Practical Test Standards or PTS were sets of guidelines, standards, and criteria formerly used in the United States by
Federal Aviation Administration
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is the largest transportation agency of the U.S. government and regulates all aspects of civil aviation in the country as well as over surrounding international waters. Its powers include air traffic m ...
(FAA) Safety Inspectors or
Designated Pilot Examiner
In the United States, a Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE) is a senior pilot who examines applicants for a Pilot Certificate on behalf of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The DPE must check applicants’ qualifications, conduct an oral test ...
s to determine the suitability of airmen to be issued an
airman certificate
Pilot licensing or certification refers to permits for operating aircraft. Flight crew licences are regulated by ICAO Annex 1 and issued by the civil aviation authority of each country. CAA’s have to establish that the holder has met a speci ...
by conducting a
checkride A practical test, more commonly known as a checkride, is the Federal Aviation Administration examination which one must undergo in the United States to receive an aircraft pilot's certification, or a rating for additional flight privileges. The nam ...
. Each certification level featured unique criteria published by the FAA both electronically and in
hard copy
''Hard Copy'' is an American tabloid television show that ran in syndication from 1989 to 1999. ''Hard Copy'' was aggressive in its use of questionable material on television, including gratuitous violence.
The original hosts of ''Hard Copy'' ...
format. The system was superseded, beginning on , by a new set of publications called
Airman Certification Standards
Practical Test Standards or PTS were sets of guidelines, standards, and criteria formerly used in the United States by Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Safety Inspectors or Designated Pilot Examiners to determine the suitability of airmen to b ...
.
A list of the following common "Special Emphasis Areas" was shared by all certification levels:
#Positive aircraft control;
#Positive exchange of the flight controls procedure;
#Stall/spin awareness;
#Collision avoidance;
#Wake turbulence avoidance;
#LAHSO (Land and Hold Short Operations);
#Runway incursion avoidance;
#CFIT (Controlled Flight Into Terrain);
#ADM (Aeronautical Decision Making) and risk management;
#wire strike avoidance;
#checklist usage;
#Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs)
#Special Use Airspace
#Aviation Security
#Single Pilot Resource Management (SRM)
#Other areas deemed appropriate to any phase of the practical test.
Airman Certification Standards
Beginning in 2011, the FAA began an effort to supersede the Practical Test Standards with the Airman Certification Standards. These would add "task-specific knowledge and risk management elements". This took effect for PAR and IRA in June 2016, with revisions (such as slow flight proficiency and testing of the initiation of a stall) and the addition of CAX in June 2017. The ACS not only replaced PTS but also combined or integrated the Knowledge Test Guide, Learning Statement Reference Guide, and Knowledge Exam Testing Matrix into a single standard.
References
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Aviation publications
Aviation safety
Aviation law
Aviation licenses and certifications