FAA-S-8081-4D U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration
INSTRUMENT RATING Practical Test Standards for
AIRPLANE
HELICOPTER
POWERED LIFT April 2004
FLIGHT STANDARDS SERVICE Washington, DC 20591
INSTRUMENT RATING Practical Test Standards for Airplane Helicopter Powered Lift 2004
FLIGHT STANDARDS SERVICE WASHINGTON, DC 20591
NOTE The publish date for FAA-S-8081-4D is April 2004, but the material will be effective October 1, 2004. All previous editions of the Instrument Rating Practical Test Standards will be obsolete as of this date.
FAA-S-8081-4D
The following major enhancements were made to FAA-S-8081-4D.
• The reference section has been updated to current FAA publications in use.
• An abbreviation section has been added.
• The “plan of action” is more thoroughly explained to include the reference to use of scenarios.
• Practical tests perquisite requirements have been updated to current rules.
• The use of GPS for navigation and approaches has been clarified and the requirement for a GPS approach has been added.
• Approach terminology has been updated to include Precision Approach (PA), Approach with Vertical Guidance (APV), and Nonprecision Approach (NPA). The requirements for their use have been clarified.
• Testing in modern aircraft with electronic flight instrument displays has been addressed.
• The use of autopilot and flight management during testing has been addressed.
• The requirement for the use of a view-limiting device has been clarified.
• The need for testing in Single-Pilot Resource Management has been addressed and clarified.
• Reference to the metric system has been eliminated.
• The body of the PTS has been updated to include electronic flight instrument displays, flight management systems, GPS, and autopilot usage.
• The need for testing basic instrument flight maneuvers throughout the practical test instead of being treated as separate TASKs has been addressed in AREA OF OPERATION IV.
FAA-S-8081-4D
FOREWORD The Instrument Rating Practical Test Standards (PTSs) book is published by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to establish the standards for instrument rating certification practical tests for the airplane, helicopter, and powered lift, category and classes. These practical test standards shall also be used for the instrument portion of the commercial pilot–airship practical test. FAA inspectors and designated pilot examiners shall conduct practical tests in compliance with these standards. Flight instructors and applicants should find these standards helpful during training and when preparing for practical tests.
Joseph K. Tintera, Manager Regulatory Support Division, AFS-600 Flight Standards Service FAA-S-8081-4D
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION1
General Information1
Practical Test Standard Concept2
Practical Test Book Description2
Abbreviations4
Use of the Practical Test Standards5
Special Emphasis Areas6
Practical Test Prerequisites: Instrument Rating6
Aircraft and Equipment Required for the Practical Test7
Use of FAA-Approved Flight Simulator or Flight Training
Device8
Flight Instructor Responsibility9
Examiner Responsibility10
Satisfactory Performance11
Unsatisfactory Performance11
Letter of Discontinuance12
Aeronautical Decision Making and Risk Management12
Single-Pilot Resource Management13
Applicant’s Use of Checklists13
Use of Distractions During Practical Tests13
Positive Exchange of Flight Controls14
Emphasis on Attitude Instrument Flying and Emergency
Instrument Procedures14
Rating Task Table16
CONTENTS1-i
APPLICANT’S PRACTICAL TEST CHECKLIST1-iii
EXAMINER’S PRACTICAL TEST CHECKLIST1-v
AREAS OF OPERATION:
I. PREFLIGHT PREPARATION1-1
II. PREFLIGHT PROCEDURES1-3
III. AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL CLEARANCES AND
PROCEDURES1-5
IV. FLIGHT BY REFERENCE TO INSTRUMENTS1-7
V. NAVIGATION SYSTEMS1-8
VI. INSTRUMENT APPROACH PROCEDURES1-9
VII.EMERGENCY OPERATIONS1-14
VIII. POSTFLIGHT PROCEDURES1-17
i FAA-S-8081-4D
APPENDIX 1—TASK VS. SIMULATION DEVICE CREDIT TASK VS. SIMULATION DEVICE CREDIT ................Appendix 1-1 USE OF CHART .........................................................Appendix 1-1 FLIGHT SIMULATION DEVICE LEVEL......................Appendix 1-2 FAA-S-8081-4D ii
INTRODUCTION General Information The Flight Standards Service of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has developed this practical test as the standard that shall be used by FAA inspectors and designated pilot examiners when conducting instrument rating—airplane, helicopter, and powered lift practical tests, and instrument proficiency checks for all aircraft. This practical test standard (PTS) shall also be used for the instrument portion of the commercial pilot—airship practical test. Instructors are expected to use this PTS when preparing applicants for practical tests.
Applicants should be familiar with this PTS and refer to these standards during their training.
This PTS sets forth the practical test requirements for the addition of an instrument rating to a pilot certificate in airplanes, helicopters, and powered-lift aircraft.
Information considered directive in nature is described in this PTS book in terms, such as “shall” and “must,” indicating the actions are mandatory. Guidance information is described in terms, such as “should” and “may,” indicating the actions are desirable or permissive, but not mandatory.
The FAA gratefully acknowledges the valuable assistance provided by many industry participants who contributed their time and talent in assisting with the revision of these practical test standards.
This PTS may be purchased from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO), Washington, DC 20402-9325, or from http://bookstore.gpo.gov. This PTS is also available for download, in pdf format, from the Flight Standards Service web site at http://av-info.faa.gov.
This PTS is published by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration, Airman Testing Standards Branch, AFS-630, P.O. Box 25082, Oklahoma City, OK 73125. Comments regarding this handbook should be sent, in e-mail form, to AFS630comments@faa.gov.
1 FAA-S-8081-4D
Practical Test Standard Concept Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 61 specifies the areas in which knowledge and skill must be demonstrated by the applicant before the issuance of an instrument rating. The CFRs provide the flexibility to permit the FAA to publish practical test standards containing the AREAS OF OPERATION and specific TASKs in which pilot competency shall be demonstrated. The FAA will revise this PTS whenever it is determined that changes are needed in the interest of safety. Adherence to the provisions of the regulations and the practical test standards is mandatory for evaluation of instrument pilot applicants.
Practical Test Book Description This test book contains the instrument rating practical test standards for airplane, helicopter, and powered lift. It also contains TASK requirements for the addition of airplane, helicopter, or powered lift, if an instrument rating is possessed by the applicant in at least one other aircraft category. Refer to the commercial pilot–airship practical test standard to determine the instrument TASKs required for that practical test. Required TASKs for instrument proficiency checks (PC) are also contained in these practical test standards.
AREAS OF OPERATION are phases of the practical test arranged in a logical sequence within each standard. They begin with preflight preparation and end with postflight procedures. The examiner may conduct the practical test in any sequence that results in a complete and efficient test; however, the ground portion of the practical test shall be accomplished before the flight portion.
TASKs are titles of knowledge areas, flight procedures, or maneuvers appropriate to an AREA OF OPERATION.
The applicant who holds an airplane, helicopter, or powered lift instrument rating will not have to take the entire test when applying for an added rating. The TASKs required for each additional instrument rating are shown in the Rating Task Table on page 16.
Applicants for an instrument proficiency check required by 14 CFR section 61.57 must perform to the standards of the TASKs listed in the guidance provided on page 16.
NOTE is used to emphasize special considerations required in the AREA OF OPERATION or TASK.
FAA-S-8081-4D 2
REFERENCE identifies the publication(s) that describe(s) the TASK.
Descriptions of TASKs are not included in the standards because this information can be found in the current issue of the listed references.
Publications other than those listed may be used for references if their content conveys substantially the same meaning as the referenced publications.
These practical test standards are based on the following references.
14 CFR part 61 14 CFR part 91 FAA-H-8083-3 FAA-H-8083-15 FAA-H-8083-21 FAA-H-8083-25 FAA-H-8261-1 AC 00-6 AC 00-45 AC 60-22 AC 60-28 AC 61-134 AC 61-84 AC 90-48 AC 90-94 AC 120-51 AIM DPs STARs AFD FDC NOTAMs IAP Others Certification: Pilots and Flight Instructors General Operating and Flight Rules Airplane Flying Handbook Instrument Flying Handbook Rotorcraft Flying Handbook Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge Instrument Procedures Handbook Aviation Weather Aviation Weather Services Aeronautical Decision Making English Language Skill Standards Required by 14 CFR parts 61, 63, and 65 General Aviation Controlled Flight into Terrain Awareness Role of Preflight Preparation Pilots’ Role in Collision Avoidance Guidelines for Using Global Positioning System Equipment for IFR En Route and Terminal Operations and for Nonprecision Instrument Approaches in the U.S. National Airspace System Crew Resource Management Training Aeronautical Information Manual Instrument Departure Procedures Standard Terminal Arrivals Airport Facility Directory National Flight Data Center Notices to Airmen Instrument Approach Procedures Pertinent Pilot’s Operating Handbooks FAA-Approved Flight Manuals En Route Low Altitude Charts 3 FAA-S-8081-4D
The Objective lists the important elements that must be satisfactorily performed to demonstrate competency in a TASK. The Objective includes:
1. specifically what the applicant should be able to do;
2. the conditions under which the TASK is to be performed; and
3. the acceptable standards of performance.
Abbreviations 14 CFR Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations ADF Automatic Direction Finder ADM Aeronautical Decision Making AIRMETS Airman’s Meteorological Information APV Approach with Vertical Guidance ATC Air Traffic Control ATIS Automatic Terminal Information Service ATS Air Traffic Service CDI Course Deviation Indicator CFIT Controlled Flight into Terrain CRM Cockpit Resource Management DA/DH Decision Altitude/Decision Height DH Decision Height DME Distance M easuring Equipment DP Departure Procedures FAA Federal Aviation Administration FDC Flight Data Center FMS Flight Management System FSDO Flight Standards District Office GLS GNSS Landing System GNSS Global Navigation Satellite System GPO Government Printing Office GPS Global Positioning System GPWS Ground Proximity Warning System IAP Instrument Approach Procedures IFR Instrument Flight Rules ILS Instrument Landing System IMC Instrument Meteorological Conditions LAHSO Land and Hold Short Operations LCD Liquid Crystal Display LDA Localizer-type Directional Aid LED Light Emitting Diode LOC ILS Localizer LORAN Long Range Navigation MAP Missed Approach Point MDA Minimum Descent Attitude MLS Microwave Landing System NAVAID Navigation Aid NDB Non-directional Beac on (Automatic Direction Finder) NOTAM Notice to Airmen NPA Nonprecision Approach NWS National Weather Service PA Precision Approach FAA-S-8081-4D 4
PC Proficiency Check PTS Practical Test Standard RAIM Receiver Autonomous Integrity Monitoring RMI Radio Magnetic Indicator RNAV Area Navigation SAS Stability Augmentation System SDF Simplified Directional Facility SIGMETS Significant Meteorological Advisory STAR Standard Terminal Arrival TCAS Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System VDP Visual Descent Point VHF Very High Frequency VNAV Vertical Navigation VOR Very High Frequency Ominidirectional Range Use of the Practical Test Standards The instrument rating practical test standards are designed to evaluate competency in both knowledge and skill.
The FAA requires that all practical tests be conducted in accordance with the appropriate practical test standards and the policies set forth in the INTRODUCTION. Instrument rating applicants shall be evaluated in ALL TASKs included in the AREAS OF OPERATION of the appropriate practical test standard (unless noted otherwise).
In preparation for each practical test, the examiner shall develop a written “plan of action” for each practical test. The “plan of action” is a tool, for the sole use of the examiner, to be used in evaluating the applicant. The plan of action need not be grammatically correct or in any formal format. The plan of action must contain all of the required AREAS OF OPERATION and TASKs and any optional TASKs selected by the examiner. The “plan of action” shall incorporate one or more scenarios that will be used during the practical test. The examiner should try to include as many of the TASKs into the scenario portion of the test as possible, but maintain the flexibility to change due to unexpected situations as they arise and still result in an efficient and valid test. Any TASK selected for evaluation during a practical test shall be evaluated in its entirety.
The examiner is not required to follow the precise order in which the AREAS OF OPERATION and TASKs appear in this book. The examiner may change the sequence or combine TASKs with similar Objectives to have an orderly and efficient flow of the practical test. For example, holding procedures may be combined with an approach or missed approach procedures if a holding entry is part of the procedure.