Commercial ASEL

The Commercial ACS was updated last year with a couple of new items and clarifications.  I'll cover a couple of those items here.

You'll note that the ACS describes the tolerances for each maneuver and not how to do a maneuver.  In the ACS at the top of each Task the FAA list the References.  In these references the FAA describes how to do each maneuver.  During a check ride the FAA and the Examiner expect the applicant to perform each maneuver as described in the appropriate FAA reference material and to the standards listed in the ACS.  

Several maneuvers that are frequently not performed in accordance with FAA reference material are the Power off 180 degree accuracy landing, 8s on pylons and the power off stall.  I erge everyone to review the FAA's Airplane Flying Handbook for correct description of these maneuvers.

I'd also like to point out a new requirement in the ACS (it appears in both the private and commercial).  If you look in the Area of Operation labeled "Takeoffs, Landings and Go-Arounds"  under "Skills"  you will see the phrase "Touch down at the proper pitch attitude...".  This is important.  In the past we would see applicants try to force the airplane on the runway to make the desired spot.  In attempting to do that the airplane would hit the ground flat on all 3 wheels (not talking tailwheel airplanes here).  Landing flat is not good techniques and could easily damage the airplane. 

I'd like to emphasis some of the wording on landings from the ACS.  " Touch down at a proper pitch attitude with in XXX feet beyond or on the specified point, ....... with NO side drift, minimum float and with the airplane's longitudinal axis aligned with and over the runway centerline.  In reality, this is the description of a good landing.  Notice the don't say anything about how smooth it must be.  Don't worry about trying to role it on.