New Certification Standards

The FAA and industry have spent the last three years preparing to replace the existing practical test standards (PTS). As a result, the new airman certification standards (ACS) will go into effect in 2016 for all airman certificates and ratings. This new system can potentially improve the general aviation safety record, but only if flight instructors, designated pilot examiners and FAA inspectors are prepared to teach, test and administer the new system.

Robert Wright

Tuesday, August 25, 2015 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

The FAA's new Airman Certification Standards (ACS), effective in 2016, replace the old practical test standards (PTS) to improve general aviation safety by addressing historical disconnects in pilot training and testing.
A core component of the ACS is the formal integration of risk management into pilot certification, requiring applicants to demonstrate specific knowledge and skill in identifying, assessing, and mitigating risks for each practical test task.
This significant change aims to embed risk management, previously often overlooked in training and testing, into pilot competency, which is crucial as ineffective risk management is a major contributor to fatal accidents.
The potential for the ACS to improve safety heavily relies on the adequate preparation and training of flight instructors, designated pilot examiners, and FAA inspectors to effectively teach, test, and administer the new, risk-management-focused system.

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We discussed the new standards in a July 2013 article, “The Coming Airman Certification Standards.” We noted the change could potentially “have a greater impact on the general aviation safety record than any regulatory change or new industry training practice in the last 75 years.” Let’s explore what’s coming and why it has potential for beneficial change.