ENROUTE eNewsletter: May 2, 2024

May 2, 2024

New Products

New FAA Test Standards

The FAA released new FAA Airman Certification Standards (ACS) and Practical Test Standards (PTS) that will go into effect May 31. Whether new to aviation or preparing for a rating or new certificate, this change affects nearly all practical tests (checkrides).

Applicants and instructors preparing for a practical test (checkride) before May 31, 2024 should use the appropriate and currently active PTS and/or ACS to prepare. Those taking a checkride for one of the certificates or ratings shown below after May 30, should use the new edition PTS or ACS. For more details visit https://www.faa.gov/training_testing/testing.

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. The Incorporate by Reference (IBR) rule published April 1 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.

Title

Current Edition

Expires May 30

New Edition

Effective May 31

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-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

Dealer of the Month

High Tide Aviation

May 2024

In their own words:

High Tide Aviation is a flight school, air tour operator, and pilot shop for general aviation. Jessica Ward, our founder, launched High Tide Helicopters in 2013 as a helicopter flight school with one Robinson R22 helicopter. As we grew and broadened our scope of services to include airplanes, we became High Tide Aviation. Today, we operate 14 training and touring aircraft, both rotary and fixed wing, as well as a Redbird FMX full motion AATD simulator. We are the leading flight school in Southeastern North Carolina.

We exclusively utilize ASA publications and training products and keep a well-stocked pilot shop for our students and renters. Whether you are looking for a kneeboard, aviation charts, flight computers, or any aviation literature: we’ve got you covered. Our product offerings are regularly updated and expanded to always offer our customers the best options.

Shop High Tide Aviation

Regulation Updates

Effective May 28, 2024, the FAA updated the requirements for Safety Management Systems (SMS) and requiring certain certificate holders and commercial air tour operators to develop and implement a safety management system (SMS).

This new rule extends the previous requirement for an SMS to all certificate holders operating under the rules for

Commuter and on-demand operations
Commercial air tour operators
Production certificate holders that are holders or licensees of a type certificate for the same product, and holders of a type certificate that license out that type certificate for production.

04/30/24 2024 FAR/AIM

04/30/24 2024 FAR-FC

04/30/24 2024 FAR-AMT

Essential Read

ASA's Essential Read for April is Practical Safety Management Systems, Second Edition, by Paul R. Snyder and Gary M. Ullrich. In reviewing this latest rule change, the authors had this to say.

Practical Safety Management Systems, Second Edition, continues to be the one-stop source to help a variety of certificate holders understand the foundations of SMS and comprehend the crucial interactions of the four components of SMS. This program will enable an organization to establish a Practical SMS regardless of whether the organization is a FAA certificate holder or a non-certificate holder seeking SMS acceptance through the FAA SMS Voluntary program.

Add to your library

Originally Launched in 2008, the Learn to Fly Blog is for student pilots and those considering flight training. This is a great resource to acquire the aeronautical knowledge needed to be successful during and after training. Certificated pilots and flight instructors will find this a platform full of insights into the aviation environment, in addition to providing encouragement and guidance to newer members of the aviation community.

Aviation Decision-Making and Spring Weather

The saying “in like a lion out like a lamb” is most often used for March, but April can also be a crazy weather month. While aviation training tends to focus on the go/no-go decision, equally critical are the continue/divert decisions that happen quite literally throughout ...

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 ...

Trade Show Schedule

NIFA Safecon

Oshkosh, WI—May 13-18

Each year, students from aviation institutions across the United States come together to compete in flight and ground training events during the National Intercollegiate Flying Association's (NIFA) annual SAFECON competition. This year the event will once again be held at Southern Wisconsin Regional Airport (KJVL) in Janesville, WI.

ASA will be sponsoring the Computer Accuracy contest. Competitors take an hour-long multiple choice test which determines how accurately and how quickly they can use an E6B flight computer to solve math problems and flight planning problems. Extra points may be earned for finishing the test early, making this event a mentally taxing race against other competitors.

ASA will also be sponsoring and proctoring the first ever SAFECON Aviation Mechanic Knowledge Test, and on Friday evening Aviator Assistant will join us in sponsoring a BBQ and raffle. Food will be served, games will be played, and prizes from ASA and Aviator Assistant will be given. WIN a CX-3 Flight Computer, headset, flight bag, plotter, book, or a subscription to aviator assistant!

Just for Fun

According to the results from the last pole, regarding ACS and PTS, less than half of respondents (47.1%) will not be affected by the ACS changes. 32.2% will continue as planned, 20.6% were not sure. The ACS are now shipping!

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.