Revisions to IFR, PPL, CPLL, CFI Finally Here After Years of Work

The FAA will soon put the new Airman Certification Standards into effect for a handful of outstanding certificates, capping off years of work in moving away from the serviceable but imperfect Practical Test Standards of yore.

The changed ACS will include some of the bigger names in any young pilot's lineup of boss battles, with particular attention given to the helicopter folks this time around: 

• FAA-S-ACS-14: Instrument Rating -- Helicopter,
• FAA-S-ACS-15: Private Pilot for Rotorcraft -- Helicopter,
• FAA-S-ACS-16: Commercial Pilot for Rotorcraft Category -- Helicopter Rating
• FAA-S-ACS-29: Flight Instructor for Rotorcraft Category -- Helicopter Rating
• FAA-S-ACS-25: Flight Instructor for Airplane Category

The new ACS series now applies to powered-lift category aircraft, too.

The new ACS has a handful of changes underneath the hood, but overall the general vibe is that there aren't too many major changes to the way examiners will conduct their practical test. Overall, the ACS is much tighter than the older PTS, with additional mention of the ACS Companion Guide for Pilots, updated references and updated acronyms. 

It should greatly simplify some CFI's lesson plans, doing away with some of the more outdated elements of the curriculum like AC-00-6 with today's Aviation Weather Handbook.

The ACS also adds about a dozen new ACS codes, like the use of an EFB in cross country flight planning, trimming the aircraft, or passenger briefings for auto-land and ballistic parachute systems. THey're nice little updates for those operating with newer aircraft, since having such info codified for the newbies helps to keep it fresh in mind while they're heading into a checkride.

FMI: www.faa.gov