Practical Test Standards or PTS are sets of guidelines, standards, and criteria formerly used in the United States by
Federal Aviation Administration
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is a Federal government of the United States, U.S. federal government agency within the United States Department of Transportation, U.S. Department of Transportation that regulates civil aviation in t ...
(FAA) Safety Inspectors or
Designated Pilot Examiner
In the United States, a Designated Pilot Evaluator (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 issued by the civil aviation authority of each country, which must establish that the holder has met minimum knowledge and experience before issui ...
by conducting a
checkride. Each certification level features unique criteria published by the FAA both electronically and in
hard copy
In information handling, the U.S. Federal Standard 1037C (Glossary of Telecommunication Terms) defines a hard copy as a permanent reproduction, or copy, in the form of a physical object, of any media suitable for direct use by a person (in par ...
format. The system was partially superseded, beginning on , by a new set of publications called
Airman Certification Standards
Practical Test Standards or PTS are 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 be ...
, though the PTS is still used for select FAA practical tests.
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.
Several ratings, notably those for helicopter, and balloon, as well as flight instructor and aircraft mechanic certificates are still tested to the PTS.
References
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Aviation publications
Aviation safety
Aviation law
Aviation licenses and certifications