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AI.IX.F — Eights on Pylons (ASEL, ASES)

AI.IX.F for the Flight Instructor Airplane ACS: official objective, references, and 22 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.F official ACS context
Certificate or ratingFlight Instructor
Aircraft categoryAirplane
Area of operationArea of Operation IX. Performance and Ground Reference Maneuvers
TaskTask F. Eights on Pylons (ASEL, ASES)
Task code prefixAI.IX.F
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 eights on pylons, 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.
  • F identifies Eights on Pylons (ASEL, ASES), 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.F.K1Purpose of and procedures for eights on pylons.Explain the element, apply it to a scenario, and connect the answer to current references or aircraft information when relevant.
AI.IX.F.K2Aerodynamics associated with the eights on pylons, including coordinated and uncoordinated flight.Explain the element, apply it to a scenario, and connect the answer to current references or aircraft information when relevant.
AI.IX.F.K3Pivotal altitude and factors that affect it.Explain the element, apply it to a scenario, and connect the answer to current references or aircraft information when relevant.
AI.IX.F.K4Effect of wind on ground track.Explain the element, apply it to a scenario, and connect the answer to current references or aircraft information when relevant.
AI.IX.F.K5Phases of the eights on pylons maneuver from entry to recovery.Explain the element, apply it to a scenario, and connect the answer to current references or aircraft information when relevant.
AI.IX.F.K6Common 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.F.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.F.R2Collision hazards.Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision.
AI.IX.F.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.F.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.F.R5Uncoordinated flight.Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision.
AI.IX.F.R6Energy management.Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision.
AI.IX.F.R7Emergency landing considerations.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.F.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.F.S2Determine the approximate pivotal altitude.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.F.S3Select suitable pylons that permits straight-and-level flight between the pylons.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.F.S4Enter the maneuver in the correct direction and position using an appropriate altitude and airspeed.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.F.S5Establish the correct bank angle for the conditions, not to exceed 40°.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.F.S6Apply smooth and continuous corrections so that the line-of-sight reference line remains on the pylon.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.F.S7Divide attention between accurate, coordinated airplane control and outside visual references.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.F.S8Maintain pylon position using appropriate pivotal altitude, avoiding slips and skids.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.F.S9Analyze 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.

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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