Airline Transport Pilot and Type Rating for Airplane (FAA-S-ACS-11): Airman Certification Standards

EFFECTIVE JUNE 28, 2019

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) publishes the Airline Transport Pilot and Type Rating for Airplane Airman Certification Standards (ACS) document to communicate the aeronautical knowledge, risk management, and flight proficiency standards for airline transport pilot certification (ATP) and type rating certification in the airplane category and the following classes: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multiengine land and multiengine sea. This ACS incorporates and supersedes the previous Airline Transport Pilot and Aircraft Type Rating Practical Test Standards (PTS) for Airplane, FAA-S-8081-5.

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 managementas integrated components of the airman certification system;

•Safety Risk Management processes through which internal and external stakeholders identify and evaluate regulatory changes, safety recommendations, or other factors that require modification of airmantesting and training materials;

•Safety Assurance processes to ensure the prompt and appropriate incorporation of changes arising fromnew 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 developed this ACS along with associated guidance and updated reference material 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.