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PI.VII.A — Intercepting and Tracking Navigational Systems and DME Arcs

PI.VII.A for the Flight Instructor – Instrument Powered Lift ACS: official objective, references, and 17 exact knowledge, risk-management, and skill descriptions.

FAA-S-ACS-28, November 2023. This study page does not replace the current FAA publication or an examiner's plan of action.

Official task context

PI.VII.A official ACS context
Certificate or ratingFlight Instructor – Instrument
Aircraft categoryPowered Lift
Area of operationArea of Operation VII. Navigation Aids
TaskTask A. Intercepting and Tracking Navigational Systems and DME Arcs
Task code prefixPI.VII.A
Official references14 CFR part 91; AIM; FAA-H-8083-2, FAA-H-8083-9, FAA-H-8083-15, FAA-H-8083-16, FAA-H-8083-25; Flight Manual
FAA documentFAA-S-ACS-28 — Flight Instructor – Instrument Rating Powered-Lift Airman Certification Standards
FAA source libraryOpen the official ACS library

Official task objective

To determine the applicant understands intercepting and tracking navigation aids and arcs solely by reference to instruments, can apply that knowledge, manage associated risks, demonstrate appropriate skills, and provide effective instruction.

What the ACS code means

  • PI identifies the ACS standard family used for this Flight Instructor – Instrument Powered Lift document.
  • VII identifies Navigation Aids, the Area of Operation.
  • A identifies Intercepting and Tracking Navigational Systems and DME Arcs, 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
PI.VII.A.K1Ground-based navigation (orientation, course determination, equipment, tests, and regulations), including procedures for intercepting and tracking courses and arcs.Explain the element, apply it to a scenario, and connect the answer to current references or aircraft information when relevant.
PI.VII.A.K2Satellite-based navigation (orientation, course determination, equipment, tests, regulations, interference, appropriate use of databases, Receiver Autonomous Integrity Monitoring (RAIM), and Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS)), including procedures for intercepting and tracking courses and arcs.Explain the element, apply it to a scenario, and connect the answer to current references or aircraft information when relevant.
PI.VII.A.K3Common 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

Official ACS risk management items and mock-oral treatment
ACS codeOfficial descriptionHow a mock oral can probe it
PI.VII.A.R1Management of automated navigation and autoflight systems.Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision.
PI.VII.A.R2Distractions, 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.
PI.VII.A.R3Limitations of the navigation system in use.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
PI.VII.A.S1Tune and identify the navigation facility/program the navigation system and verify system accuracy as appropriate for the equipment installed in the aircraft.Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test.
PI.VII.A.S2Determine aircraft position relative to the navigational facility or waypoint.Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test.
PI.VII.A.S3Set and orient to the course to be intercepted.Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test.
PI.VII.A.S4Intercept the specified course at appropriate angle, inbound to or outbound from a navigational facility or waypoint.Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test.
PI.VII.A.S5Maintain airspeed ±10 knots, altitude ±100 feet, and selected headings ±5°.Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test.
PI.VII.A.S6Apply proper correction to maintain a course, allowing no more than ¾-scale deflection of the course deviation indicator (CDI). If a distance measuring equipment (DME) arc is selected, maintain that arc ±1 nautical mile.Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test.
PI.VII.A.S7Recognize navigational system or facility failure, and when required, report the failure to air traffic control (ATC).Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test.
PI.VII.A.S8Use a multi-function display (MFD) and other graphical navigation displays, if installed, to monitor position, track wind drift, and to maintain situational awareness.Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test.
PI.VII.A.S9At the discretion of the evaluator, use the autopilot to make appropriate course intercepts, if installed.Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test.
PI.VII.A.S10Use 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.
PI.VII.A.S11Analyze 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

  • The evaluator should reference the manufacturer’s equipment supplement(s) as necessary for appropriate limitations, procedures, etc.
  • See Appendix 3: Aircraft, Equipment, and Operational Requirements & Limitations for information related to this 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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