Remote Pilot Airman Certification Standards

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has published the Remote Pilot - small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) Airman Certification Standard (ACS) document to communicate the aeronautical knowledge standards for a Remote Pilot Certificate with an sUAS rating. The FAA views the ACS as the foundation to an integrated and systematic approach to airman certification. The ACS is part of the safety management system (SMS) framework that the FAA uses to mitigate risks associated with airman certification training and testing. Specifically, the ACS, associated guidance, and test question components of the airman certification system are constructed around the four functional components of an SMS: 1. Safety Policy that defines and describes aeronautical knowledge and risk management as integrated components of the airman certification system; 2. Safety Risk Management processes through which internal stakeholders identify and evaluate regulatory changes, safety recommendations, or other factors that require modification of airman testing and training materials; 3. Safety Assurance processes to ensure the prompt and appropriate incorporation of changes arising from new regulations and safety recommendations; and 4. Safety Promotion in the form of ongoing engagement with both external stakeholders and FAA policy divisions. The FAA has developed the ACS with the goal to drive a systematic approach to all components of the airman certification system which includes the knowledge test question development, course development, and guidance material. The FAA acknowledges and appreciates the many hours that these aviation experts have contributed toward this goal. This level of collaboration, a hallmark of a robust safety culture, strengthens and enhances aviation safety at every level of the airman certification system.

Effective June 11, 2019. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has published the Remote Pilot - small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) Airman Certification Standard (ACS) document to communicate the aeronautical knowledge standards for certification and recurrent knowledge testing for a Remote Pilot Certificate with an sUAS rating.

This ACS book from the FAA (effective June 2018) lists the standards and requirements for the Remote Pilot Certificate, issued for operating drones and small unmanned aircraft systems in the National Airspace System. The new Airman Certification Standards help applicants develop an understanding of how knowledge, risk management, and skill elements work together for safe performance of each required task they may be asked to learn.

This ACS book from the FAA lists the standards and requirements for the Remote Pilot Certificate, issued for operating drones and small unmanned aircraft systems in the National Airspace System. The new Airman Certification Standards are ideal for checkride preparation, and will help applicants develop an understanding of how knowledge, risk management, and skill elements work together for safe performance of each required task they may be asked to perform during the checkride. For instructors, the ACS will serve as a guide for teaching and training an applicant everything they need to know for certification and safe operation within the National Airspace System. Designated Pilot Examiners (DPEs) will use the ACS to assess an applicant's understanding, knowledge, risk management considerations, and performance of each task. As always, ASA delivers authentic, accurate, and reliable FAA documents exactly as provided by the FAA. One noticeable change is that the FAA has adapted the size and format of the ACS so that it lists everything an applicant needs to know, consider, and do in order to pass both the knowledge test and the practical test for a certificate or rating.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has published the Private Pilot - Airplane Airman Certification Standards (ACS) document to communicate the aeronautical knowledge, risk management, and flight proficiency standards for the private pilot certification in the airplane category, single-engine land and sea; and multiengine land and sea classes. This ACS incorporates and supersedes the previous Private Pilot Practical Test Standards for Airplane, FAA-S-8081-14. The FAA views the ACS as the foundation of its transition to a more integrated and systematic approach to airman certification. The ACS is part of the safety management system (SMS) framework that the FAA uses to mitigate risks associated with airman certification training and testing. Specifically, the ACS, associated guidance, and test question components of the airman certification system are constructed around the four functional components of an SMS: Safety Policy that defines and describes aeronautical knowledge, flight proficiency, and risk management as integrated components of the airman certification system; Safety Risk Management processes through which internal and external stakeholders identify and evaluate regulatory changes, safety recommendations and other factors that require modification of airman testing and training materials; Safety Assurance processes to ensure the prompt and appropriate incorporation of changes arising from new regulations and safety recommendations; and Safety Promotion in the form of ongoing engagement with both external stakeholders (e.g., the aviation training industry) and FAA policy divisions. The FAA has developed this ACS and its associated guidance in collaboration with a diverse group of aviation training experts. The goal is to drive a systematic approach to all components of the airman certification system, including knowledge test question development and conduct of the practical test. The FAA acknowledges and appreciates the many hours that these aviation experts have contributed toward this goal. This level of collaboration, a hallmark of a robust safety culture, strengthens and enhances aviation safety at every level of the airman certification system.