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AA.VI.G — Circling Approach

AA.VI.G for the Airline Transport Pilot Airplane ACS: official objective, references, and 15 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.VI.G official ACS context
Certificate or ratingAirline Transport Pilot
Aircraft categoryAirplane
Area of operationArea of Operation VI. Instrument Procedures
TaskTask G. Circling Approach
Task code prefixAA.VI.G
Official references14 CFR parts 91, 97; 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 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 performing a circling approach procedure.

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.
  • G identifies Circling Approach, 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.VI.G.K1Elements related to circling approach procedures and limitations, including approach categories and related airspeed restrictions.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.VI.G.R1Prescribed circling approach procedures.Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision.
AA.VI.G.R2Executing a circling approach at night or with marginal visibility.Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision.
AA.VI.G.R3Losing visual contact with an identifiable part of the airport.Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision.
AA.VI.G.R4Management 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.G.R5Control of altitude, airspeed, and distance while circling.Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision.
AA.VI.G.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.VI.G.R7Executing a missed approach after the MAP while circling.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.VI.G.S1Comply with the circling approach procedure considering turbulence, windshear, and the maneuvering capability and approach category of the aircraft.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.G.S2Confirm the direction of traffic and adhere to all restrictions and instructions 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.G.S3Coordinate 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.G.S4Establish the approach and landing configuration. Maintain a stabilized approach and a descent rate that ensures arrival at the MDA, or the preselected circling altitude above the MDA, prior to the missed approach point.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.G.S5Maintain airspeed ±5 knots, desired heading/track ±5°, and altitude +100/-0 feet until descending below the MDA or the preselected circling altitude above the MDA.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.G.S6Visually maneuver to a base or downwind leg appropriate for the landing runway and environmental 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.G.S7If a missed approach occurs, turn in the appropriate direction using the correct procedure and appropriately configure the airplane.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.

Practice in a mock oral

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