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) for pilot certification, while improved over time, are still flawed in their ability to realistically assess a pilot's crucial risk management skills.
Current PTS scenarios often prioritize testing efficiency over creating challenging, real-world situations necessary to effectively evaluate an applicant's ability to identify, assess, and mitigate risks.
New risk management objectives are inadequately integrated into the overall test structure, often treated as "special emphasis" items rather than core components of individual tasks like flight planning.
Pilots should proactively incorporate robust risk analysis, personal minimums, and contingency planning into every flight, treating each operation as an opportunity to demonstrate effective risk management for enhanced safety.

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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.