ENROUTE eNewsletter: April 4, 2024

April 4, 2024

We know, it's only been a week since you have heard from us, but we have a very important update regarding Airman Certification Standards and Practical Test Standards that couldn't wait. These changes will affect pilot applicants in several categories who plan on testing in the next two months.

New Products

New ACS and PTS Effective May 31, 2024

The FAA released new FAA Airman Certification Standards (ACS) and Practical Test Standards (PTS) that will go into effect on May 31. These new ACS and PTS are the result of an “Incorporate by Reference” (IBR) federal aviation rule change, which has been years in the making and can be reviewed in the ASA FAR/AIM Series Updates.

The FAA ACS and PTS comprise the testing standard for knowledge tests, practical tests and proficiency checks for persons seeking or holding an airman certificate and/or rating. This IBR rule incorporates these ACS and PTS by reference into the certification requirements for pilots, flight instructors, flight engineers, aircraft dispatchers, and parachute riggers. In addition to the PTS and ACS, the FAA published an ACS Companion Guide (FAA-G-ACS-2) which is included in ASA ACS books.

Applicants and instructors should continue to use the existing PTS and ACS if taking a practical test (checkride) prior to May 31. If taking a checkride after May 30, use the following editions:

Title

Old Part #

New Part #

Private Pilot Airplane

ACS-6B.1

ACS-6C

Commercial Pilot Airplane

ACS-7A.1

ACS-7B

Instrument Rating Airplane ACS

ACS-8B.1

ACS-8C

Airline Transport Pilot and Type Rating Airplane ACS

ACS-11.1

ACS-11A

Instrument Rating Helicopter ACS

8081-4E

ACS-14

Private Pilot Rotorcraft Helicopter ACS

8081-15A

ACS-15

Commercial Pilot Rotorcraft Helicopter ACS

8081-16B

ACS-16

Flight Instructor Airplane ACS

8081-6DS/8081-6DM

ACS-25

Flight Instructor Rotorcraft ACS

8081-16B

ACS-29

Flight Instructor Instrument Airplane & Helicopter PTS

8081-9D

8081-9E

Aircraft Dispatcher PTS

8081-10D

8081-10E

FAA Test Updates

The FAA published the March 2024 Airman Testing Community Advisory (ATCA) to provide an additional method of change management communication and support efforts to ensure training and testing remain correlated for an effective certification process. This document is updated periodically and includes information regarding the Incorporation by Reference (IBR) process, Airman Knowledge Test Report codes, the FAA Airman Knowledge Testing Matrix, and more. There are no changes for the FAA Knowledge Exams at this time.

Subscribe to ASA's free Test Prep Update subscription service, providing the most complete and up-to-date information available, to receive update notices when changes to the FAA Knowledge Exams databases are made.

When updates are posted, they will be available at asa2fly.com/TestUpdates.

Regulation Updates

ASA's FAR/AIM Series provides the most complete and up-to-date information available. As a subscriber to our free update subscription service, you receive notices automatically when a regulatory or procedural change is released by the FAA.

The latest updates to the FAR/AIM, FAR-FC, and FAR-AMT include Incorporate by Reference effective May 31, 2024. This IBR rule incorporates these ACS and PTS by reference into the certification requirements for pilots, flight instructors, flight engineers, aircraft dispatchers, aviation mechanics, parachute riggers, flight crewmembers other than pilots, and airmen other than flight crewmembers.

04/01/24 2024 FAR/AIM

04/01/24 2024 FAR-FC

04/01/24 2024 FAR-AMT

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FAA Releases New Airman Certification Standards

For the past several years, the FAA has been working on an update for the Airman Certification Standards (ACS) and Practical Test Standards (PTS). These new ACS have been published to replace the former PTS and will become effective as of May 31, 2024.

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San Diego, CA—April 22–25

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Just for Fun

ACS vs. PTS

The following poll is for anyone who wants to participate. Your participation in the poll is voluntary. Your identity will not be made public and is used solely for the purpose of understanding ENROUTE reader preferences so that we can continue to provide you with the products, services, and information most useful to your training journey.