In the new private pilot ACS, Area of Operation 1, Preflight Preparation, Task D, Cross-country Flight Planning (see excerpt at right) lists skill item 3, “Recalculate fuel reserves based on a scenario provided by the evaluator.” This requirement is largely unchanged from the PTS system. However, under the ACS the applicant must also be prepared to demonstrate knowledge about route planning and the procedure for calculating fuel reserves.
Further, the applicant must be able to “apply risk identification, assessment, and mitigation principles” to address risks associated with the “tendency to complete the flight in spite of worsening conditions” (item 2) and “not establishing conservative fuel reserves” (item 5).
The integration of knowledge, skill and risk management proficiency are crucial to achieving the higher level of pilot performance envisioned by the ACS system.
