# PI.III.A — Weather Information — Flight Instructor – Instrument Powered Lift ACS

> PI.III.A from FAA-S-ACS-28, including the official objective, references, notes, and 35 exact knowledge, risk-management, and skill descriptions.

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Site reference: [https://www.check-ride.ai/llms.txt](https://www.check-ride.ai/llms.txt)

## Official Task context

- FAA document: Flight Instructor – Instrument Rating Powered-Lift Airman Certification Standards
- Identifier: FAA-S-ACS-28
- Published source date: November 2023
- Aircraft category: Powered Lift
- Certificate or rating: Flight Instructor – Instrument
- Area of Operation: Area of Operation III. Preflight Preparation
- Task: Task A. Weather Information
- Task code prefix: PI.III.A
- Official references: 14 CFR part 91; AC 91-92; AIM; FAA-H-8083-2, FAA-H-8083-9, FAA-H-8083-25, FAA-H-8083-28
- FAA source library: https://www.faa.gov/training_testing/testing/acs

## Official Task objective

To determine the applicant understands weather information, can apply that knowledge, manage associated risks, demonstrate appropriate skills, and provide effective instruction.

## Knowledge elements

- **PI.III.A.K1** — Sources of weather data (e.g., National Weather Service, Flight Service) for flight planning purposes.
- **PI.III.A.K2** — Acceptable weather products and resources required for preflight planning, current and forecast weather for departure, en route, and arrival phases of flight such as:
- **PI.III.A.K2a** — Airport Observations (METAR and SPECI) and Pilot Observations (PIREP)
- **PI.III.A.K2b** — Surface Analysis Chart, Ceiling and Visibility Chart (CVA)
- **PI.III.A.K2c** — Terminal Aerodrome Forecasts (TAF)
- **PI.III.A.K2d** — Graphical Forecasts for Aviation (GFA)
- **PI.III.A.K2e** — Wind and Temperature Aloft Forecast (FB)
- **PI.III.A.K2f** — Convective Outlook (AC)
- **PI.III.A.K2g** — Inflight Aviation Weather Advisories including Airmen's Meteorological Information (AIRMET), Significant Meteorological Information (SIGMET), and Convective SIGMET
- **PI.III.A.K3** — Meteorology applicable to the departure, en route, alternate, and destination for flights conducted under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) to include expected climate and hazardous conditions such as:
- **PI.III.A.K3a** — Atmospheric composition and stability
- **PI.III.A.K3b** — Wind (e.g., windshear, mountain wave, factors affecting wind, etc.)
- **PI.III.A.K3c** — Temperature and heat exchange
- **PI.III.A.K3d** — Moisture/precipitation
- **PI.III.A.K3e** — Weather system formation, including air masses and fronts
- **PI.III.A.K3f** — Clouds
- **PI.III.A.K3g** — Turbulence
- **PI.III.A.K3h** — Thunderstorms and microbursts
- **PI.III.A.K3i** — Icing and freezing level information
- **PI.III.A.K3j** — Fog/mist
- **PI.III.A.K3k** — Frost
- **PI.III.A.K3l** — Obstructions to visibility (e.g., smoke, haze, volcanic ash, etc.)
- **PI.III.A.K4** — Flight deck instrument displays of digital weather and aeronautical information.

## Risk management elements

- **PI.III.A.R1** — Making the go/no-go and continue/divert decisions, including:
- **PI.III.A.R1a** — Circumstances that would make diversion prudent
- **PI.III.A.R1b** — Personal weather minimums
- **PI.III.A.R1c** — Hazardous weather conditions, including known or forecast icing or turbulence aloft
- **PI.III.A.R2** — Use and limitations of:
- **PI.III.A.R2a** — Installed onboard weather equipment
- **PI.III.A.R2b** — Aviation weather reports and forecasts
- **PI.III.A.R2c** — Inflight weather resources

## Skills elements

- **PI.III.A.S1** — Use available aviation weather resources to obtain an adequate weather briefing.
- **PI.III.A.S2** — Analyze the implications of at least three of the conditions listed in K3a through K3l, using actual weather or weather conditions provided by the evaluator.
- **PI.III.A.S3** — Correlate weather information to make a go/no-go decision.
- **PI.III.A.S4** — Determine whether an alternate airport is required, and, if required, whether the selected alternate airport meets regulatory requirements.

## Difficulty methodology

Difficulty calibration is ongoing for this Task. Observed difficulty is a privacy-thresholded check-ride.ai mock-oral practice proxy, not an FAA practical-test pass or fail rate. Underlying sample sizes and the private reporting threshold are not published.

## Official Task notes

- If K2 is selected, the evaluator must assess the applicant’s knowledge of at least three sub-elements.
- If K3 is selected, the evaluator must assess the applicant’s knowledge of at least three sub-elements.

## Use in practice

A mock examiner can ask a pilot to explain the published elements, apply them to the configured aircraft and airport context, identify risks, and defend a decision. Practice prompts are not represented as actual FAA examiner scripts or predictions of the questions a candidate will receive.