Where have I been? Check ride updates

Well, I haven't posted in awhile.  I'll spare you the details but lets just say its been a crazy spring and summer.  Let me get down to what you want to know.

Check rides stuff.

A few changes have been made to the private, instrument and commercial ACS.  Rather than spend a bunch of time typing, I recommend getting a current copy from FAA.gov and review it for yourself.  There is a page that summarizes the changes in each ACS.

Common weakness'

Private pilot:

Ground:  Basic weather knowledge.  For example, cold vs warm front.  Required equipment.  Stall and spin knoweldge (big hint, know how to recover from a stall & spin).   Airspace; Class C, B and TFRs. Effects of being outside the Weight and Balance envelope.

Flight:  Stall recovery. Unusual attitude recovery.  Engine failure and best glide.  Crosswind Takeoff and landing and Soft Field landings.  Airport operations at towered and non towered airports.

Instrument Rating:

Ground:  Basic weather knowledge, Alternate airport requirements. RNAV approach procedures. GPS and WAAS procedures.

Flight:  Holding.  RNAV approach procedures.  Circling approach procedures (when can you descend below MDA?).  Non precision approach procedures (Where is the MAP?). 

Commercial  Pilot:

Ground:  Commercial Privileges and limitations.  Basic weather knowledge.

Flight:  Lazy 8s. 180 Power off accuracy landings. Stall recovery.

Flight Instructor:

Ground:  Safety Management.  Private/Commercial pilot certificate required training.  Required endorsements.  Cross country planning.  Airworthiness requirements.

Flight:  Not teaching and/or flying in accordance with the ACS and the appropriate FAA Flying Handbook.  


Automatic failures:  (These are situations where the Examiner has no option and most likely will intervene before a bad situation occurs.)  Busting airspace or cloud clearances.  Busting a Regulation or an ATC clearance.  Exceeding a limitation.  Any action or lack of Action where the Examiner must intervene.