The FAA Practical Test Standards are the requirements for a weight-shift control light-sport aircraft sport pilot to pass a checkride. They are fundamental to a successful checkride and provide tasks and the tolerances for the skills and knowledge for flying a weight-shift control aircraft light-sport aircraft must be demonstrated.
The FAA Practical Test Standards (PTS) are used by trike instructors, students, and examiners to prepare for, review, take, or issue the checkride. Each PTS is written by the FAA and details the type and levels of skill and knowledge that must be demonstrated before an examiner can issue a certificate or rating to an applicant, and describes background study and reference materials.
The ASA SPORT PILOT PRACTICAL TEST STANDARDS FOR AIRPLANE, WEIGHT-SHIFT CONTROL, POWERED PARACHUTE AND FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR is the FAA-S-8081-31 and Change 2 is the most current (effective February 2008).
Practical Test Standards Outline
ORAL exam:
First portion of Checkride
____ Certificates and documents
____ Airworthiness requirements
____ Weather information
____ Cross-country flight planning
____ National airspace system
____ Operation of systems
____ Aeromedical Factors
____ Performance and limitations
____ Principles of flight
Flight exam:
Second portion Checkride
Pre-Flight procedures
____ Assembly ____ Wing Tuning
____ Pre-flight Inspection
____ Cockpit management
____ Starting/Warm up ____ Taxiing
____ Before takeoff check
Airport operations
____ Radio communications, light signals ____ Traffic patterns
____ Airport runway markings and lighting
Takeoffs, landings, and go-arounds
____ Normal and Crosswind Takeoff and Climb
____ Power-on and Crosswind Approach and Landing
____ Steep Approach to Landing
____ Go-around/rejected landings
Seaplane only
____ Glassy water takeoff and climb ____ Glassy water approach and landing
____ Rough water takeoff and climb ____ Rough water approach and landing
Performance maneuvers
____ Steep turns
Ground reference maneuvers
____ Rectangular course ____ S –turns ____Turns around a point
Navigation
____ Pilotage and dead reckoning ____Diversion ____Lost procedures
Slow flight and stalls
____ Maneuvering during slow flight ____ Power-off stalls
____ Whip Stall and Tumble Awareness
Emergency operations
____ Emergency approach and landing ____ Systems and equipment malfunctions
____ Emergency equipment and survival gear
Post-flight procedures
____ After landing, parking and securing
Seaplane only
____ Anchoring ____ Docking and mooring ____ Ramping/beaching
Practical test preparation
The ASA PRACTICAL TEST STANDARDS – SPORT PILOT with all the tasks detailed and the tolerances specified is available at: trikepilotstore.com.
The SPORT PILOT & CFI APPLICANT CHECKRIDE book provides guidance, sample questions and the answers for the practical test standards and is found at: trikepilotstore.com.
