# IP.VI.D — Circling Approach — Instrument Rating Powered Lift ACS

> IP.VI.D from FAA-S-ACS-3, including the official objective, references, notes, and 16 exact knowledge, risk-management, and skill descriptions.

Canonical HTML: [https://www.check-ride.ai/acs/powered-lift/instrument-rating/ip-vi-d](https://www.check-ride.ai/acs/powered-lift/instrument-rating/ip-vi-d)

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

## Official Task context

- FAA document: Instrument Rating – Powered-Lift Airman Certification Standards
- Identifier: FAA-S-ACS-3
- Published source date: November 2023
- Aircraft category: Powered Lift
- Certificate or rating: Instrument Rating
- Area of Operation: Area of Operation VI. Instrument Approach Procedures
- Task: Task D. Circling Approach
- Task code prefix: IP.VI.D
- Official references: 14 CFR parts 91, 97; AIM; FAA-H-8083-2, FAA-H-8083-15, FAA-H-8083-16, FAA-H-8083-25; Terminal Procedures Publications
- FAA source library: https://www.faa.gov/training_testing/testing/acs

## Official Task objective

To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with performing a circling approach procedure.

## Knowledge elements

- **IP.VI.D.K1** — Elements related to circling approach procedures and limitations, including approach categories and related airspeed restrictions.

## Risk management elements

- **IP.VI.D.R1** — Prescribed circling approach procedures.
- **IP.VI.D.R2** — Executing a circling approach at night or with marginal visibility.
- **IP.VI.D.R3** — Losing visual contact with an identifiable part of the airport.
- **IP.VI.D.R4** — Management of automated navigation and autoflight systems.
- **IP.VI.D.R5** — Management of altitude, airspeed, or distance while circling.
- **IP.VI.D.R6** — Collision hazards.
- **IP.VI.D.R7** — Executing a missed approach after the MAP while circling.

## Skills elements

- **IP.VI.D.S1** — Comply with the circling approach procedure considering turbulence, windshear, and the maneuvering capability and approach category of the aircraft.
- **IP.VI.D.S2** — Confirm the direction of traffic and adhere to all restrictions and instructions issued by ATC or the evaluator.
- **IP.VI.D.S3** — Use single-pilot resource management (SRM) or crew resource management (CRM), as appropriate.
- **IP.VI.D.S4** — Establish the approach and landing configuration. Maintain a stabilized approach and a descent rate that ensures arrival at the MDA, or the preselected circling altitude above the MDA, prior to the missed approach point.
- **IP.VI.D.S5** — Maintain airspeed ±10 knots, desired heading/track ±10°, and altitude +100/-0 feet until descending below the MDA or the preselected circling altitude above the MDA.
- **IP.VI.D.S6** — Visually maneuver to a base or downwind leg appropriate for the landing runway and environmental conditions.
- **IP.VI.D.S7** — If a missed approach occurs, turn in the appropriate direction using the correct procedure and appropriately configure the aircraft.
- **IP.VI.D.S8** — If landing, initiate a stabilized descent. Touch down on the first one-third of the selected runway without excessive maneuvering, without exceeding the normal operating limits of the aircraft, and without exceeding 30° of bank.

## 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.

## 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.