AI.VII.F — Short-Field Approach and Landing (ASEL, AMEL)
AI.VII.F for the Flight Instructor Airplane ACS: official objective, references, and 31 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
| Certificate or rating | Flight Instructor |
|---|---|
| Aircraft category | Airplane |
| Area of operation | Area of Operation VII. Takeoffs, Landings, and Go-Arounds |
| Task | Task F. Short-Field Approach and Landing (ASEL, AMEL) |
| Task code prefix | AI.VII.F |
| Official references | AIM; FAA-H-8083-2, FAA-H-8083-3, FAA-H-8083-9, FAA-H-8083-25; POH/AFM |
| FAA document | FAA-S-ACS-25 — Flight Instructor for Airplane Category Airman Certification Standards |
| FAA source library | Open the official ACS library |
Official task objective
To determine the applicant understands short-field approach and landing, 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.
- VII identifies Takeoffs, Landings, and Go-Arounds, the Area of Operation.
- F identifies Short-Field Approach and Landing (ASEL, AMEL), 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
| ACS code | Official description | How a mock oral can probe it |
|---|---|---|
| AI.VII.F.K1 | Purpose of and procedures for short-field approach and landing. | Explain the element, apply it to a scenario, and connect the answer to current references or aircraft information when relevant. |
| AI.VII.F.K2 | A stabilized approach, including energy management concepts. | Explain the element, apply it to a scenario, and connect the answer to current references or aircraft information when relevant. |
| AI.VII.F.K3 | Effects of atmospheric conditions, including wind, on approach and landing performance. | Explain the element, apply it to a scenario, and connect the answer to current references or aircraft information when relevant. |
| AI.VII.F.K4 | Wind correction techniques on approach and landing. | Explain the element, apply it to a scenario, and connect the answer to current references or aircraft information when relevant. |
| AI.VII.F.K5 | Common 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
| ACS code | Official description | How a mock oral can probe it |
|---|---|---|
| AI.VII.F.R1 | Selection of runway based on pilot capability, airplane performance and limitations, available distance, and wind. | Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision. |
| AI.VII.F.R2 | Effects of: | Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision. |
| AI.VII.F.R2a | a. Crosswind | Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision. |
| AI.VII.F.R2b | b. Windshear | Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision. |
| AI.VII.F.R2c | c. Tailwind | Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision. |
| AI.VII.F.R2d | d. Wake turbulence | Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision. |
| AI.VII.F.R2e | e. Landing surface/condition | Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision. |
| AI.VII.F.R3 | Planning for: | Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision. |
| AI.VII.F.R3a | a. Rejected landing and go-around | Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision. |
| AI.VII.F.R3b | b. Land and hold short operations (LAHSO) | Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision. |
| AI.VII.F.R4 | Collision hazards. | Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision. |
| AI.VII.F.R5 | Low 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.VII.F.R6 | Distractions, 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. |
Skills elements
| ACS code | Official description | How a mock oral can probe it |
|---|---|---|
| AI.VII.F.S1 | Complete the appropriate checklist(s). | Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test. |
| AI.VII.F.S2 | Make 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. |
| AI.VII.F.S3 | Ensure the airplane is aligned with the correct/assigned runway. | Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test. |
| AI.VII.F.S4 | Scan the landing runway and adjoining area for traffic and obstructions. | Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test. |
| AI.VII.F.S5 | Select and aim for a suitable touchdown point considering the wind conditions, landing surface, and obstructions. | Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test. |
| AI.VII.F.S6 | Establish the recommended approach and landing configuration, airspeed, and trim, and adjust pitch attitude and power as required to maintain a stabilized approach. | Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test. |
| AI.VII.F.S7 | Maintain manufacturer’s published approach airspeed or in its absence not more than 1.3 times the stalling speed or the minimum steady flight speed in the landing configuration (VSO), ±5 knots with gust factor applied. | Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test. |
| AI.VII.F.S8 | Maintain directional control and appropriate crosswind correction throughout the approach and landing. | Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test. |
| AI.VII.F.S9 | Make smooth, timely, and correct control application before, during, and after touchdown. | Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test. |
| AI.VII.F.S10 | Touch down at a proper pitch attitude within 100 feet beyond or on the specified point, threshold markings, or runway numbers, with no side drift, minimum float, and with the airplane’s longitudinal axis aligned with and over the runway centerline. | Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test. |
| AI.VII.F.S11 | Use manufacturer’s recommended procedures for airplane configuration and braking. | Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test. |
| AI.VII.F.S12 | Execute a timely go-around if the approach cannot be made within the tolerances specified above or for any other condition that may result in an unsafe approach or landing. | Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test. |
| AI.VII.F.S13 | Analyze 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.
Related ACS tasks
- All Flight Instructor Airplane ACS tasks
85 task-level resources from FAA-S-ACS-25.
- AI.VII.E — Short-Field Takeoff and Maximum Performance Climb (ASEL, AMEL)
Area of Operation VII. Takeoffs, Landings, and Go-Arounds
- AI.VII.G — Confined Area Takeoff and Maximum Performance Climb (ASES, AMES)
Area of Operation VII. Takeoffs, Landings, and Go-Arounds
- AI.VII.A — Normal Takeoff and Climb
Area of Operation VII. Takeoffs, Landings, and Go-Arounds
- AI.VII.B — Normal Approach and Landing
Area of Operation VII. Takeoffs, Landings, and Go-Arounds
- AI.VII.C — Soft-Field Takeoff and Climb (ASEL)
Area of Operation VII. Takeoffs, Landings, and Go-Arounds
- AI.VII.D — Soft-Field Approach and Landing (ASEL)
Area of Operation VII. Takeoffs, Landings, and Go-Arounds