AA.III.C — Glassy Water Takeoff and Climb (ASES, AMES)
AA.III.C 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
| Certificate or rating | Airline Transport Pilot |
|---|---|
| Aircraft category | Airplane |
| Area of operation | Area of Operation III. Takeoffs and Landings |
| Task | Task C. Glassy Water Takeoff and Climb (ASES, AMES) |
| Task code prefix | AA.III.C |
| Official references | FAA-H-8083-2, FAA-H-8083-3, FAA-H-8083-23, FAA-H-8083-25; POH/AFM |
| FAA document | FAA-S-ACS-11A — Airline Transport Pilot and Type Rating for Airplane Category Airman Certification Standards |
| FAA source library | Open the official ACS library |
Official task objective
To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with glassy water takeoff and climb.
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.
- C identifies Glassy Water Takeoff and Climb (ASES, AMES), 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
| ACS code | Official description | How a mock oral can probe it |
|---|---|---|
| AA.III.C.K1 | Effects of atmospheric conditions, including wind, on takeoff and climb performance. | Explain the element, apply it to a scenario, and connect the answer to current references or aircraft information when relevant. |
| AA.III.C.K2 | Appropriate power settings and V-speeds for takeoff and climb. | Explain the element, apply it to a scenario, and connect the answer to current references or aircraft information when relevant. |
| AA.III.C.K3 | Appropriate airplane configuration. | Explain the element, apply it to a scenario, and connect the answer to current references or aircraft information when relevant. |
| AA.III.C.K4 | Appropriate use of glassy water takeoff and climb technique. | Explain the element, apply it to a scenario, and connect the answer to current references or aircraft information when relevant. |
Risk management elements
| ACS code | Official description | How a mock oral can probe it |
|---|---|---|
| AA.III.C.R1 | Selection of the takeoff path 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.C.R2 | Abnormal operations, including planning for: | Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision. |
| AA.III.C.R2a | a. Rejected takeoff | Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision. |
| AA.III.C.R2b | b. Potential engine failure in takeoff/climb phase of flight | Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision. |
| AA.III.C.R3 | Collision hazards. | Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision. |
| AA.III.C.R4 | Low 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.C.R5 | Distractions, task prioritization, loss of situational awareness, or disorientation. | Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision. |
| AA.III.C.R6 | Gear position in an amphibious airplane. | Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision. |
Skills elements
| ACS code | Official description | How a mock oral can probe it |
|---|---|---|
| AA.III.C.S1 | Coordinate with crew, if applicable, and complete the appropriate checklist(s) prior to takeoff in a timely manner. | 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.C.S2 | Make 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.C.S3 | Position the flight controls for the existing wind, 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. |
| AA.III.C.S4 | Verify the airplane is configured for takeoff. | 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.C.S5 | Clear the area; select appropriate takeoff path considering surface conditions and collision hazards. | 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.C.S6 | Retract the water rudders, 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.C.S7 | Set and confirm takeoff power. | 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.C.S8 | Avoid excessive water spray on the propeller(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.C.S9 | Maintain directional control throughout takeoff and climb. | 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.C.S10 | Establish and maintain an appropriate planing attitude, directional control, and correct for porpoising, skipping, and increase in water drag. | 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.C.S11 | Utilize appropriate techniques to lift seaplane from the water considering surface conditions. | 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.C.S12 | Adjust power, as appropriate, and establish a pitch attitude to maintain the appropriate climb airspeed/V-speed, ±5 knots for each climb segment. | 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.C.S13 | Retract flaps after a positive rate of climb has been verified or in accordance with manufacturer or operator procedures and limitations, 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.C.S14 | Follow noise abatement procedures, as practicable. | 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 glassy water condition does not exist, the applicant must be evaluated by simulating the Task.
- 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.
Related ACS tasks
- All Airline Transport Pilot Airplane ACS tasks
48 task-level resources from FAA-S-ACS-11A.
- AA.III.B — Normal Approach and Landing
Area of Operation III. Takeoffs and Landings
- AA.III.D — Glassy Water Approach and Landing (ASES, AMES)
Area of Operation III. Takeoffs and Landings
- AA.III.A — Normal Takeoff and Climb
Area of Operation III. Takeoffs and Landings
- AA.III.E — Rough Water Takeoff and Climb (ASES, AMES)
Area of Operation III. Takeoffs and Landings