification Standards
- Identifier: FAA-S-ACS-11A
- Published source date: November 2023
- Aircraft category: Airplane
- Certificate or rating: Airline Transport Pilot
- Area of Operation: Area of Operation III. Takeoffs and Landings
- Task: Task A. Normal Takeoff and Climb
- Task code prefix: AA.III.A
- Official references: FAA-H-8083-2, FAA-H-8083-3, FAA-H-8083-23, FAA-H-8083-25; POH/AFM
- FAA source library: https://www.faa.gov/training_testing/testing/acs

## Official Task objective

To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management and skills associated with a normal takeoff and climb.

## Knowledge elements

- **AA.III.A.K1** — Effects of atmospheric conditions, including wind, on takeoff and climb performance.
- **AA.III.A.K2** — Appropriate V-speeds for takeoff and climb.
- **AA.III.A.K3** — Appropriate aircraft configuration and power setting for takeoff and climb.
- **AA.III.A.K4** — Runway markings and lighting.

## Risk management elements

- **AA.III.A.R1** — Selection of a runway, or runway intersection, based on aircraft limitations, available distance, surface conditions, and wind.
- **AA.III.A.R2** — Wake turbulence.
- **AA.III.A.R3** — Abnormal operations, including planning for:
- **AA.III.A.R3a** — a. Rejected takeoff
- **AA.III.A.R3b** — b. Potential engine failure in takeoff/climb phase of flight
- **AA.III.A.R4** — Configuring or setting the aircraft (e.g., trim, flaps, autobrakes, etc.).
- **AA.III.A.R5** — Collision hazards.
- **AA.III.A.R6** — Low altitude maneuvering, including stall, spin, or controlled flight into terrain (CFIT).
- **AA.III.A.R7** — Distractions, task prioritization, loss of situational awareness, or disorientation.

## Skills elements

- **AA.III.A.S1** — Coordinate with crew, if applicable, and complete the appropriate checklist(s) prior to takeoff in a timely manner.
- **AA.III.A.S2** — Make radio calls as appropriate.
- **AA.III.A.S3** — Verify assigned/correct runway (ASEL, AMEL) or takeoff path (ASES, AMES).
- **AA.III.A.S4** — Verify the airplane is configured for takeoff.
- **AA.III.A.S5** — Position the flight controls for the existing wind, if applicable.
- **AA.III.A.S6** — Clear the area, taxi into takeoff position, and align the airplane on the runway centerline (ASEL, AMEL) or takeoff path (ASES, AMES).
- **AA.III.A.S7** — Retract the water rudders, as appropriate (ASES, AMES).
- **AA.III.A.S8** — Establish and maintain the most efficient planing/lift-off attitude, and correct for porpoising or skipping (ASES, AMES).
- **AA.III.A.S9** — Maintain centerline (ASEL, AMEL) and proper flight control inputs during the takeoff roll.
- **AA.III.A.S10** — Confirm takeoff power and proper engine and flight instrument indications prior to rotation making callouts, as appropriate, for the airplane or per the operator’s procedures.
- **AA.III.A.S11** — Avoid excessive water spray on the propeller(s) (ASES, AMES).
- **AA.III.A.S12** — Rotate and lift off at the recommended airspeed.
- **AA.III.A.S13** — Establish a power setting and a pitch attitude to maintain the desired climb airspeed/V-speed, ±5 knots for each climb segment.
- **AA.III.A.S14** — Maintain desired heading ±5°.
- **AA.III.A.S15** — Retract the landing gear and flaps in accordance with manufacturer or operator procedures and limitations, as appropriate.
- **AA.III.A.S16** — Avoid wake turbulence, if applicable.
- **AA.III.A.S17** — Follow noise abatement procedures, as practicable.
- **AA.III.A.S18** — Complete appropriate after takeoff checklist(s) in a timely manner.

## Difficulty methodology

Difficulty calibration is ongoing for this Task. Observed difficulty is a privacy-thresholded check-ride.ai mock-oral practice proxy, not an FAA practical-test pass or fail rate. Underlying sample sizes and the private reporting threshold are not published.

## Official Task notes

- If a crosswind condition does not exist, the applicant’s knowledge of crosswind elements must be evaluated through oral testing.
- See Appendix 3: Aircraft, Equipment, and Operational Requirements & Limitations for information related to this Task.

## Use in practice

A mock examiner can ask a pilot to explain the published elements, apply them to the configured aircraft and airport context, identify risks, and defend a decision. Practice prompts are not represented as actual FAA examiner scripts or predictions of the questions a candidate will receive.