AA.VI.D — Non-precision Approaches
AA.VI.D for the Airline Transport Pilot Airplane ACS: official objective, references, and 25 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 VI. Instrument Procedures |
| Task | Task D. Non-precision Approaches |
| Task code prefix | AA.VI.D |
| Official references | 14 CFR part 91; AC 120-108; AIM; Chart Supplements; FAA-H-8083-2, FAA-H-8083-3, FAA-H-8083-15, FAA-H-8083-16, FAA-H-8083-25; Terminal Procedures Publications |
| 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 performing non-precision approach procedures.
What the ACS code means
- AA identifies the ACS standard family used for this Airline Transport Pilot Airplane document.
- VI identifies Instrument Procedures, the Area of Operation.
- D identifies Non-precision Approaches, 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.VI.D.K1 | Procedures and limitations associated with a non-precision approach, including the differences between Localizer Performance (LP) and Lateral Navigation (LNAV) approach guidance. | Explain the element, apply it to a scenario, and connect the answer to current references or aircraft information when relevant. |
| AA.VI.D.K2 | Navigation system displays and annunciations, modes of operation, and Required Navigation Performance (RNP) lateral accuracy values associated with an RNAV (GPS) approach. | Explain the element, apply it to a scenario, and connect the answer to current references or aircraft information when relevant. |
| AA.VI.D.K3 | Ground-based and satellite-based navigation systems (orientation, course determination, equipment, tests and regulations, interference, appropriate use of navigation data, signal integrity). | Explain the element, apply it to a scenario, and connect the answer to current references or aircraft information when relevant. |
| AA.VI.D.K4 | A 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. |
Risk management elements
| ACS code | Official description | How a mock oral can probe it |
|---|---|---|
| AA.VI.D.R1 | Deviating from the assigned approach procedure. | Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision. |
| AA.VI.D.R2 | Selecting a navigation frequency. | Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision. |
| AA.VI.D.R3 | Management of automated navigation and autoflight systems. | Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision. |
| AA.VI.D.R4 | Aircraft configuration during an approach and missed approach. | Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision. |
| AA.VI.D.R5 | An unstable approach, including excessive descent rates. | Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision. |
| AA.VI.D.R6 | Deteriorating weather conditions on approach. | Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision. |
| AA.VI.D.R7 | Operating below the minimum descent altitude (MDA) without proper visual references. | 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.VI.D.S1 | Accomplish the non-precision instrument approaches selected by the evaluator. | Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test. |
| AA.VI.D.S2 | Establish two-way communications with air traffic control (ATC) appropriate for the phase of flight or approach segment, and use proper communication phraseology. | Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test. |
| AA.VI.D.S3 | Select, tune, identify, and confirm the operational status of navigation equipment to be used for the 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.VI.D.S4 | Comply with all clearances issued by ATC or the evaluator. | Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test. |
| AA.VI.D.S5 | Recognize if any flight instrumentation is inaccurate or inoperative, and take appropriate action. | Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test. |
| AA.VI.D.S6 | Advise ATC or the evaluator if unable to comply with a clearance. | Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test. |
| AA.VI.D.S7 | Coordinate with crew, if applicable, and complete the appropriate checklist(s) 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.VI.D.S8 | Establish the appropriate airplane configuration and airspeed considering meteorological and operating 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.VI.D.S9 | Maintain altitude ±100 feet, selected heading ±5°, airspeed ±10 knots, and accurately track radials, courses, and bearings, prior to beginning the final approach 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.VI.D.S10 | Adjust the published MDA/Derived Decision Altitude (DDA) and visibility criteria for the aircraft approach category, as appropriate, for factors that include Notices to Air Missions (NOTAMs), inoperative aircraft or navigation equipment, or inoperative visual aids associated with the landing environment, etc. | Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test. |
| AA.VI.D.S11 | Establish a stabilized descent to the appropriate altitude. | Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test. |
| AA.VI.D.S12 | For the final approach segment, maintain no more than ¼ scale course deviation indicator (CDI) deflection, airspeed ±5 knots of selected value, and altitude above MDA +50/-0 feet [to the visual descent point (VDP) or missed approach point (MAP)]. | Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test. |
| AA.VI.D.S13 | Execute the missed approach procedure if the required visual references are not distinctly visible and identifiable at the appropriate point or altitude for the approach profile; or execute a normal landing from a straight-in or circling 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.VI.D.S14 | Use a Multi-Function Display (MFD) and other graphical navigation displays, if installed, to monitor position, track wind drift and other parameters to maintain desired flightpath. | 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
- 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.VI.C — Arrival Procedures
Area of Operation VI. Instrument Procedures
- AA.VI.E — Precision Approaches
Area of Operation VI. Instrument Procedures
- AA.VI.A — Instrument Takeoff
Area of Operation VI. Instrument Procedures
- AA.VI.B — Departure Procedures
Area of Operation VI. Instrument Procedures