AA.VII.F — Precision Approach (Manually Flown) with a Powerplant Failure (Simulated) (AMEL, AMES)

AA.VII.F for the Airline Transport Pilot Airplane ACS: official objective, references, and 27 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.VII.F official ACS context
Certificate or ratingAirline Transport Pilot
Aircraft categoryAirplane
Area of operationArea of Operation VII. Emergency Operations
TaskTask F. Precision Approach (Manually Flown) with a Powerplant Failure (Simulated) (AMEL, AMES)
Task code prefixAA.VII.F
Official referencesFAA-H-8083-2, FAA-H-8083-3, FAA-H-8083-15, FAA-H-8083-16, FAA-H-8083-25; POH/AFM; 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 precision approach (manually flown) with a powerplant failure in a multiengine airplane.

What the ACS code means

  • AA identifies the ACS standard family used for this Airline Transport Pilot Airplane document.
  • VII identifies Emergency Operations, the Area of Operation.
  • F identifies Precision Approach (Manually Flown) with a Powerplant Failure (Simulated) (AMEL, 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

Official ACS knowledge items and mock-oral treatment
ACS codeOfficial descriptionHow a mock oral can probe it
AA.VII.F.K1Flight characteristics and controllability associated with maneuvering to a landing with inoperative powerplant(s).Explain the element, apply it to a scenario, and connect the answer to current references or aircraft information when relevant.
AA.VII.F.K2Missed approach considerations with a powerplant failure.Explain the element, apply it to a scenario, and connect the answer to current references or aircraft information when relevant.
AA.VII.F.K3How to determine a suitable airport.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.VII.F.R1Planning for a powerplant failure inflight or during an approach.Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision.
AA.VII.F.R2Collision hazards.Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision.
AA.VII.F.R3Configuring the airplane.Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision.
AA.VII.F.R4Low 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.VII.F.R5Distractions, 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.VII.F.R6Landing with a powerplant failure.Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision.
AA.VII.F.R7Missed approach with a powerplant failure.Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision.
AA.VII.F.R8Maneuvering in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) with a powerplant failure.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.VII.F.S1Recognize and correctly identify powerplant(s) failure, complete memory items (if applicable), and maintain positive airplane control.Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test.
AA.VII.F.S2Coordinate with crew, if applicable, and complete the appropriate emergency procedures and checklist(s) for simulated propeller feathering or simulated powerplant shutdown.Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test.
AA.VII.F.S3Use flight controls and configure the aircraft as required to maintain best performance or as recommended by the manufacturer.Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test.
AA.VII.F.S4Maintain the operating powerplant(s) within acceptable operating limits.Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test.
AA.VII.F.S5Make 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.VII.F.S6Proceed toward the nearest suitable airport.Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test.
AA.VII.F.S7Coordinate with crew, if applicable, and complete the approach and landing checklists.Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test.
AA.VII.F.S8Establish 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.VII.F.S9Prior to beginning the final approach segment, maintain the desired altitude ±100 feet, the desired airspeed ±10 knots, the desired heading ±5°, and accurately track courses, radials, and bearings.Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test.
AA.VII.F.S10Apply adjustments to the published decision altitude (DA)/decision height (DH) and visibility criteria for the aircraft approach category, as appropriate, for factors that include Notices to Air Missions (NOTAMs), inoperative aircraft or navigation equipment, 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.VII.F.S11Establish a predetermined rate of descent at the point where vertical guidance begins, which approximates that required for the aircraft to follow the vertical guidance.Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test.
AA.VII.F.S12Fly and maintain a stabilized approach, adjusting pitch and power as required, allowing no more than ¼-scale deflection of either the vertical or lateral guidance indications.Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test.
AA.VII.F.S13Maintain a stabilized final approach from the final approach fix (FAF) to the DA/DH allowing no more than ¼-scale deflection of either the vertical or lateral guidance indications and maintain the desired airspeed ±5 knots.Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test.
AA.VII.F.S14Maintain directional control and appropriate crosswind correction throughout the approach and landing or missed 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.VII.F.S15Upon reaching the DA/DH, immediately initiate the missed approach procedures if the required visual references for the runway are not distinctly visible and identifiable (or if in a seaplane); or transition to a normal landing approach only when the aircraft is in a position from which a descent to a landing on the runway can be made at a normal rate of descent using normal maneuvering.Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test.
AA.VII.F.S16Make smooth, timely, and correct control application before, during, and after touchdown or during the missed approach.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 2: Safety of Flight and 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.

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