Curriculum by ACS area
← Flight-plan viewCompact view →The same curriculum, indexed by the FAA Airman Certification Standards — the Areas of Operation and Tasks the checkride and knowledge test are built around. Each ACS task links to the lessons that teach it and the official test figures it uses.
15 ACS tasks · 86 lesson mappings. This is a structural cross-reference to public FAA documents, draft pending certified-flight-instructor review.
PA.I.APreflight Preparation — Pilot Qualifications
Eligibility: age and English language · Student, sport, recreational, and private pilots · The private pilot certification path · Medical certificate and BasicMed · Required training and instructor endorsements · Aeronautical experience requirements · +17 more
Lessons
- Getting Started: Eligibility, Pilot Types and the Path — Becoming a Private Pilot
- Medical Eligibility: Medical Certificates and BasicMed — Becoming a Private Pilot
- Training, Endorsements and Aeronautical Experience — Becoming a Private Pilot
- The Tests and What Your Certificate Lets You Do — Becoming a Private Pilot
- The Pilot in Command: Authority and Responsibility — Regulatory Framework and Pilot Responsibilities
- Preflight Action and Safety Belts — Regulatory Framework and Pilot Responsibilities
- Right-of-Way Rules and Dropping Objects — Regulatory Framework and Pilot Responsibilities
- Certificates, Medicals and Staying Current — Federal Aviation Regulations
- Documents, Equipment and Preflight Action — Federal Aviation Regulations
- Operating Rules: Right of Way, Alcohol and PIC Authority — Federal Aviation Regulations
- Logging Flight Time — Federal Aviation Regulations
PA.I.BPreflight Preparation — Airworthiness Requirements
Required pilot and aircraft documents · Required aircraft documents (ARROW) · Required instruments and equipment · Required inspections (annual, 100-hour) · Airworthiness determination · Inoperative equipment (91.213)
Lessons
- Required Documents: On the Pilot and in the Aircraft — Regulatory Framework and Pilot Responsibilities
- Documents, Equipment and Preflight Action — Federal Aviation Regulations
- Documents, Inspections and Airworthiness — Preflight Planning and Required Information
PA.I.CPreflight Preparation — Weather Information
Atmospheric stability and lapse rate · Temperature/dewpoint and fog formation · Wind and pressure systems · Density altitude and performance · Air masses and fronts · Cloud types and ceilings · +15 more
Lessons
- The Atmosphere: Stability, Moisture and Density Altitude — Weather Theory
- Air Masses, Fronts and Clouds — Weather Theory
- Weather Hazards: Thunderstorms and Icing — Weather Theory
- Reading METARs and TAFs — Weather Theory
- Decoding METARs and TAFs — Aviation Weather Products and Interpretation
- PIREPs, AIRMETs, SIGMETs and Winds Aloft — Aviation Weather Products and Interpretation
- Surface, Prognostic, Radar and Satellite Charts — Aviation Weather Products and Interpretation
- Weather Briefings and Sources — Aviation Weather Products and Interpretation
- What 91.103 Requires Before Every Flight — Preflight Planning and Required Information
Test figures: Figure 12, Figure 13, Figure 14, Figure 15, Figure 17, Figure 18, Figure 19 (all figures →)
PA.I.DPreflight Preparation — Cross-Country Flight Planning
Route selection and checkpoints · Terrain and airspace along the route · Time-speed-distance and fuel planning · VFR fuel reserve requirements · VFR flight plan filing, opening, and closing · Aeronautical chart currency · +2 more
Lessons
- Building the Route: Checkpoints and Navigation Methods — Cross-Country Flight Planning
- Wind, Groundspeed, Time and Distance — Cross-Country Flight Planning
- Fuel Planning and Legal Reserves — Cross-Country Flight Planning
- Flight Plans, Chart Currency, Diversions and Getting Un-Lost — Cross-Country Flight Planning
- What 91.103 Requires Before Every Flight — Preflight Planning and Required Information
- Runway, Performance and Fuel Requirements — Preflight Planning and Required Information
Test figures: Legend 1, Legend 2, Legend 3, Legend 4, Legend 5, Legend 6, Legend 7, Legend 8, Legend 9, Legend 10, Legend 11, Legend 12, Legend 13, Legend 14, Legend 15, Legend 16, Legend 17, Legend 18, Legend 19, Figure 20, Figure 21, Figure 22, Figure 23, Figure 24, Figure 25, Figure 26, Figure 27, Figure 28, Figure 31, Figure 51, Figure 52, Figure 58, Figure 59, Figure 63, Figure 68, Figure 69, Figure 70, Figure 71, Figure 74, Figure 75, Figure 76, Figure 77, Figure 78, Figure 79, Figure 80, Figure 81 (all figures →)
PA.I.EPreflight Preparation — National Airspace System
Class A airspace and IFR-only operations · Class E controlled airspace · Class G uncontrolled airspace · Class B airspace entry and equipment · Class C airspace communication and equipment · Class D airspace and tower communication · +5 more
Lessons
- The Airspace System at a Glance — Airspace and Operating Requirements
- Busy Airports: Class B, C and D — Airspace and Operating Requirements
- VFR Weather Minimums — Airspace and Operating Requirements
- Special Use Airspace and Speed Limits — Airspace and Operating Requirements
Test figures: Legend 1, Figure 20, Figure 21, Figure 22, Figure 23, Figure 24, Figure 25, Figure 26, Figure 59, Figure 69, Figure 70, Figure 71, Figure 74, Figure 75, Figure 76, Figure 78, Figure 80 (all figures →)
PA.I.FPreflight Preparation — Performance and Limitations
Weight and balance terminology · Computing weight and balance · Weight and balance limits · Effects of forward and aft CG · Density altitude · Altitude, temperature and humidity effects · +4 more
Lessons
- Weight and Balance Fundamentals — Weight, Balance and Aircraft Performance
- How CG Position Affects Handling — Weight, Balance and Aircraft Performance
- Density Altitude and Aircraft Performance — Weight, Balance and Aircraft Performance
- Reading Performance Charts and Load Factor — Weight, Balance and Aircraft Performance
- Runway, Performance and Fuel Requirements — Preflight Planning and Required Information
Test figures: Figure 1, Figure 2, Figure 8, Figure 32, Figure 33, Figure 34, Figure 35, Figure 36, Figure 37, Figure 38, Figure 40, Figure 60, Figure 61, Figure 67, Figure 72 (all figures →)
PA.I.GPreflight Preparation — Operation of Systems
Three axes and the flight controls · Airframe and empennage · Four-stroke reciprocating engine · Fixed-pitch and constant-speed propellers; manifold pressure · Ignition system and magnetos · Carburetor versus fuel injection · +15 more
Lessons
- Stability, the Three Axes and Coordinated Flight — Aerodynamics and Principles of Flight
- Airframe and the Four-Stroke Engine — Aircraft Structure, Systems and Powerplants
- Ignition, Induction and Carburetor Ice — Aircraft Structure, Systems and Powerplants
- Mixture, Oil and Fuel — Aircraft Structure, Systems and Powerplants
- The Electrical System — Aircraft Structure, Systems and Powerplants
- The Pitot-Static Instruments and Their Failures — Flight Instruments and Avionics
- Gyroscopic Instruments — Flight Instruments and Avionics
- The Magnetic Compass and Its Errors — Flight Instruments and Avionics
- Avionics: Glass Cockpit, Transponder and GPS — Flight Instruments and Avionics
Test figures: Figure 3, Figure 4, Figure 5, Figure 6, Figure 7, Figure 82 (all figures →)
PA.I.HPreflight Preparation — Human Factors
Hypoxia types and symptoms · Hyperventilation recognition and treatment · Carbon monoxide poisoning · Spatial disorientation and vestibular illusions · Motion sickness · Ear and sinus block · +15 more
Lessons
- Oxygen and the Gases That Hurt You: Hypoxia, Hyperventilation and CO — Aeromedical Factors
- When Your Senses Lie: Disorientation, Motion Sickness, Ears and Night Vision — Aeromedical Factors
- Personal Fitness to Fly: Alcohol, Drugs, Fatigue and IMSAFE — Aeromedical Factors
- Pressure and Time: Scuba, Altitude and Decompression — Aeromedical Factors
- Thinking Like a Pilot: The ADM Process and Hazardous Attitudes — Aeronautical Decision-Making and Risk Management
- Risk Frameworks: PAVE, the 5 Ps and DECIDE — Aeronautical Decision-Making and Risk Management
- Assessing and Mitigating Risk — Aeronautical Decision-Making and Risk Management
- Flying Solo Well: SRM, Workload and Situational Awareness — Aeronautical Decision-Making and Risk Management
PA.IIPreflight Procedures
Preflight action required by 91.103 · Passenger briefings
Lessons
- What 91.103 Requires Before Every Flight — Preflight Planning and Required Information
- Passenger Briefings — Preflight Planning and Required Information
Test figures: Figure 9 (all figures →)
PA.III.AAirport Operations — Communications, Light Signals, Runway Lighting
Runway markings · Taxiway markings and hold lines · Airport signs · Airport rotating beacon · Runway, taxiway and approach lighting · VASI and PAPI glideslope aids · +10 more
Lessons
- Runway and Taxiway Markings — Airports, Runways, Signs, Markings and Lighting
- Airport Signs — Airports, Runways, Signs, Markings and Lighting
- Beacons, Lighting and Glideslope Aids — Airports, Runways, Signs, Markings and Lighting
- Traffic Patterns and Airport Operations — Airports, Runways, Signs, Markings and Lighting
- Radio Basics: Phonetics, Phraseology and the Callup — Communications and Air Traffic Control
- Frequencies, Clearances and Readbacks — Communications and Air Traffic Control
- Transponder Codes and Flight Following — Communications and Air Traffic Control
- Light Gun Signals and Lost Communication — Communications and Air Traffic Control
Test figures: Figure 47, Figure 48, Figure 49, Figure 50, Figure 64, Figure 65 (all figures →)
PA.III.BAirport Operations — Traffic Patterns
Traffic pattern · Controlled vs non-towered operations
Lessons
- Traffic Patterns and Airport Operations — Airports, Runways, Signs, Markings and Lighting
PA.VINavigation (pilotage, dead reckoning, navigation systems, diversion, lost procedures)
GPS and RNAV basics · Pilotage by ground references · Dead reckoning navigation · Time, speed, and distance · Sectional chart symbology · Latitude and longitude · +10 more
Lessons
- Avionics: Glass Cockpit, Transponder and GPS — Flight Instruments and Avionics
- Pilotage, Dead Reckoning and Time-Speed-Distance — Navigation and Sectional Charts
- Reading the Sectional Chart — Navigation and Sectional Charts
- Direction: True, Magnetic, Wind and Compass Errors — Navigation and Sectional Charts
- VOR, GPS and Area Navigation — Navigation and Sectional Charts
- Building the Route: Checkpoints and Navigation Methods — Cross-Country Flight Planning
- Wind, Groundspeed, Time and Distance — Cross-Country Flight Planning
- Flight Plans, Chart Currency, Diversions and Getting Un-Lost — Cross-Country Flight Planning
Test figures: Figure 62, Figure 66 (all figures →)
PA.VIISlow Flight and Stalls
The four forces of flight · Lift and angle of attack · Induced and parasite drag · Stalls and the critical angle of attack · Load factor and stall speed · Stability and center of gravity · +3 more
Lessons
- The Four Forces, Lift and Drag — Aerodynamics and Principles of Flight
- Stalls and Load Factor — Aerodynamics and Principles of Flight
- Stability, the Three Axes and Coordinated Flight — Aerodynamics and Principles of Flight
- Ground Effect and Left-Turning Tendencies — Aerodynamics and Principles of Flight
PA.IXEmergency Operations
Engine failure after takeoff · Engine failure at altitude · Best glide and forced-landing field selection · Engine restart flow · Engine fire in flight · Electrical failure and smoke · +5 more
Lessons
- Engine Failure: After Takeoff and at Altitude — Abnormal and Emergency Considerations
- Fire, Smoke and Electrical Failures — Abnormal and Emergency Considerations
- Abnormal Systems: Partial Power and Pitot-Static Failures — Abnormal and Emergency Considerations
- Getting Found and Getting Out: ELTs, Equipment and Egress — Abnormal and Emergency Considerations
PA.XINight Operation
Night vision, rods and cones, and off-center scanning · Position and anti-collision lights · When aircraft lights are required · Preflight and equipment for night flight · Night visual illusions · Airport and runway lighting at night · +3 more
Lessons
- How the Eye Sees at Night — Night Operations
- Aircraft Lights, Equipment and Preflight — Night Operations
- Night Illusions and Airport Lighting — Night Operations
- Night Currency and Emergencies — Night Operations
14 CFR § 61.105(b) knowledge areas
The twelve aeronautical-knowledge areas the regulation requires — all covered by the curriculum and build-enforced.
- § 61.105(b)(1) Applicable FARs for private pilot privileges, limitations, and flight operations
- § 61.105(b)(2) Accident reporting requirements of the NTSB
- § 61.105(b)(3) Use of aeronautical charts for VFR navigation (pilotage, dead reckoning, navigation systems)
- § 61.105(b)(4) Radio communication procedures
- § 61.105(b)(5) Recognition of critical weather situations, windshear, and use of weather reports/forecasts
- § 61.105(b)(6) Safe and efficient operation of aircraft, including collision avoidance and low-level windshear
- § 61.105(b)(7) Effects of density altitude on takeoff and climb performance
- § 61.105(b)(8) Weight and balance computations
- § 61.105(b)(9) Principles of aerodynamics, powerplants, and aircraft systems
- § 61.105(b)(10) Stall awareness, spin entry, spins, and spin recovery
- § 61.105(b)(11) Aeronautical decision making and risk management
- § 61.105(b)(12) Preflight action per § 91.103