Ineffective Practical Test Standards

The FAA-prescribed practical test is the final hurdle every pilot must pass to earn a new certificate or rating, and the practical test standards (PTS) are where the requirements for success are spelled out. The PTS is what both aspiring pilots and examiners use to determine what’s to be done on a practical test and how. It’s supposed to be the final assessment of whether a pilot can conduct safe flight operations.

Robert Wright

Thursday, October 18, 2012 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

The FAA's Practical Test Standards (PTS), despite recent revisions, are flawed in their current structure and administration, particularly in their inability to realistically assess a pilot's crucial risk management skills.
The inadequacy stems from test "scenarios" designed for efficiency rather than challenging risk assessment, and new risk management tasks being insufficiently integrated or emphasized within the testing framework.
This failure to effectively test risk management is a significant concern as the author argues it's the root cause of about 75% of fatal general aviation accidents, advocating for a fundamental shift in training and testing to foster a stronger safety culture.

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Yet, there are serious flaws with how the PTS is structured and administered that may compromise its effectiveness for this purpose. Thankfully, some major changes may be in the offing. Until they arrive, you can benefit from understanding their limitations in testing pilots and apply that knowledge to your everyday flying.