Private Pilot — Powered Lift ACS tasks
Browse 58 FAA ACS Tasks from FAA-S-ACS-13, with official objectives, references, and exact K/R/S item descriptions.
FAA-S-ACS-13, November 2023. Verify amendments and current applicability in the FAA source library.
Document context
| FAA document | Private Pilot for Powered-Lift Category Airman Certification Standards |
|---|---|
| Document identifier | FAA-S-ACS-13 |
| Published source date | November 2023 |
| Aircraft category | Powered Lift |
| Certificate or rating | Private Pilot |
| Task pages | 58 |
| K/R/S item descriptions | 1,128 |
| FAA source library | Open the official ACS library |
Area of Operation I. Preflight Preparation
- PL.I.A — Pilot Qualifications
8 K/R/S items. To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with normal and emergency radio communications, air traffic control (ATC) light signals, and runway lighting systems.
- PL.I.B — Airworthiness Requirements
17 K/R/S items. To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with airworthiness requirements, including aircraft certificates.
- PL.I.C — Weather Information
34 K/R/S items. To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with weather information for a flight under VFR.
- PL.I.D — Cross-Country Flight Planning
22 K/R/S items. To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with cross-country flights and VFR flight planning.
- PL.I.E — National Airspace System
8 K/R/S items. To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with National Airspace System (NAS) operations under VFR as a private pilot.
- PL.I.F — Performance and Limitations
17 K/R/S items. To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with operating an aircraft within the parameters of its performance capabilities and limitations.
- PL.I.G — Operation of Systems
20 K/R/S items. To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with safe operation of systems on the aircraft provided for the flight test.
- PL.I.H — Human Factors
22 K/R/S items. To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with personal health, flight physiology, and aeromedical and human factors related to safety of flight.
Area of Operation II. Preflight Procedures
- PL.II.A — Preflight Assessment
17 K/R/S items. To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with preparation for safe flight.
- PL.II.B — Flight Deck Management
11 K/R/S items. To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with flight deck management practices.
- PL.II.C — Powerplant Starting
11 K/R/S items. To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with recommended powerplant starting procedures.
- PL.II.D — Ground Taxiing
28 K/R/S items. To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with ground taxi operations, in a wheel-type aircraft, including runway incursion avoidance.
- PL.II.E — Before Takeoff Check
17 K/R/S items. To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with before takeoff check.
Area of Operation III. Airport and Heliport Operations
- PL.III.A — Communications, Light Signals, and Runway Lighting Systems
15 K/R/S items. To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with normal and emergency radio communications, air traffic control (ATC) light signals, and runway lighting systems.
- PL.III.B — Runway/Taxiway/Heliport/Helipad Signs, Markings, and Lighting
8 K/R/S items. To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with runway/taxiway/heliport/helipad signs, markings and lighting.
- PL.III.C — Traffic Patterns
16 K/R/S items. To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with traffic patterns.
Area of Operation IV. Hovering Maneuvers
- PL.IV.A — Vertical Takeoff and Landing
18 K/R/S items. To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with vertical takeoff and landing from a hover.
- PL.IV.B — Hover Taxi
30 K/R/S items. To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with hover taxi operations, including runway incursion avoidance.
- PL.IV.C — Air Taxi
27 K/R/S items. To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with air taxi operations.
Area of Operation V. Takeoffs, Landings, and Go-Arounds
- PL.V.A — Normal Takeoff and Climb from a Hover
33 K/R/S items. To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with normal takeoff and climb from a hover.
- PL.V.B — Rolling Takeoff and Climb
27 K/R/S items. To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with rolling takeoff with wheel-type landing gear.
- PL.V.C — Maximum Performance Takeoff and Climb
31 K/R/S items. To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with maximum performance takeoff and climb.
- PL.V.D — Normal Approach to a Hover
30 K/R/S items. To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with approach profile to a hover.
- PL.V.E — Normal Approach and Landing
26 K/R/S items. To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with a normal approach and landing.
- PL.V.F — Steep Approach and Landing
28 K/R/S items. To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with a steep approach to the surface.
- PL.V.G — Running/Roll-On Landing
31 K/R/S items. To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with running/roll-on landing operation.
- PL.V.H — Confined Area Operations
36 K/R/S items. To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with confined area operations.
- PL.V.I — Slope Operations
25 K/R/S items. To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with slope operations.
- PL.V.J — Pinnacle Operations
38 K/R/S items. To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with pinnacle operations.
- PL.V.K — Go-Around/Rejected Landing
21 K/R/S items. To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with go-around/rejected landing with emphasis on factors that contribute to landing conditions that may require a go-around.
Area of Operation VI. Performance Maneuvers
- PL.VI.A — Rapid Deceleration/Quick Stop
20 K/R/S items. To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with rapid deceleration/quick stop and conditions that may require a rapid deceleration/quick stop.
- PL.VI.B — Inflight Conversion During Straight-and-Level Flight
20 K/R/S items. To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with converting from thrust-borne configuration to wing-borne configuration, and returning to thrust-borne configuration.
- PL.VI.C — Steep Turns
16 K/R/S items. To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with steep turns.
Area of Operation VII. Ground Reference Maneuvers
- PL.VII.A — Ground Reference Maneuvers
19 K/R/S items. To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with ground reference maneuvering which may include a rectangular course, S-turns, and turns around a point.
Area of Operation VIII. Navigation
- PL.VIII.A — Pilotage and Dead Reckoning
25 K/R/S items. To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with airworthiness requirements, including aircraft certificates.
- PL.VIII.B — Navigation Systems and Radar Services
16 K/R/S items. To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with navigation systems and radar services.
- PL.VIII.C — Diversion
13 K/R/S items. To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with diversion.
- PL.VIII.D — Lost Procedures
12 K/R/S items. To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with lost procedures and can take appropriate steps to achieve a satisfactory outcome if lost.
Area of Operation IX. Slow Flight and Stalls
- PL.IX.A — Maneuvering During Slow Flight (Wing-Borne Configuration)
12 K/R/S items. To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with maneuvering during slow flight in wing-borne configuration.
- PL.IX.B — Power-Off Stalls
23 K/R/S items. To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with power-off stalls.
- PL.IX.C — Power-On Stalls
23 K/R/S items. To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with power-on stalls.
Area of Operation X. Basic Instrument Maneuvers
- PL.X.A — Straight-and-Level Flight
15 K/R/S items. To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with flying during straight-and-level flight solely by reference to instruments.
- PL.X.B — Constant Airspeed Climbs
16 K/R/S items. To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with attitude instrument flying during constant airspeed climbs solely by reference to instruments.
- PL.X.C — Constant Airspeed Descents
16 K/R/S items. To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with attitude instrument flying during constant airspeed descents solely by reference to instruments.
- PL.X.D — Turns to Headings
14 K/R/S items. To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with attitude instrument flying during turns to headings solely by reference to instruments.
- PL.X.E — Recovery from Unusual Flight Attitudes
14 K/R/S items. To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with attitude instrument flying while recovering from unusual attitudes solely by reference to instruments.
- PL.X.F — Radio Communications, Navigation Systems/Facilities, and Radar Services
7 K/R/S items. To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with radio communications, navigation systems/facilities, and radar services available for use during flight solely by reference to instruments.
Area of Operation XI. Emergency Operations
- PL.XI.A — Powerplant(s) Failure (Simulated) during Takeoff in Thrust-Borne Flight
17 K/R/S items. To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with indications and pilot actions after powerplant(s) failure during takeoff while the aircraft is predominantly in thrust-borne flight in a multi-powerplant aircraft.
- PL.XI.B — Powerplant(s) Failure (Simulated) during Takeoff While in Semi-Wing-Borne Flight
20 K/R/S items. To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with indications and pilot actions after powerplant(s) failure during takeoff while in semi-wing-borne flight in a multi-powerplant aircraft.
- PL.XI.C — Inflight Powerplant(s) Failure and Restart in Multi-Powerplant Aircraft
21 K/R/S items. To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with an inflight powerplant(s) failure and restart, if applicable, in a multi-powerplant powered-lift aircraft.
- PL.XI.D — Vortex Ring State (VRS) Avoidance
15 K/R/S items. To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge and risk management associated with preventing the aircraft from entering and the procedure for recovering from Vortex Ring State (VRS).
- PL.XI.E — Approach and Landing with Powerplant(s) Failure (Simulated)
22 K/R/S items. To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with approach and landing with simulated powerplant(s) failure.
- PL.XI.F — Emergency Descent
16 K/R/S items. To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with emergency descent.
- PL.XI.G — Emergency Equipment and Survival Gear
9 K/R/S items. To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with emergency equipment, and survival gear appropriate to the aircraft and environment encountered during flight.
- PL.XI.H — Systems and Equipment Malfunctions
17 K/R/S items. To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with system and equipment malfunctions appropriate to the aircraft provided for the practical test.
- PL.XI.I — Dynamic Rollover
11 K/R/S items. To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with dynamic rollover.
Area of Operation XII. Night Operations
- PL.XII.A — Night Operations
17 K/R/S items. To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with night preparation and flight.
Area of Operation XIII. Postflight Procedures
- PL.XIII.A — After Landing, Parking, and Securing
10 K/R/S items. To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with after landing, parking, and securing procedures.
Related ACS documents
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Practice the material
Use the task pages to review official ACS scope, then practice explaining and applying the material in a spoken scenario. This index does not reproduce an FAA examiner's plan of action or predict the exact questions on a practical test.
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