FAA-S-ACS-6C Open PDF on FAA.gov ↗(opens in a new tab)
Private Pilot (Airplane)
Preflight preparation, airport operations, takeoffs and landings, performance and ground reference maneuvers, slow flight and stalls, and emergency operations.
Study tools
Official standards and quick references for checkride prep. Always confirm against current FAA publications.
Airman Certification Standards
The standards your examiner grades against.
- FAA-S-ACS-8COpen PDF on FAA.gov ↗(opens in a new tab)
Instrument Rating (Airplane)
IFR flight planning and clearances, holding, precision and non-precision approaches, missed approaches, and flying with a failed attitude indicator or heading indicator.
- FAA-S-ACS-7BOpen PDF on FAA.gov ↗(opens in a new tab)
Commercial Pilot (Airplane)
Chandelles, lazy eights, steep spirals, eights on pylons, power-off 180° accuracy approaches, and the rules for carrying passengers or property for hire.
- FAA-S-ACS-25Open on FAA.gov ↗(opens in a new tab)
Flight Instructor (Airplane)
Fundamentals of instructing, technical subject areas, and teaching each flight maneuver from the right seat. Find it in the FAA's full list of standards.
Required inspections (AV1ATE)
Examiners often ask you to show airworthiness in the logbooks before you fly.
| Inspection | Interval | Regulation |
|---|---|---|
| Annual | Every 12 calendar months | 14 CFR 91.409(a) |
| VOR check (IFR only) | Within the preceding 30 days | 14 CFR 91.171 |
| 100-hour | Every 100 hours of time in service, when used for hire or flight instruction for hire | 14 CFR 91.409(b) |
| Altimeter and pitot-static (IFR) | Every 24 calendar months | 14 CFR 91.411 |
| Transponder | Every 24 calendar months | 14 CFR 91.413 |
| ELT | Inspection every 12 calendar months; battery replaced after 1 hour of cumulative use or half its useful life | 14 CFR 91.207 |
Maneuver tolerances
Common ACS limits. Check the current ACS for your certificate.
| Maneuver | Altitude | Airspeed | Bank / heading | Completion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steep turns (private) | ±100 ft | ±10 kt | 45° ±5° | Roll out within ±10° of entry heading |
| Steep turns (commercial) | ±100 ft | ±10 kt | 50° ±5° | Roll out within ±10° of entry heading |
| Slow flight | ±100 ft (private) · ±50 ft (commercial) | +10 / −0 kt | Heading ±10°; bank ±10° (private) · ±5° (commercial) | — |
| Short-field landing | — | Approach speed +10 / −5 kt (private) · ±5 kt (commercial) | On the centerline | Touch down within 200 ft (private) or 100 ft (commercial) past the chosen point |
| Precision approach (ILS) | No more than ¾-scale glideslope deflection | ±10 kt | No more than ¾-scale localizer deflection | Begin the missed approach at DA/DH without visual references |
Official links
These references are study aids, not a substitute for the current ACS, FARs, or your instructor.