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                Practical Test Standards (PTS)
    

    
    
        
          Any reproduction or modification of this material from original FAA source material is solely the responsibility of the publisher.

Pilots
	Flight Instructors
	Mechanics
	Other Airmen Standards

PTS List

Title
			Publication
			Date
			Change
			Date
			StatusRecreational Pilot Practical Test Standards for Airplane Category and Rotorcraft Category (FAA-S-8081-3B)
			April 2024
			n/a
			Effective May 31, 2024Flight Instructor Practical Test Standards for Rotorcraft Category Gyroplane Rating (FAA-S-8081-7C)
			April 2024
			n/a
			Effective May 31, 2024Flight Instructor Practical Test Standards for Glider Category (FAA-S-8081-8C)
			April 2024
			n/a
			Effective May 31, 2024Flight Instructor Instrument Practical Test Standards for Airplane Rating and Helicopter Rating  (FAA-S-8081-9E)
			April 2024
			n/a
			Effective May 31, 2024Aircraft Dispatcher Practical Test Standards (FAA-S-8081-10E)
			April 2024
			n/a
			Effective May 31, 2024Private Pilot Practical Test Standards for Rotorcraft Category Gyroplane Rating (FAA-S-8081-15B)
			April 2024
			n/a
			Effective May 31, 2024Commercial Pilot Practical Test Standards for Rotorcraft Category Gyroplane Rating (FAA-S-8081-16C)
			April 2024
			n/a
			Effective May 31, 2024Private Pilot Practical Test Standards for Lighter-Than-Air Category (FAA-S-8081-17A)
			April 2024
			n/a
			Effective May 31, 2024Commercial Pilot Practical Test Standards for Lighter-Than-Air Category (FAA-S-8081-18A)
			April 2024
			n/a
			Effective May 31, 2024Airline Transport Pilot and Aircraft Type Rating Practical Test Standards for Rotorcraft Category Helicopter Rating (FAA-S-8081-20A)
			April 2024
			n/a
			Effective May 31, 2024Flight Engineer Practical Test Standards for Reciprocating Engine, Turbopropeller, and Turbojet Powered Aircraft (FAA-S-8081-21A)
			April 2024
			n/a
			Effective May 31, 2024Private Pilot Practical Test Standards for Glider Category (FAA-S-8081-22A)
			April 2024
			n/a
			Effective May 31, 2024Commercial Pilot Practical Test Standards for Glider Category (FAA-S-8081-23B)
			April 2024
			n/a
			Effective May 31, 2024Parachute Rigger Practical Test Standards (FAA-S-8081-25C)
			April 2024
			n/a
			Effective May 31, 2024Sport Pilot and Sport Pilot Flight Instructor Rating Practical Test Standards for Airplane Category, Gyroplane Category, and Glider Category (FAA-S-8081-29A)
			April 2024
			n/a
			Effective May 31, 2024Sport Pilot and Sport Pilot Flight Instructor Rating Practical Test Standards for Lighter-Than-Air Category (FAA-S-8081-30A)
			April 2024
			n/a
			Effective May 31, 2024Sport Pilot and Sport Pilot Flight Instructor Practical Test Standards for Powered Parachute Category and Weight-Shift-Control Aircraft Category (FAA-S-8081-31A)
			April 2024
			n/a
			Effective May 31, 2024Private Pilot Practical Test Standards for Powered Parachute Category and Weight-Shift-Control Aircraft Category (FAA-S-8081-32A)
			April 2024
			n/a
			Effective May 31, 2024Pilots



Airline Transport
	Title
			Publication
			Date
			Change
			DateAirline Transport Pilot Practical Test Standards for Helicopter (FAA-S-8081-20 with Changes 1, 2, 3, and 4) (PDF)
			Aug 1998
			7/27/2016Airline Transport Pilot and Aircraft Type Rating Practical Test Standards for Airplane has been superseded by the Airline Transport Pilot and Type Rating for Airplane Airman Certification Standards.
			n/a
			n/aCommercial
	Title
			Publication
			Date
			Change
			DateCommercial Pilot Practical Test Standards for Airplane has been superseded by the Commercial Pilot – Airplane Airman Certification Standards.
			n/a
			n/aCommercial Pilot Practical Test Standards for Rotorcraft (Helicopter and Gyroplane) (FAA-S-8081-16B) (PDF)
			Feb 2013Commercial Pilot Practical Test Standards for Lighter-Than-Air (Balloon, Airship) (FAA-S-8081-18) (PDF)
			May 1997Commercial Pilot Practical Test Standards for Glider (FAA-S-8081-23A) with changes 1 and 2 (PDF)
			Nov 2006
			09/03/2014Private
	Title
			Publication
			Date
			Change
			DatePrivate Pilot Practical Test Standards for Airplane has been superseded by the Private Pilot – Airplane Airman Certification Standards.
			n/a
			n/aPrivate Pilot Practical Test Standards for Rotorcraft (Helicopter, Gyroplane) (FAA-S-8081-15A with Change 1) (PDF)
			July 2005
			05/06/2013Private Pilot Practical Test Standards for Lighter-Than-Air (Balloon, Airship) (FAA-S-8081-17) (PDF)
			June 1996Private Pilot Practical Test Standards for Glider (FAA-S-8081-22) (PDF)
			Apr 1999
			09/01/2010Private Pilot Practical Test Standards for Powered Parachute (PPL and PPS) and Weight Shift Control (WSCL and WSCS) (FAA-S-8081-32 with Change 1) (PDF)
			Dec 2004
			7/5/2017Sport
	Title
			Publication
			Date
			Change
			DateSport Pilot Practical Test Standards for Airplane, Gyroplane, Glider, and Flight Instructor (FAA-S-8081-29 with Change 3) (PDF)
			Dec 2004
			05/02/2014Sport Pilot Practical Test Standards for Airship, Balloon, and Flight Instructor (FAA-S-8081-30 with Change 4) (PDF)
			Dec /2004
			05/02/2014Sport Pilot Practical Test Standards for Weight Shift Control, Powered Parachute, and Flight Instructor (FAA-S-8081-31 with Change 4) (PDF)
			Dec 2004
			7/12/2017Recreational
	Title
			Publication
			Date
			Change
			DateRecreational Pilot Practical Test Standards for Airplane, Rotorcraft/Helicopter, and Rotorcraft/Gyroplane (FAA-S-8081-3A) (PDF)
			Aug 2006Back to top

Flight Instructors



Title
			Publication
			Date
			Change
			DateFlight Instructor Practical Test Standards for Airplane (FAA-S-8081-6D with Changes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6) (PDF)
			Jun 2012
			4/19/2018Flight Instructor Practical Test Standards for Rotorcraft (Helicopter, Gyroplane) (FAA-S-8081-7B) with Changes 1, 2 & 3) (PDF)
			Dec 2006
			7/26/2016Flight Instructor Practical Test Standards for Glider (FAA-S-8081-8B) (PDF)
			Oct 2006Flight Instructor Instrument Practical Test Standards for Airplane and Helicopter (FAA-S-8081-9D with changes 1 & 2) (PDF)
			Jul 2010
			4/18/2014Back to top

Mechanics



Title
			Publication
			Date
			Change
			DateAviation Mechanic General, Airframe, and Powerplant Practical Test Standards (FAA‐S‐8081‐26B)
			November 2021
			n/aBack to top

Other Airman Practical Test Standards



Title
			Publication
			Date
			Change
			DateInstrument Rating Practical Test Standards for Airplane, Helicopter, and Powered Lift (FAA-S-8081-4E with Changes 1, 2, 3, 4, & 5) (PDF).
			The Airplane portion of this PTS has been superseded by the Instrument Rating Airman Certification Standards. Helicopter and Powered Lift applicants should continue to use this PTS.
			Jan 2010
			9/11/2013Aircraft Dispatcher Practical Test Standards (FAA-S-8081-10D with Changes 1, 2, & 3) (PDF)
			May 2013
			1/8/2018Flight Engineer Practical Test Standards for Reciprocating Engine, Turbopropeller, and Turbojet Powered Aircraft (FAA-S-8081-21 with Changes 1, 2, 3, & 4) (PDF)
			Jan 1999
			1/8/2018Parachute Rigger Practical Test Standards (FAA-S-8081-25B) (PDF)
			2012Back to top
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