IACRA
All applications will be completed through IACRA. Please have completed and signed FAA form 8710 available in the event IACRA is down. For troubleshooting with IACRA, see the IACRA Help Page.
Airman Certification Standards (ACS) & Practical Test Standards (PTS)
Checkrides will be conducted in accordance with the appropriate ACS or PTS. All information regarding the ACS and PTS can be found on the FAA Website.
Pilot Endorsements
The current FAA Advisory Circular is the final authority on all endorsements. (AC 61.65H PDF)
Stall and Spin Awareness
During flight training and testing, the applicant and the instructor or evaluator must always recognize and avoid operations that could lead to an inadvertent stall or spin and inadvertent loss of control.
Positive Exchange of Flight Controls
There must always be a clear understanding of who has control of the aircraft. Prior to flight, the pilots involved should conduct a briefing that includes reviewing the procedures for exchanging flight controls.
The FAA recommends a positive three-step process for exchanging flight controls between pilots:
When one pilot seeks to have the other pilot take control of the aircraft, he or she will say, "You have the flight controls."
The second pilot acknowledges immediately by saying, "I have the flight controls."
The first pilot again says, "You have the flight controls," and visually confirms the exchange.
Special Emphasis Areas:
Special emphasis will be placed on areas of aircraft operation considered critical to flight safety. Among these are:
1. Positive aircraft control.
2. Positive exchange of the flight controls procedure.
3. Stall/spin awareness.
4. Collision avoidance.
5. Wake turbulence avoidance.
6. LAHSO.
7. Runway incursion avoidance.
8. CFIT.
9. ADM and risk management.
10. Wire strike avoidance.
11. Checklist usage.
12. Temporary flight restrictions (TFRs).
13. Special use airspace (SUA).
14. Aviation security.
15. Single-Pilot Resource Management (SRM).
16. Other areas deemed appropriate to any phase of the practical test.
Know your tools
If you plan to use reference publications or an EFB, practice beforehand so you can quickly locate the information you need.
More About EFB Usage
EFBs are permitted for use during the practical exam to meet all applicable ACS tasks. However, the GPS function must be disabled during tasks that specifically evaluate pilotage, dead reckoning, and the use of approved navigation equipment. Once those tasks have been completed, you are free to use your EFB for the remainder of the exam as you normally would in flight.