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AI.IX.E — Ground Reference Maneuvers

AI.IX.E for the Flight Instructor Airplane ACS: official objective, references, and 21 exact knowledge, risk-management, and skill descriptions.

FAA-S-ACS-25, November 2023. This study page does not replace the current FAA publication or an examiner's plan of action.

Official task context

AI.IX.E official ACS context
Certificate or ratingFlight Instructor
Aircraft categoryAirplane
Area of operationArea of Operation IX. Performance and Ground Reference Maneuvers
TaskTask E. Ground Reference Maneuvers
Task code prefixAI.IX.E
Official referencesFAA-H-8083-2, FAA-H-8083-3, FAA-H-8083-9, FAA-H-8083-25; POH/AFM
FAA documentFAA-S-ACS-25 — Flight Instructor for Airplane Category Airman Certification Standards
FAA source libraryOpen the official ACS library

Official task objective

To determine the applicant understands ground reference maneuvers, can apply that knowledge, manage associated risks, demonstrate appropriate skills, and provide effective instruction.

What the ACS code means

  • AI identifies the ACS standard family used for this Flight Instructor Airplane document.
  • IX identifies Performance and Ground Reference Maneuvers, the Area of Operation.
  • E identifies Ground Reference Maneuvers, 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
AI.IX.E.K1Purpose of and procedures for ground reference maneuvers.Explain the element, apply it to a scenario, and connect the answer to current references or aircraft information when relevant.
AI.IX.E.K2Effects of wind on ground track and relation to a ground reference.Explain the element, apply it to a scenario, and connect the answer to current references or aircraft information when relevant.
AI.IX.E.K3Effects of bank angle and groundspeed on rate and radius of turn.Explain the element, apply it to a scenario, and connect the answer to current references or aircraft information when relevant.
AI.IX.E.K4Relationship of rectangular course to airport traffic pattern.Explain the element, apply it to a scenario, and connect the answer to current references or aircraft information when relevant.
AI.IX.E.K5Common errors related to this Task.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
AI.IX.E.R1Division of attention between aircraft control and orientation.Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision.
AI.IX.E.R2Collision hazards.Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision.
AI.IX.E.R3Low 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.
AI.IX.E.R4Distractions, 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.
AI.IX.E.R5Uncoordinated flight.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
AI.IX.E.S1Clear the area.Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test.
AI.IX.E.S2Select a suitable ground reference area, line, or point 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.
AI.IX.E.S3Plan the maneuver:Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test.
AI.IX.E.S3aa. Rectangular course: enter a left or right pattern, 600 to 1,000 feet above ground level (AGL) at an appropriate distance from the selected reference area, 45° to the downwind legDescribe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test.
AI.IX.E.S3bb. S-turns: enter perpendicular to the selected reference line, 600 to 1,000 feet AGL at an appropriate distance from the selected reference areaDescribe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test.
AI.IX.E.S3cc. Turns around a point: enter at an appropriate distance from the reference point, 600 to 1,000 feet AGL at an appropriate distance from the selected reference areaDescribe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test.
AI.IX.E.S4Apply adequate wind-drift correction during straight and turning flight to maintain a constant ground track around a rectangular reference area, or to maintain a constant radius turn on each side of a selected reference line or point.Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test.
AI.IX.E.S5If performing S-Turns, reverse the turn directly over the selected reference line; if performing turns around a point, complete turns in either direction, as specified 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.
AI.IX.E.S6Divide attention between airplane control, traffic avoidance and the ground track while maintaining coordinated flight.Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test.
AI.IX.E.S7Maintain altitude ±100 feet; maintain airspeed ±10 knots.Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test.
AI.IX.E.S8Analyze and correct common errors related to this Task.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

  • The evaluator selects at least one ground reference maneuver for the applicant to demonstrate.

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

Related ACS tasks