# PI.VII.A — Intercepting and Tracking Navigational Systems and DME Arcs — Flight Instructor – Instrument Powered Lift ACS

> PI.VII.A from FAA-S-ACS-28, including the official objective, references, notes, and 17 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 VII. Navigation Aids
- Task: Task A. Intercepting and Tracking Navigational Systems and DME Arcs
- Task code prefix: PI.VII.A
- Official references: 14 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 source library: https://www.faa.gov/training_testing/testing/acs

## 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.

## Knowledge elements

- **PI.VII.A.K1** — Ground-based navigation (orientation, course determination, equipment, tests, and regulations), including procedures for intercepting and tracking courses and arcs.
- **PI.VII.A.K2** — Satellite-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.
- **PI.VII.A.K3** — Common errors related to this Task.

## Risk management elements

- **PI.VII.A.R1** — Management of automated navigation and autoflight systems.
- **PI.VII.A.R2** — Distractions, task prioritization, loss of situational awareness, or disorientation.
- **PI.VII.A.R3** — Limitations of the navigation system in use.

## Skills elements

- **PI.VII.A.S1** — Tune and identify the navigation facility/program the navigation system and verify system accuracy as appropriate for the equipment installed in the aircraft.
- **PI.VII.A.S2** — Determine aircraft position relative to the navigational facility or waypoint.
- **PI.VII.A.S3** — Set and orient to the course to be intercepted.
- **PI.VII.A.S4** — Intercept the specified course at appropriate angle, inbound to or outbound from a navigational facility or waypoint.
- **PI.VII.A.S5** — Maintain airspeed ±10 knots, altitude ±100 feet, and selected headings ±5°.
- **PI.VII.A.S6** — Apply 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.
- **PI.VII.A.S7** — Recognize navigational system or facility failure, and when required, report the failure to air traffic control (ATC).
- **PI.VII.A.S8** — Use a multi-function display (MFD) and other graphical navigation displays, if installed, to monitor position, track wind drift, and to maintain situational awareness.
- **PI.VII.A.S9** — At the discretion of the evaluator, use the autopilot to make appropriate course intercepts, if installed.
- **PI.VII.A.S10** — Use single-pilot resource management (SRM) or crew resource management (CRM), as appropriate.
- **PI.VII.A.S11** — Analyze and correct common errors related to this Task.

## 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

- 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.

## 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.