HI.IX.A — Straight-and-Level Flight
HI.IX.A for the Flight Instructor Rotorcraft ACS: official objective, references, and 9 exact knowledge, risk-management, and skill descriptions.
FAA-S-ACS-29, November 2023. This study page does not replace the current FAA publication or an examiner's plan of action.
Official task context
| Certificate or rating | Flight Instructor |
|---|---|
| Aircraft category | Rotorcraft |
| Area of operation | Area of Operation IX. Fundamentals of Flight |
| Task | Task A. Straight-and-Level Flight |
| Task code prefix | HI.IX.A |
| Official references | FAA-H-8083-2, FAA-H-8083-4, FAA-H-8083-9, FAA-H-8083-21, FAA-H-8083-25 |
| FAA document | FAA-S-ACS-29 — Flight Instructor for Rotorcraft Category Helicopter Rating Airman Certification Standards |
| FAA source library | Open the official ACS library |
Official task objective
To determine the applicant understands straight-and-level flight, can apply that knowledge, manage associated risks, demonstrate appropriate skills, and provide effective instruction.
What the ACS code means
- HI identifies the ACS standard family used for this Flight Instructor Rotorcraft document.
- IX identifies Fundamentals of Flight, the Area of Operation.
- A identifies Straight-and-Level Flight, 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
| ACS code | Official description | How a mock oral can probe it |
|---|---|---|
| HI.IX.A.K1 | Basic elements of the aircraft and aerodynamics that affect the ability to maintain straight-and-level flight. | Explain the element, apply it to a scenario, and connect the answer to current references or aircraft information when relevant. |
| HI.IX.A.K2 | Flight control and trim use, if applicable. | Explain the element, apply it to a scenario, and connect the answer to current references or aircraft information when relevant. |
| HI.IX.A.K3 | The pilot's visual references when performing the maneuver. | Explain the element, apply it to a scenario, and connect the answer to current references or aircraft information when relevant. |
| HI.IX.A.K4 | Integrated flight instruction. | Explain the element, apply it to a scenario, and connect the answer to current references or aircraft information when relevant. |
| HI.IX.A.K5 | Common 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
| ACS code | Official description | How a mock oral can probe it |
|---|---|---|
| HI.IX.A.R1 | Distractions, 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. |
| HI.IX.A.R2 | Collision hazards. | Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision. |
Skills elements
| ACS code | Official description | How a mock oral can probe it |
|---|---|---|
| HI.IX.A.S1 | Establish and maintain straight-and-level flight. | Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test. |
| HI.IX.A.S2 | Analyze 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.
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.
Related ACS tasks
- All Flight Instructor Rotorcraft ACS tasks
65 task-level resources from FAA-S-ACS-29.
- HI.VIII.G — Go-Around
Area of Operation VIII. Takeoffs, Landings, and Go-Arounds
- HI.IX.B — Level Turns
Area of Operation IX. Fundamentals of Flight
- HI.IX.C — Straight Climbs and Climbing Turns
Area of Operation IX. Fundamentals of Flight
- HI.IX.D — Straight Descents and Descending Turns
Area of Operation IX. Fundamentals of Flight