# AI.VI.A — Communications, Light Signals, and Runway Lighting Systems — Flight Instructor Airplane ACS

> AI.VI.A from FAA-S-ACS-25, including the official objective, references, notes, and 15 exact knowledge, risk-management, and skill descriptions.

Canonical HTML: [https://www.check-ride.ai/acs/airplane/flight-instructor/ai-vi-a](https://www.check-ride.ai/acs/airplane/flight-instructor/ai-vi-a)

Site reference: [https://www.check-ride.ai/llms.txt](https://www.check-ride.ai/llms.txt)

## Official Task context

- FAA document: Flight Instructor for Airplane Category Airman Certification Standards
- Identifier: FAA-S-ACS-25
- Published source date: November 2023
- Aircraft category: Airplane
- Certificate or rating: Flight Instructor
- Area of Operation: Area of Operation VI. Airport and Seaplane Base Operations
- Task: Task A. Communications, Light Signals, and Runway Lighting Systems
- Task code prefix: AI.VI.A
- Official references: 14 CFR part 91; AIM; FAA-H-8083-2, FAA-H-8083-3, FAA-H-8083-9, FAA-H-8083-25
- FAA source library: https://www.faa.gov/training_testing/testing/acs

## Official Task objective

To determine the applicant understands communications, ATC light signals, and runway lighting systems and can apply that knowledge, manage associated risks, demonstrate appropriate skills, and provide effective instruction.

## Knowledge elements

- **AI.VI.A.K1** — How to obtain appropriate radio frequencies.
- **AI.VI.A.K2** — Proper radio communication procedures and air traffic control (ATC) phraseology.
- **AI.VI.A.K3** — ATC light signal recognition.
- **AI.VI.A.K4** — Appropriate use of transponder(s).
- **AI.VI.A.K5** — Lost communication procedures.
- **AI.VI.A.K6** — Equipment issues that could cause loss of communication.
- **AI.VI.A.K7** — Radar assistance.
- **AI.VI.A.K8** — Runway Status Lighting Systems.
- **AI.VI.A.K9** — Common errors related to this Task.

## Risk management elements

- **AI.VI.A.R1** — Communication.
- **AI.VI.A.R2** — Deciding if and when to declare an emergency.

## Skills elements

- **AI.VI.A.S1** — Select and activate appropriate frequencies.
- **AI.VI.A.S2** — Transmit using standard phraseology and procedures as specified in the Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM) and Pilot/Controller Glossary.
- **AI.VI.A.S3** — Acknowledge radio communications and comply with ATC instructions or as directed by the evaluator.
- **AI.VI.A.S4** — Analyze and correct common errors related to this Task.

## Difficulty methodology

Difficulty calibration is ongoing for this Task. Observed difficulty is a privacy-thresholded check-ride.ai mock-oral practice proxy, not an FAA practical-test pass or fail rate. Underlying sample sizes and the private reporting threshold are not published.

## Use in practice

A mock examiner can ask a pilot to explain the published elements, apply them to the configured aircraft and airport context, identify risks, and defend a decision. Practice prompts are not represented as actual FAA examiner scripts or predictions of the questions a candidate will receive.