COMMERCIAL PILOT - AIRPLANE
Practical Test Standards
V. AREA OF OPERATION: PERFORMANCE MANEUVER
TASK: STEEP TURNS (AMEL and AMES)
REFERENCES: FAA-H-8083-3; POH/AFM.
Objective. To determine that the applicant:
1. Exhibits knowledge of the elements related to steep turns.
2. Establishes the manufacturer's recommended airspeed or if one is not stated, a safe airspeed not to exceed VA.
3. Rolls into a coordinated 360° steep turn with at least a 50° bank, followed by a 360° steep turn in the opposite direction.
4. Divides attention between airplane control and orientation.
5. Maintains the entry altitude, ±100 feet (30 meters), airspeed, ±10 knots, bank, ±5°; and rolls out on the entry heading, ±10°.
VI. AREA OF OPERATION: NAVIGATION
A. TASK: PILOTAGE AND DEAD RECKONING (AMEL and AMES)
REFERENCE: AC 61-23/FAA-H-8083-25.
Objective. To determine that the applicant:
1. Exhibits knowledge of the elements related to pilotage and dead reckoning.
2. Follows the preplanned course by reference to landmarks.
3. Identifies landmarks by relatting surface features to char symbols.
4. Navigates by means of precomputed headings, groundspeed, and elapsed time.
5. Corrects for and records differences between preflight groundspeed and heading calculations and those determined en route.
6. Verifies the airplane's position within two (2) nautical miles of flight planned route.
7. Arrives at the en route checkpoints within three (3) minutes of the initial or revised ETA and provides a destination estimate.
8. Maintains appropriate altitude, ±100 feet (30 meters), and heading, ±10°.
B. TASK: NAVIGATION SYSTEMS AND RADAR SERVICES (AMEL and AMES)
REFERENCES: FAA-H-8083-3, AC 61-23/FAA-H-8083-25; Navigation Equipment Operation Manuals, AIM.
Objective. To determine that the applicant:
1. Exhibits knowledge of the elements related to navigation systems and radar services.
2. Demonstrates the ability to use an airborne electronic navigation system.
3. Locates the airplane's position using the navigation system.
4. Intercepts and tracks a given course, radial, or bearing, as appropriate.
5. Recognizes and describes the indication of station passage, if appropriate.
6. Recognizes signal loss and takes appropriate action.
7. Uses proper communication procedures when utilizing radar services.
8. Maintains the appropriate altitude, ±100 feet (30 meters) and heading, ±10°.
C. TASK: DIVERSION (AMEL and AMES)
REFERENCES: FAA-H-8083-25; AIM.
Objective. To determine that the applicant:
1. Exhibits knowledge of the elements related to diversion.
2. Selects an appropriate alternate airport and route.
3. Makes an accurate estimate of heading, groundspeed, arrival time, and fuel consumption to the alternate airport.
4. Maintains the appropriate altitude, ±100 feet (30 meters), and heading, ±10°.
D. TASK: LOST PROCEDURES (AMEL and AMES)
REFERENCES: FAA-H-8083-25; AIM.
Objective. To determine that the applicant:
1. Exhibits knowledge of the elements related to lost procedures.
2. Selects an appropriate course of action.
3. Maintains an appropriate heading and climbs, if necessary.
4. Identifies prominent landmarks.
5. Uses navigation systems/facilities and/or contacts an ATC facility for assistance, as appropriate.
VII. AREA OF OPERATION: SLOW FLIGHT AND STALLS
A. TASK: MANEUVERING DURING SLOW FLIGHT (AMEL and AMES)
REFERENCES: FAA-H-8083-3; POH/AFM.
Objective. To determine that the applicant:
1. Exhibits knowledge of the elements related to maneuvering during slow flight.
2. Selects an entry altitude that will allow the task to be completed no lower than 3,000 feet (920 meters) AGL.
3. Establishes and maintains an airspeed at which any further increase in angle of attack, increase in load factor, or reduction in power, would result in an immediate stall.
4. Accomplishes coordinated straight-and-level flight, turns, climbs, and descents with landing gear and flap configurations specified by the examiner.
5. Divides attention between airplane control and orientation.
6. Maintains the specified altitude, ±50 feet (15 meters); specified heading, ±10°; airspeed +5/?0 knots, and specified angle of bank, ±5°.
B. TASK: POWER-OFF STALLS (AMEL and AMES)
REFERENCES: FAA-H-8083-3, AC 61-67; POH/AFM.
Objective. To determine that the applicant:
1. Exhibits knowledge of the elements related to power-off stalls.
2. Selects an entry altitude that allows the task to be completed no lower than 3,000 feet (460 meters) AGL.
3. Establishes a stabilized descent in the approach or landing configuration, as specified by the examiner.
4. Transitions smoothly from the approach or landing attitude to a pitch attitude that will induce a stall.
5. Maintains a specified heading ±10°, in straight flight; maintains a specified angle of bank, not to exceed 20°, ±5°, in turning flight while inducing the stall.
6. Recognizes and recovers promptly as the stall occurs by simultaneously reducing the angle of attack, increasing power to maximum allowable, and leveling the wings to return to a straightand-level flight attitude with a minimum loss of altitude appropriate for the airplane.
7. Retracts the flaps to the recommended setting, retracts the landing gear, if retractable, after a positive rate of climb is established.
8. Accelerates to VX or VY speed before the final flap retraction; returns to the altitude, heading, and airspeed specified by the examiner.
C. TASK: POWER-ON STALLS (AMEL and AMES)
REFERENCES: FAA-H-8083-3, AC 61-67; POH/AFM.
NOTE: In some high performance airplanes, the power setting may have to be reduced below the practical test standards guideline power setting to prevent excessively high pitch attitudes (greater than 30° nose up).
Objective. To determine that the applicant:
1. Exhibits knowledge of the elements related to power-on stalls.
2. Selects an entry altitude that allows the task to be completed no lower than 3,000 feet (920 meters) AGL.
3. Establishes the takeoff or departure configuration. Sets power to no less than 65 percent available power.
4. Transitions smoothly from the takeoff or departure attitude to a pitch attitude that will induce a stall.
5. Maintains a specified heading ±5°, in straight flight; maintains a specified angle of bank, not to exceed a 20°, ±10° in turning flight, while inducing the stall.
6. Recognizes and recovers promptly as the stall occurs by simultaneously reducing the angle of attack, increasing power to maximum allowable, and leveling the wings to return to a straightand-level flight attitude, with a minimum loss of altitude appropriate for the airplane.
7. Retracts flaps to the recommended setting, retracts the landing gear if retractable, after a positive rate of climb is established.
8. Accelerates to VX or VY speed before the final flap retraction; returns to the altitude, heading, and airspeed specified by the examiner.
D. TASK: SPIN AWARENESS (AMEL and AMES)
REFERENCES: FAA-H-8083-3, AC 61-67; POH/AFM.
Objective. To determine that the applicant exhibits knowledge of the elements related to spin awareness by explaining:
1. Aerodynamic factors related to spins.
2. Flight situations where unintentional spins may occur.
3. Procedures for recovery from unintentional spins.
