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AA.III.B — Normal Approach and Landing

AA.III.B for the Airline Transport Pilot Airplane ACS: official objective, references, and 26 exact knowledge, risk-management, and skill descriptions.

FAA-S-ACS-11A, November 2023. This study page does not replace the current FAA publication or an examiner's plan of action.

Official task context

AA.III.B official ACS context
Certificate or ratingAirline Transport Pilot
Aircraft categoryAirplane
Area of operationArea of Operation III. Takeoffs and Landings
TaskTask B. Normal Approach and Landing
Task code prefixAA.III.B
Official referencesAIM; FAA-H-8083-2, FAA-H-8083-3, FAA-H-8083-23, FAA-H-8083-25; POH/AFM; SAFO 17010, SAFO 19001
FAA documentFAA-S-ACS-11A — Airline Transport Pilot and Type Rating for Airplane Category Airman Certification Standards
FAA source libraryOpen the official ACS library

Official task objective

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

What the ACS code means

  • AA identifies the ACS standard family used for this Airline Transport Pilot Airplane document.
  • III identifies Takeoffs and Landings, the Area of Operation.
  • B identifies Normal Approach and Landing, the Task within that Area.
  • K, R, and S identify knowledge, risk-management, and skill elements. The number selects the item; a trailing lowercase letter identifies a listed sub-element.

Knowledge elements

Official ACS knowledge items and mock-oral treatment
ACS codeOfficial descriptionHow a mock oral can probe it
AA.III.B.K1A stabilized approach, including energy management concepts.Explain the element, apply it to a scenario, and connect the answer to current references or aircraft information when relevant.
AA.III.B.K2Effects of atmospheric conditions, including wind, on approach and landing performance.Explain the element, apply it to a scenario, and connect the answer to current references or aircraft information when relevant.
AA.III.B.K3Wind correction techniques on approach and landing.Explain the element, apply it to a scenario, and connect the answer to current references or aircraft information when relevant.
AA.III.B.K4Runway markings and lighting.Explain the element, apply it to a scenario, and connect the answer to current references or aircraft information when relevant.

Risk management elements

Official ACS risk management items and mock-oral treatment
ACS codeOfficial descriptionHow a mock oral can probe it
AA.III.B.R1Selection of a runway or approach path and touchdown area based on aircraft limitations, available distance, surface conditions, and wind.Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision.
AA.III.B.R2Wake turbulence.Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision.
AA.III.B.R3Go-around/rejected landing.Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision.
AA.III.B.R4Land and hold short operations (LAHSO).Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision.
AA.III.B.R5Collision hazards.Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision.
AA.III.B.R6Low altitude maneuvering, including stall, spin, or controlled flight into terrain (CFIT).Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision.
AA.III.B.R7Distractions, loss of situational awareness, incorrect airport surface approach and landing, or improper task management.Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision.

Skills elements

Official ACS skills items and mock-oral treatment
ACS codeOfficial descriptionHow a mock oral can probe it
AA.III.B.S1Coordinate with crew, if applicable, and complete the appropriate checklist(s).Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test.
AA.III.B.S2Make radio calls as appropriate.Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test.
AA.III.B.S3Maintain a ground track that ensures the desired traffic pattern flown takes into consideration obstructions and air traffic control (ATC) or evaluator instructions.Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test.
AA.III.B.S4Ensure the airplane is aligned with the correct/assigned runway or landing surface.Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test.
AA.III.B.S5Scan the runway or landing surface and adjoining area for traffic and obstructions.Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test.
AA.III.B.S6Select a suitable touchdown point considering wind, landing surface, and obstructions.Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test.
AA.III.B.S7Establish the recommended approach and landing configuration and airspeed, ±5 knots, and adjust pitch attitude and power as required to maintain a stabilized approach.Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test.
AA.III.B.S8Maintain directional control and appropriate crosswind correction throughout the approach and landing.Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test.
AA.III.B.S9Make smooth, timely, and correct control application before, during, and after touchdown.Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test.
AA.III.B.S10Touch down with the runway centerline between the main landing gear at the appropriate speed and pitch attitude at the runway aiming point markings -250/+500 feet, or where there are no runway markings 750 to 1,500 feet from the approach threshold of the runway (ASEL, AMEL).Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test.
AA.III.B.S11During round out and touchdown contact the water at the proper pitch attitude within 200 feet beyond a specified point (ASES, AMES). In addition, for AMES, the touchdown is within the first one-third of the water landing area.Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test.
AA.III.B.S12Decelerate to taxi speed (20 knots or less on dry pavement, 10 knots or less on contaminated pavement) to within the calculated landing distance plus 25% for the actual conditions with the runway centerline between the main landing gear (At least one landing) (ASEL, AMEL).Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test.
AA.III.B.S13Use spoilers, prop reverse, thrust reverse, wheel brakes, and other drag/braking devices, as appropriate to safely slow the airplane. (At least one landing to a full stop).Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test.
AA.III.B.S14Execute a timely go-around if the approach cannot be made within the tolerances specified above or for any other condition that may result in an unsafe approach or landing.Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test.
AA.III.B.S15Use runway incursion avoidance procedures, if applicable.Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test.

Difficulty data

Difficulty calibration is ongoing for this Task. A difficulty estimate is published only with a sufficiently large, privacy-preserving first directly recorded assessment sample. Any observed difficulty comes from Checkride AI mock-oral practice assessments and is a practice-data proxy, not an FAA practical-test pass or fail rate.

Difficulty calibration remains ongoing until an item clears the private reporting threshold. Percentages, when available, describe the share who needed review on their first directly recorded assessment. Underlying sample sizes are never published, and historical final states are not backfilled into this measure.

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.

How to use this in a mock oral

A mock examiner can ask you to explain the published elements, apply them to the configured aircraft and airport scenario, identify risks, and defend a decision. The prompts are practice scenarios; they are not claimed to be actual FAA examiner scripts or a prediction of the questions you will receive.

Practice in a mock oral

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