Annotated ACS — A Pilot-Friendly Manual

You scheduled your Private Pilot checkride and can already feel the stress building. You’re dreading a question from the examiner you aren’t prepared for, or worried that the checkride flight might not go so well.

To prepare, your instructor told you to study the FAA’s Airman Certification Standards (ACS). It spells out the knowledge and flying skills you’re expected to demonstrate on checkride day, but it’s a dry and intimidating document that feels overwhelming to read. As a result, most applicants overprepare by trying to memorize the details of every task in the ACS.

We developed a simple solution to this problem … We’ve taken the ACS and marked it up with comments and guidance from chief instructors, check airmen, and designated pilot examiners (DPEs). They tell you in plain language how each task is tested and what your examiner will really be looking for. You’ll learn the questions you’re likely to be asked, how to avoid common mistakes, and how to make a great impression. You’ll see where and how checkrides typically fall apart, and what the best applicants do to pass.

You’ll engage with the ACS in a way you probably didn’t think was possible. The annotations and images bring the tasks, elements, and sub-elements to life in a way that makes checkride prep more interesting, and much more effective.

This manual will help you prepare for the checkride with less stress, and allow you to actually enjoy this milestone experience.