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PA.IV.L — Rough Water Approach and Landing (ASES, AMES)

PA.IV.L for the Private Pilot Airplane ACS: official objective, references, and 27 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.L official ACS context
Certificate or ratingPrivate Pilot
Aircraft categoryAirplane
Area of operationArea of Operation IV. Takeoffs, Landings, and Go-Arounds
TaskTask L. Rough Water Approach and Landing (ASES, AMES)
Task code prefixPA.IV.L
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 rough water approach and landing.

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.
  • L identifies Rough Water Approach and Landing (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

Official ACS knowledge items and mock-oral treatment
ACS codeOfficial descriptionHow a mock oral can probe it
PA.IV.L.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.L.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.L.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.
PA.IV.L.K4When and why rough water techniques are used.Explain the element, apply it to a scenario, and connect the answer to current references or aircraft information when relevant.
PA.IV.L.K5How to perform a proper rough water 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.L.R1Selection of approach path and touchdown area 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.
PA.IV.L.R2Effects of:Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision.
PA.IV.L.R2aa. CrosswindWork through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision.
PA.IV.L.R2bb. WindshearWork through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision.
PA.IV.L.R2cc. TailwindWork through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision.
PA.IV.L.R2dd. Wake turbulenceWork through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision.
PA.IV.L.R2ee. Water surface/conditionWork through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision.
PA.IV.L.R3Planning for a go-around and rejected landing.Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision.
PA.IV.L.R4Collision hazards.Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision.
PA.IV.L.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.L.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.
PA.IV.L.R7Gear 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

Official ACS skills items and mock-oral treatment
ACS codeOfficial descriptionHow a mock oral can probe it
PA.IV.L.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.L.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.L.S3Ensure the airplane is aligned with the correct/assigned waterway.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.L.S4Scan the landing 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.L.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.L.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.L.S7Maintain manufacturer’s published approach airspeed or in its absence not more than 1.3 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.L.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.L.S9Make smooth, timely, and correct power and control adjustments to maintain proper pitch attitude and rate of descent to 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.L.S10Contact the water in a proper pitch attitude, considering the type of rough water.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.

Practice in a mock oral

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