Answers to the ACS

01/21/2026

A consistent, disciplined procedure for entering or crossing runways is a great habit even in GA. You’ll find it in the ACS under PA.II.D.K6c and CA.II.D.K6c: “Procedures for entering or crossing runways.” An easy way to remember it is the 5Cs:

-Clear - scan right and left (final and upwind) for traffic.

-Confirm - verify you’re crossing/entering the correct runway (e.g., 18R).

-Crank - all lights on (strobes, nav, landing/taxi) to improve visibility whether it’s day or night.

-Communicate - ensure you have ATC clearance or make the proper CTAF transmission.

-Cross - cross or enter the runway.

If an examiner asks what your runway crossing/entry procedures are on a checkride, this is a solid, structured answer. If you don’t have a checkride coming up, you can add this to your toolbox.

01/07/2026

Many airlines are adopting threat-forward briefings.

Historically, operational briefings (takeoff/approach) focused solely on the technical aspects of what the crew is about to do. Courses, frequencies, reject procedures. These tend to be repetitive, and the other crewmember zones out after 10 seconds.

Threat-forward briefings emphasize the unique threats for that specific flight. The technical aspects are still there, but deemphasized since they are repetitive.

This is one of the useful things that can be brought from the airlines to GA flight training.

As part of the pre lesson briefing, flight instructors should discuss threats/risks and how to mitigate them with their students.

These can be risk elements for specific maneuvers from the ACS or broad ones like temperature and density altitude.

Let’s say it’s a hot day. If you have an engine failure and have to put it down in a field, it may be hours before assistance arrives. Are you carrying enough water for this situation or do you just have half of a plastic water bottle?

If you’re a CFI, do you bring this kind of “threat-forward” thinking into your pre-lesson briefings? If so, how are you doing it today?

05/27/2024

TOMATO FLAMES is one of the biggest misconceptions in flight training and general aviation. Many believe it to be the required equipment for day VFR flight. However, far more is required. In this video I discuss the numerous examples of other required equipment as well as what to do when the examiner gives you an inoperative equipment scenario on your checkride.

In this video I discuss one of the biggest misconceptions in flight training and general aviation - TOMATO FLAMES.Timestamps00:00 Start00:00 Introduction00:5...

05/17/2024

In addition to your cross-country flight planning you have to present a risk analysis to the examiner on your checkride. In our Checkride Workbook we provide an Operational Risk Management (ORM) worksheet to walk you through this. This is something that’s recognized all across the industry with users including flight test departments, Part 135 operators, and even FAA ASIs. In this video I discuss how to fill out the ORM worksheet in our Checkride Workbook.

In addition to your cross-country flight planning you have to present a risk analysis to the examiner on your checkride. In our Checkride Workbook we provide...

05/14/2024

The risk elements are perhaps the least understood aspect of the ACS. In this video I discuss the basics of the risk elements.

The risk elements are perhaps the least understood aspect of the ACS. In this video I discuss the basics of the risk elements, namely identifying, assessing,...

05/02/2024

One of the unique aspects of Answers to the ACS is that we address every single element in the ACS - including the risk elements. This week I discuss the first risk element in the ACS in similar fashion to our manuals - concisely and objectively. See what the real answer to PA.I.A.R1 - currency versus proficiency - is.

One of the unique aspects of Answers to the ACS is that we address every single element in the ACS - including the risk elements. In this video I discuss the...

04/29/2024

For your checkride you need to understand the elements of a VFR flight plan. The ICAO flight plan has been in effect for several years now but many people are still confused about it since it is very complex. In our latest video I discuss how to fill out the ICAO flight plan step-by-step using the quick reference in our Checkride Workbook.

For your checkride you need to understand the elements of a VFR flight plan. The ICAO flight plan has been in effect for several years now but many people ar...

04/25/2024

There’s a lot of things you need to bring to your checkride and many people miss things frequently. In our latest YouTube video I continue our Checkride Workbook series by discussing the Master Checklist Form. The checklist provided in the ACS doesn’t cover everything. In this video I walk through everything included in our Master Checklist.

There’s a lot of things you need to bring to your checkride and many people miss things frequently. In this video I continue our Checkride Workbook series by...

04/23/2024

Everyone talks about memorizing VFR minimums. But have you ever wondered why they are what they are? Examiners these days are not happy with rote memorization alone anymore. Check out our latest YouTube video discussing the why of VFR minimums.

Most of you have probably memorized your VFR minimums by now, but examiners are not happy with rote memorization anymore. In this video I discuss why VFR min...

04/15/2024

Years ago I trained this man towards his certificates and ratings. I was just a 19-year old CFI and we didn’t know what to expect. However, over the course of those 3 years we would become good friends. Come 2012 I graduated from college and left town to go work for Cessna. As a result, we drifted apart as sometimes happens.

With the help of a comment on Facebook we reconnected to find that each of us had made something of our own in aviation during our time apart. Josh with his own flight school - Fort Worth Flight School - and me with Answers to the ACS. We met up, shared great ideas from our experience gained in that time, and decided that we can do great things working together.

Over the weekend we went out as a team to the 3rd Annual Crawfish Fly-In at Mineral Wells Regional Airport. The Fort Worth Flight School booth was poppin’ front and center which is a testament to the atmosphere at the school which all stems from its founder.

Before I upgraded to captain at the airlines for the first time one of my captains told me to “be the captain that I wanted to fly with.” Josh has done just that with Fort Worth Flight School - creating the flight school that we would’ve wanted to go to.

Super excited for what the future has in store. You can expect a lot more from us ahead!

04/08/2024

After a long wait, the FAA has finally issued the Flight Instructor Airplane ACS as well as revisions to the Private, Instrument, and Commercial Pilot Airplane ACSs. Check out our latest YouTube video discussing the background and a summary of these changes.

On April 1st, the FAA issued the Flight Instructor Airplane ACS as well as revisions to the Private, Instrument, and Commercial Pilot Airplane ACSs. In this ...