AI.VII.K — Rough Water Takeoff and Climb (ASES, AMES)
AI.VII.K for the Flight Instructor Airplane ACS: official objective, references, and 35 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 K. Rough Water Takeoff and Climb (ASES, AMES) |
| Task code prefix | AI.VII.K |
| Official references | AIM; FAA-H-8083-2, FAA-H-8083-9, FAA-H-8083-23, 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 rough water takeoff and climb, 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.
- K identifies Rough Water Takeoff and Climb (ASES, 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
| ACS code | Official description | How a mock oral can probe it |
|---|---|---|
| AI.VII.K.K1 | Purpose of and procedures for a rough water takeoff and climb. | Explain the element, apply it to a scenario, and connect the answer to current references or aircraft information when relevant. |
| AI.VII.K.K2 | Effects of atmospheric conditions, including wind, on takeoff and climb performance. | Explain the element, apply it to a scenario, and connect the answer to current references or aircraft information when relevant. |
| AI.VII.K.K3 | Best angle of climb speed (VX) and best rate of climb speed (VY). | Explain the element, apply it to a scenario, and connect the answer to current references or aircraft information when relevant. |
| AI.VII.K.K4 | Appropriate airplane configuration. | Explain the element, apply it to a scenario, and connect the answer to current references or aircraft information when relevant. |
| AI.VII.K.K5 | Appropriate use of rough water takeoff and climb technique. | Explain the element, apply it to a scenario, and connect the answer to current references or aircraft information when relevant. |
| AI.VII.K.K6 | 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.K.R1 | Selection of takeoff path 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.K.R2 | Effects of: | Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision. |
| AI.VII.K.R2a | a. Crosswind | Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision. |
| AI.VII.K.R2b | b. Windshear | Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision. |
| AI.VII.K.R2c | c. Tailwind | Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision. |
| AI.VII.K.R2d | d. Wake turbulence | Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision. |
| AI.VII.K.R2e | e. Water surface/condition | Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision. |
| AI.VII.K.R3 | Abnormal operations, including planning for: | Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision. |
| AI.VII.K.R3a | a. Rejected takeoff | Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision. |
| AI.VII.K.R3b | b. Potential engine failure in takeoff/climb phase of flight | Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision. |
| AI.VII.K.R4 | Collision hazards. | Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision. |
| AI.VII.K.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.K.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. |
| AI.VII.K.R7 | Gear position in an amphibious airplane. | 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.K.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.K.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.K.S3 | Verify assigned/correct takeoff path. | 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.K.S4 | Determine wind direction with or without visible wind direction indicators. | 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.K.S5 | Position flight controls and configure the airplane for the existing conditions. | 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.K.S6 | Clear the area, select an appropriate takeoff path considering wind, swells, surface hazards, or vessels. | 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.K.S7 | Retract the water rudders, 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.K.S8 | Advance the throttle smoothly to takeoff power and confirm proper engine and flight instrument indications prior to rotation. | 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.K.S9 | Establish and maintain an appropriate planing attitude, directional control, and correct for porpoising, skipping, and increase in water drag. | 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.K.S10 | Avoid excessive water spray on the propeller(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.K.S11 | Lift off at minimum airspeed and accelerate to VY ±5 knots before leaving ground effect. | 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.K.S12 | Configure the airplane after a positive rate of climb has been verified or in accordance with airplane manufacturer’s instructions. | 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.K.S13 | Maintain VY ±5 knots to a safe maneuvering 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.VII.K.S14 | Maintain directional control and proper wind-drift correction throughout takeoff and climb. | 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.K.S15 | 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.
Official task notes
- If a rough water condition does not exist, the applicant must be evaluated by simulating the 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.
Related ACS tasks
- All Flight Instructor Airplane ACS tasks
85 task-level resources from FAA-S-ACS-25.
- AI.VII.J — Glassy Water Approach and Landing (ASES, AMES)
Area of Operation VII. Takeoffs, Landings, and Go-Arounds
- AI.VII.L — Rough Water Approach and Landing (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