IH.VI.B — Precision Approach
IH.VI.B for the Instrument Rating Rotorcraft ACS: official objective, references, and 28 exact knowledge, risk-management, and skill descriptions.
FAA-S-ACS-14, 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 | Instrument Rating |
|---|---|
| Aircraft category | Rotorcraft |
| Area of operation | Area of Operation VI. Instrument Approach Procedures |
| Task | Task B. Precision Approach |
| Task code prefix | IH.VI.B |
| Official references | 14 CFR part 91; AC 90-105, AC 90-107; AIM; FAA-H-8083-2, FAA-H-8083-15, FAA-H-8083-16, FAA-H-8083-21, FAA-H-8083-25; Terminal Procedures Publications |
| FAA document | FAA-S-ACS-14 — Instrument Rating – Helicopter Airman Certification Standards |
| FAA source library | Open the official ACS library |
Official task objective
To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with performing precision approach procedures solely by reference to instruments.
What the ACS code means
- IH identifies the ACS standard family used for this Instrument Rating Rotorcraft document.
- VI identifies Instrument Approach Procedures, the Area of Operation.
- B identifies Precision Approach, 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 |
|---|---|---|
| IH.VI.B.K1 | Procedures and limitations associated with a precision approach, including determining required descent rates and adjusting minimums in the case of inoperative equipment. | Explain the element, apply it to a scenario, and connect the answer to current references or aircraft information when relevant. |
| IH.VI.B.K2 | Navigation system displays, annunciations, and modes of operation. | Explain the element, apply it to a scenario, and connect the answer to current references or aircraft information when relevant. |
| IH.VI.B.K3 | Ground-based and satellite-based navigation systems (orientation, course determination, equipment, tests and regulations, interference, appropriate use of navigation data, signal integrity). | Explain the element, apply it to a scenario, and connect the answer to current references or aircraft information when relevant. |
| IH.VI.B.K4 | A stabilized approach, including energy management concepts. | 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 |
|---|---|---|
| IH.VI.B.R1 | Deviating from the assigned approach procedure. | Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision. |
| IH.VI.B.R2 | Selecting a navigation frequency. | Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision. |
| IH.VI.B.R3 | Management of automated navigation and autoflight systems. | Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision. |
| IH.VI.B.R4 | Helicopter configuration during an approach and missed approach. | Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision. |
| IH.VI.B.R5 | An unstable approach, including excessive descent rates. | Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision. |
| IH.VI.B.R6 | Deteriorating weather conditions on approach. | Work through a scenario by identifying the hazard, evaluating the risk, and explaining a practical mitigation or decision. |
| IH.VI.B.R7 | Continuing to descend below the Decision Altitude (DA)/Decision Height (DH) when the required visual references are not visible. | 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 |
|---|---|---|
| IH.VI.B.S1 | Accomplish the precision instrument approach(es) selected by the evaluator. | Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test. |
| IH.VI.B.S2 | Establish two-way communications with air traffic control (ATC) appropriate for the phase of flight or approach segment, and use proper communication phraseology. | Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test. |
| IH.VI.B.S3 | Select, tune, identify, and confirm the operational status of navigation equipment to be used for the approach. | Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test. |
| IH.VI.B.S4 | Comply with all clearances issued by ATC or the evaluator. | Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test. |
| IH.VI.B.S5 | Recognize if any flight instrumentation is inaccurate or inoperative, and take appropriate action. | Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test. |
| IH.VI.B.S6 | Advise ATC or the evaluator if unable to comply with a clearance. | Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test. |
| IH.VI.B.S7 | Complete the appropriate checklist(s). | Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test. |
| IH.VI.B.S8 | Establish the appropriate helicopter configuration and airspeed considering meteorological and operating conditions. | Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test. |
| IH.VI.B.S9 | Maintain altitude ±100 feet, selected heading ±10°, airspeed ±10 knots, no more than ¾ scale CDI deflection, and accurately track radials, courses, or bearings, prior to beginning the final approach segment. | Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test. |
| IH.VI.B.S10 | Adjust the published DA/DH and visibility criteria for the aircraft approach category, as appropriate, to account for NOTAMs, inoperative helicopter or navigation equipment, or inoperative visual aids associated with the landing environment. | Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test. |
| IH.VI.B.S11 | Establish a predetermined rate of descent at the point where vertical guidance begins, which approximates that required for the helicopter to follow the vertical guidance. | Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test. |
| IH.VI.B.S12 | Maintain a stabilized final approach from the final approach fix (FAF) to DA/DH allowing no more than ¾-scale deflection of either the vertical or lateral guidance indications, and maintain the desired airspeed ±10 knots. | Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test. |
| IH.VI.B.S13 | Immediately initiate the missed approach procedure when at the DA/DH, and the required visual references for the runway are not unmistakably visible and identifiable. | Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test. |
| IH.VI.B.S14 | Transition to a normal landing approach only when the helicopter is in a position from which a descent to a landing on the runway or suitable point not aligned with the final approach path can be made at a normal rate of descent using normal maneuvering. | Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test. |
| IH.VI.B.S15 | Maintain a stabilized visual flight path from the DA/DH to the runway aiming point or descend visually to a suitable touchdown point not aligned with the instrument runway final course, as directed by the evaluator. | Describe the procedure, interpretation, or decision process that can be discussed during an oral. Physical aircraft performance remains part of the practical test. |
| IH.VI.B.S16 | Use 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. |
| IH.VI.B.S17 | Use 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. |
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
- 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.
Related ACS tasks
- All Instrument Rating Rotorcraft ACS tasks
20 task-level resources from FAA-S-ACS-14.
- IH.VI.A — Non-precision Approach
Area of Operation VI. Instrument Approach Procedures
- IH.VI.C — Missed Approach
Area of Operation VI. Instrument Approach Procedures
- IH.VI.D — Landing from an Instrument Approach
Area of Operation VI. Instrument Approach Procedures