ACS Areas of Operation

The Airman Certification Standards (ACS) organize the knowledge, risk management, and skill elements a pilot must demonstrate on the checkride into broad Areas of Operation such as preflight, airport operations, performance maneuvers, navigation, and emergency procedures. Each area lists specific tasks with objective pass/fail criteria. The ACS replaced the older Practical Test Standards (PTS) and is the definitive guide to what the examiner will evaluate.