CP.V.D — Normal Approach to a Hover

CP.V.D for the Commercial Pilot Powered Lift ACS: official objective, references, and 30 exact knowledge, risk-management, and skill descriptions.

FAA-S-ACS-2, November 2023. This study page does not replace the current FAA publication or an examiner's plan of action.

Official task context

CP.V.D official ACS context
Certificate or ratingCommercial Pilot
Aircraft categoryPowered Lift
Area of operationArea of Operation V. Takeoffs, Landings, and Go-Arounds
TaskTask D. Normal Approach to a Hover
Task code prefixCP.V.D
Official referencesAIM; FAA-H-8083-2, FAA-H-8083-25; Flight Manual
FAA documentFAA-S-ACS-2 — Commercial Pilot for Powered-Lift 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 approach profile to a hover.

What the ACS code means

  • CP identifies the ACS standard family used for this Commercial Pilot Powered Lift document.
  • V identifies Takeoffs, Landings, and Go-Arounds, the Area of Operation.
  • D identifies Normal Approach to a Hover, 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
CP.V.D.K1Types of approaches and applicability.Explain the element, apply it to a scenario, and connect the answer to current references or aircraft information when relevant.
CP.V.D.K2Performance data and the height velocity (H/V) diagram.Explain the element, apply it to a scenario, and connect the answer to current references or aircraft information when relevant.
CP.V.D.K3Effects of atmospheric conditions, including wind and density altitude, on approach and hover performance.Explain the element, apply it to a scenario, and connect the answer to current references or aircraft information when relevant.
CP.V.D.K4Wind correction techniques on approach and hover.Explain the element, apply it to a scenario, and connect the answer to current references or aircraft information when relevant.
CP.V.D.K5Aircraft configurations for the approach and hover.Explain the element, apply it to a scenario, and connect the answer to current references or aircraft information when relevant.
CP.V.D.K6Aircraft performance and limitations.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
CP.V.D.R1Selection of runway/helipad/touchdown point based on 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.
CP.V.D.R2Effects of:Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision.
CP.V.D.R2aa. CrosswindWork through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision.
CP.V.D.R2bb. WindshearWork through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision.
CP.V.D.R2cc. TailwindWork through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision.
CP.V.D.R2dd. Wake turbulenceWork through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision.
CP.V.D.R2ee. Vortex ring state (VRS)Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision.
CP.V.D.R2ff. Runway/arrival point surface/conditionWork through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision.
CP.V.D.R3Situations including:Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision.
CP.V.D.R3aa. Rejected landing and go-aroundWork through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision.
CP.V.D.R3bb. Powerplant failure during the approachWork through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision.
CP.V.D.R4Collision hazards.Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision.
CP.V.D.R5Flat light conditions.Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision.
CP.V.D.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
CP.V.D.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.
CP.V.D.S2Comply with air traffic control (ATC) or evaluator instructions and 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.
CP.V.D.S3Use the appropriate techniques and aircraft configurations through all stages of the approach.Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test.
CP.V.D.S4Consider the wind conditions, landing surface, and obstructions and select a suitable hover point.Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test.
CP.V.D.S5Maintain appropriate ground track with crosswind correction throughout the approach.Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test.
CP.V.D.S6Fly 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.
CP.V.D.S7Arrive over the arrival point at a stabilized hover ±2 feet.Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test.
CP.V.D.S8Execute a timely go-around for any 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.
CP.V.D.S9Use single-pilot resource management (SRM) or crew resource management (CRM), 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.
CP.V.D.S10Use 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.

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.

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