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PA.IV.B — Normal Approach and Landing

PA.IV.B for the Private Pilot Airplane ACS: official objective, references, and 28 exact knowledge, risk-management, and skill descriptions.

FAA-S-ACS-6C, November 2023. This study page does not replace the current FAA publication or an examiner's plan of action.

Official task context

PA.IV.B official ACS context
Certificate or ratingPrivate Pilot
Aircraft categoryAirplane
Area of operationArea of Operation IV. Takeoffs, Landings, and Go-Arounds
TaskTask B. Normal Approach and Landing
Task code prefixPA.IV.B
Official referencesAIM; FAA-H-8083-2, FAA-H-8083-3, FAA-H-8083-23, FAA-H-8083-25; POH/AFM
FAA documentFAA-S-ACS-6C — Private Pilot for Airplane Category Airman Certification Standards
FAA source libraryOpen the official ACS library

Official task objective

To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with normal approach and landing with emphasis on proper use and coordination of flight controls.

What the ACS code means

  • PA identifies the ACS standard family used for this Private Pilot Airplane document.
  • IV identifies Takeoffs, Landings, and Go-Arounds, the Area of Operation.
  • B identifies Normal Approach and Landing, 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
PA.IV.B.K1A 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.
PA.IV.B.K2Effects 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.
PA.IV.B.K3Wind 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.

Risk management elements

Official ACS risk management items and mock-oral treatment
ACS codeOfficial descriptionHow a mock oral can probe it
PA.IV.B.R1Selection of runway/landing surface, approach path, and touchdown area based on pilot capability, aircraft 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.
PA.IV.B.R2Effects of:Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision.
PA.IV.B.R2aa. CrosswindWork through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision.
PA.IV.B.R2bb. WindshearWork through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision.
PA.IV.B.R2cc. TailwindWork through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision.
PA.IV.B.R2dd. Wake turbulenceWork through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision.
PA.IV.B.R2ee. Landing surface/conditionWork through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision.
PA.IV.B.R3Planning for:Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision.
PA.IV.B.R3aa. Rejected landing and go-aroundWork through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision.
PA.IV.B.R3bb. Land and hold short operations (LAHSO)Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision.
PA.IV.B.R4Collision hazards.Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision.
PA.IV.B.R5Low 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.
PA.IV.B.R6Distractions, 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

Official ACS skills items and mock-oral treatment
ACS codeOfficial descriptionHow a mock oral can probe it
PA.IV.B.S1Complete 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.
PA.IV.B.S2Make 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.
PA.IV.B.S3Ensure the airplane is aligned with the correct/assigned runway or landing surface.Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test.
PA.IV.B.S4Scan the runway or landing surface 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.
PA.IV.B.S5Select 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.
PA.IV.B.S6Establish 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.
PA.IV.B.S7Maintain 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), +10/-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.
PA.IV.B.S8Maintain 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.
PA.IV.B.S9Make smooth, timely, and correct control application during round out and touchdown.Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test.
PA.IV.B.S10Touch down at a proper pitch attitude, within 400 feet beyond or on the specified point, with no side drift, and with the airplane’s longitudinal axis aligned with and over the runway center/landing path.Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test.
PA.IV.B.S11Execute 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.
PA.IV.B.S12Use runway incursion avoidance procedures, if applicable.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 crosswind condition does not exist, the applicant’s knowledge of crosswind elements must be evaluated through oral testing.

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