For the past several years, the FAA has been working on an update for the Airman Certification Standards (ACS) and Practical Test Standards (PTS). Monday, using a process called incorporation by reference (IBR), Parts 61, 63, and 65 of Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) have been amended, and the new standards are now regulatory as outlined in 14 CFR 61.43. Several brand-new ACS have been published to replace the former PTS and will become effective as of May 31, 2024.
Through IBR, several brand-new ACS are now available:
| Certification | Change | Old | New |
| Instrument Rating Helicopter | New ACS | 8081-4E | ACS-14 |
| Private Pilot Rotorcraft Helicopter | New ACS | 8081-15A | ACS-15 |
| Commercial Pilot Rotorcraft Helicopter | New ACS | 8081-16B | ACS-16 |
| Flight Instructor Airplane | New ACS | 8081-6DS and 8081-6DM | ACS-25 |
| Flight Instructor Helicopter | New ACS | 8081-16B | ACS-29 |
This amendment also requires updates to several of the standards:
| Certification | Change | Old | New |
| Private Pilot Airplane | Updated ACS | ACS-6B.1 | ACS-6C |
| Commercial Pilot Airplane | Updated ACS | ACS-7A | ACS-7B |
| Instrument Rating Airplane | Updated ACS | ACS-8B.1 | ACS-8C |
| Airline Transport Pilot and Type Rating Airplane | Updated ACS | ACS-11.1 | ACS-11A |
| Flight Instructor Instrument Airplane and Helicopter | Updated PTS | 8081-9D | 8081-9E |
| Aircraft Dispatcher | Updated PTS | 8081-5F.7 | 8081-10E |
The Aviation Mechanic (ACS-1) and Remote Pilot (ACS-10B) standards were not affected and remain in effect.
What does this mean for you? The FAA is clear that no major substantive changes were made to the testing standards already in use. The incorporation of the ACS and PTS creates a clear, easy-to-use organization of the material a student is expected to know (knowledge elements), consider (risk management elements), and do (skill elements) to qualify for an airman certificate or rating. The ACS assigns a unique code to each task element, which allows for better feedback and clear alignment between the standards, handbooks, and test questions. These ACS codes replace the Learning Statement Codes (LSC) previously seen on Airman Knowledge Test Reports (AKTR) once the new publications become effective.
A common question among many applicants is, “Which ACS or PTS should I use, the newly published or the current?” The simple answer is—it depends on when you plan on taking your knowledge exam or practical test. If you plan to test prior to the May 31st effective date you will want to use the ‘‘old’’’ ACS/PTS. If you plan on testing after May 31st you will want to use the newly published ACS/PTS for the airman certificate or rating you are testing for.
All of these new or updated ACS and PTS are available for preorder at ASA to ship in late April.
