AC 61-128

Change 1Historical

Advisory circular · Announcement of Availability: FAA-S-8081-6A, Flight Instructor Practical Test Standards for Airplane (Single-Engine and Multiengine) with Change 1

Approved
April 5, 1999
Last reviewed
October 18, 2024
This change
Canceled by Memo signed by Joseph K. Tintera; dated 04/28/2005.
Cancels
AC61-128
Family
AC 61-128 · 1 version
Revision
change 1
14 CFR parts
1

Guidance, not mandatory unless a rule or AD requires it. DRS record last changed November 21, 2025.

FAA-S-8081-6A with Change 1

FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR Practical Test Standards forfor

AIRPLANEAIRPLANE

•• SINGLE-ENGINESINGLE-ENGINE

•• MULTIENGINEMULTIENGINE MAY 1991

FLIGHT STANDARDS SERVICE Washington, DC 20591

FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR

AIRPLANE Practical Test Standards 1991

FLIGHT STANDARDS SERVICE Washington, DC 20591

FAA-S-8081-6AFAA-S-8081-6A NOTE The INTRODUCTION of this practical test book includes information that is pertinent to all all flight instructor practical test standards in addition to that which applies specifically to FAA -S-8081-6A, Flight Instructor - Airplane (Single-engine and Multiengine) Practical Test Standards.

Material in FAA-S-8081-6A will be effective May 31, 1991. All previous editions of this book will be obsolete as of this date.

FAA-S-8081-6AFAA-S-8081-6A

RECORD OF CHANGES FOR FAA-S-8081-6A, FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR

PRACTICAL TEST STANDARDS Change 1: 07/20/97 Reason: Reference change. The reference AC 61-92 was canceled while FAA-S-8081-6A, Flight Instructor Practical Test Standards, was being printed. New reference is AC 61-67.

• AREA OF OPERATION: II. TECHNICAL SUBJECT AREAS TASK C: USE OF DISTRACTIONS DURING FLIGHT TRAINING (ASEL and ASES)

FAA-S-8081-6AFAA-S-8081-6A

FOREWORD The Flight Instructor - Airplane Practical Test Standards book has been published by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to establish the standards for the flight instructor certification practical tests for the airplane category and the single-engine and multiengine classes. FAA inspectors and designated pilot examiners shall conduct practical tests in compliance with these standards. Flight instructors and applicants should find these standards helpful in practical test preparation.

Thomas C. Accardi Acting Director, Flight Standards Service

FAA-S-8081-6AFAA-S-8081-6A

INTRODUCTION The Aviation Standards National Field Office of the FAA has developed this practical test book as a standard to be used by FAA inspectors and designated pilot examiners when conducting flight instructor - airplane (single-engine) and flight instructor - airplane (multiengine) practical tests. Flight instructors are expected to use this book when preparing flight instructor applicants for practical tests.

This book can be purchased from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402.

The FAA gratefully acknowledges the valuable assistance provided by a nation-wide public "Job Task Analysis" team that developed the knowledge, skills, and abilities which appear in this book.

Comments regarding this book should be sent to:

U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration Aviation Standards National Field Office Operations Support Branch, AVN-130 P.O. Box 25082 Oklahoma City, OK 73125

FAA-S-8081-6AFAA-S-8081-6A Practical Test Standard Concept Federal Aviation Regulations ( FAR's) specify the areas in which knowledge and skill must be demonstrated by the applicant before the issuance of a flight instructor certificate with the associated category and class ratings. The FAR's provide the flexibility that permits the FAA to publish practical test standards containing specific TASKS in which competency must be demonstrated. The FAA will revise this book whenever it is determined that changes are needed in the interest of safety. Adherence to the provisions of regulations and the practical test standards is mandatory for the evaluation of flight instructor applicants.

Flight Instructor Responsibility An appropriately rated flight instructor is responsible for training the flight instructor applicant to acceptable standards in all all subject matter areas, procedures, and maneuvers included in the TASKS within the appropriate flight instructor practical test standard. Because of the impact of their teaching activities in developing safe, proficient pilots, flight instructors should exhibit a high level of knowledge, skill, and the ability to impart that knowledge and skill to students. The flight instructor must certify that the applicant:

1. is able to make a practical application of the fundamentals of instructing;

2. is competent to teach the subject matter, procedures, and maneuvers included in the standards to students with varying backgrounds and levels of experience and ability;

3. is able to perform the procedures and maneuvers included in the standards to at least the COMMERCIAL PILOT skill level 1 (or, in the case of the Flight Instructor - Instrument applicant, to the INSTRUMENT PILOT skill level) while giving effective flight instruction; and

4. is competent to pass the required practical test for the issuance of the flight instructor certificate with the associated category and class ratings or the addition of a category and/or class rating to a flight instructor certificate.

1 The term "Commercial Pilot Skill Level" is defined, for the purpose of this publication, as performing a procedure or maneuver within the tolerances listed in the FAA Commercial Pilot Practical Test Standards. If the maneuver appears only in a Private Pilot Practical Test Standard, the term means that the applicant's performance is expected to be "more precise" than that indicated by the stated tolerances. This "more precise" performance must be determined by the examiner through the exercise of subjective judgment.

FAA-S-8081-6AFAA-S-8081-6A Throughout the applicant's training, the flight instructor is responsible for emphasizing the performance of, and the ability to teach, effective visual scanning and collision avoidance procedures. These areas are covered in AC 90-48, Pilot's Role in Collision Avoidance; AC 61-21, Flight Training Handbook; AC 61-23, Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge; and the Airman's Information Manual.

Examiner2 Responsibility The examiner who conducts the practical test is responsible for determining that the applicant meets acceptable standards of knowledge, skill, and teaching ability in the selected TASKS. The examiner makes this determination by accomplishing an action that is appropriate to each selected TASK and includes an evaluation of the applicant's:

1. ability to apply the fundamentals of instructing;

2. knowledge of, and ability to teach, the subject matter, procedures, and maneuvers covered in the TASKS;

3. ability to perform the procedures and maneuvers included in the standards to at least the COMMERCIAL PILOT skill level (or in the case of the Flight Instructor - Instrument applicant, to the INSTRUMENT PILOT skill level) while giving effective flight instruction; and

4. ability to analyze and correct common errors related to the procedures and maneuvers covered in the TASKS.

It is intended that oral testing be used at any time during the practical test to determine that the applicant can instruct effectively and has a comprehensive knowledge of the TASKS and their related safety factors.

Throughout the flight portion of the practical test, the examiner will evaluate the applicant's use of visual scanning and collision avoidance procedures, and the applicant's ability to teach those procedures.

2 The word "examiner" is used throughout this standard to denote either the FAA inspector or FAA designated pilot examiner who conducts an official flight test.

FAA-S-8081-6AFAA-S-8081-6A Flight Instructor Practical Test Book Description This book contains the practical test standards for Flight Instructor - Airplane (Single-engine and Multiengine). Other flight instructor practical test books include:

FAA-S-8081-7, Flight Instructor - Rotorcraft (Helicopter and Gyroplane) FAA-S-8081-8, Flight Instructor - Glider FAA-S-8081-9, Flight Instructor - Instrument (Airplane and Helicopter) The loose-leaf feature of this book allows the incorporation of changes which will be sold, as required. This will permit the dissemination of information concerning changes in regulations, pilot certification procedures, and other areas related to safety upon which emphasis should be placed.

The Flight Instructor Practical Test Standards include the AREAS OF OPERATION and TASKS for the issuance of an initial flight instructor certificate and for the addition of category and/or class ratings to that certificate.

Initial Flight Instructor Certification An applicant who seeks initial flight instructor certification will be evaluated in all AREAS OF OPERATION of the standards appropriate to the rating(s) sought. The evaluation will include at least one TASK in each AREA OF OPERATION and will always always include the required TASKS.

Addition of Aircraft Category And/Or Class Ratings To A Flight Instructor Certificate An applicant who holds a flight instructor certificate and seeks an additional aircraft category and/or class rating will be evaluated in at least the AREAS OF OPERATION and TASKS that are unique and appropriate to the rating(s) sought (see table at the beginning of each standard). At the discretion of the examiner, the applicant's competence in all all AREAS OF OPERATION may be evaluated.

FAA-S-8081-6AFAA-S-8081-6A

CATERGORY

AND/OR CLASS

RATING(S) SOUGHT

APPLICABLE BOOK

AND SECTION ASE AME RH RG G IA IH FAA-S-8081-6, Section 1 FAA-S-8081-6, Section 2 FAA-S-8081-7, Section 1 FAA-S-8081-7, Section 2 FAA-S-8081-8 FAA-S-8081-9 FAA-S-8081-9 LEGEND ASE Airplane Single-Engine AME Airplane Multiengine RH Rotorcraft Helicopter RG Rotorcraft Gyroplane G Glider IA Instrument Airplane IH Instrument Helicopter NOTE: When administering a test based on FAA-S-8081-6A, Sections 1 and 2, the TASKS appropriate to the class a irplane (land or sea) used for the test should be included.

Flight Instructor Practical Test Standard Description AREAS OF OPERATION are phases of the practical test. In this practical test book, the first AREA OF OPERATION is Fundamentals of Instructing; the last is Postflight Procedures. However, the examiner may conduct the practical test in any sequence that results in a complete and efficient test.

TASKS are knowledge areas, flight procedures, or maneuvers appropriate to an AREA OF OPERATION. The abbreviation(s) within parentheses immediately following a TASK refer to the category and/or class aircraft appropriate to that TASK. The meaning of each abbreviation follows:

ASEL Airplane, Single Engine Land AMEL Airplane, Multiengine Land ASES Airplane, Single-Engine Sea AMES Airplane, Multiengine Sea RH Rotorcraft - Helicopter

FAA-S-8081-6AFAA-S-8081-6A RG Rotorcraft - Gyroplane G Glider IA Instrument - Airplane IH Instrument - Helicopter REFERENCE identifies the publication(s) that describes the TASK.

Descriptions of TASKS and maneuver tolerances are not included in the flight instructor standards because this information can be found in references listed for each TASK. Publications other than those listed may be used as references if their content conveys substantially the same meaning as the referenced publications. References listed in the four flight instructor practical test books include the current revisions of the following publications:

FAR Part 61 Certification: Pilots and Flight Instructors FAR Part 91 General Operating and Flight Rules FAR Part 97 Standard Instrument Approach Procedures NTSB Part 830 Notification and Reporting of Aircraft Accidents and Incidents AC 00-2 Advisory Circular Checklist AC 00-6 Aviation Weather AC 00-45 Aviation Weather Services AC 60-14 Aviation Instructor's Handbook AC 61-13 Basic Helicopter Handbook AC 61-21 Flight Training Handbook AC 61-23 Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge AC 61-27 Instrument Flying Handbook AC 61-65 Certification: Pilots and Flight Instructors AC 61-67 Stall and Spin Awareness Training AC 61-84 Role of Preflight Preparation AC 61-94 Pilot Transition Course for Self-Launching or Powered Sailplanes (motorgliders) AC 67-2 Medical Handbook for Pilots AC 90-48 Pilots' Role in Collision Avoidance AC 91-13 Cold Weather Operation of Aircraft AC 91-23 Pilot's Weight and Balance Handbook FAA-S-8081-1 Private Pilot Practical Test Standards FAA-S-8081-2 Commercial Pilot Practical Test Standards FAA-S-8081-4 Instrument Rating Practical Test Standards AIM Airman's Information Manual IAP's Instrument Approach Procedures (charts) SID's Standard Instrument Departures STAR's Standard Terminal Arrivals AFD Airport Facility Directory NOTAM's Notices to Airmen Pertinent Pilot Operating Handbooks and FAA- Approved Flight Manuals