Commercial Pilot ACS · Area V

CA.V Performance Maneuvers and Ground Reference Maneuvers

5 tasks and 98 knowledge, risk management and skill elements. Each code below is a link target: a code from your test report, such as CA.V.A.K1, lands on its own line.

Written by the FlightWay team. Regulations checked against the eCFR and faa.gov on 11 November 2026. Not a substitute for the regulation itself or your instructor.

Commercial Pilot Airman Certification Standards, FAA-S-ACS-7B (November 2023 edition), effective May 31, 2024 and incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 61.14. Text from the FAA’s ACS page, checked on 11 November 2026. If the FAA has published a newer edition since, the codes and wording may differ: the FAA document is the authority.

CA.V.A Steep Turns

To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with steep turns.

CA.V.A.K1Knowledge: How to conduct a proper steep turn.
CA.V.A.K2Knowledge: Aerodynamics associated with steep turns, including:
CA.V.A.K2aKnowledge: Maintaining coordinated flight
CA.V.A.K2bKnowledge: Overbanking tendencies
CA.V.A.K2cKnowledge: Maneuvering speed, including the impact of weight changes
CA.V.A.K2dKnowledge: Load factor and accelerated stalls
CA.V.A.K2eKnowledge: Rate and radius of turn
CA.V.A.R1Risk management: Division of attention between aircraft control and orientation.
CA.V.A.R2Risk management: Collision hazards.
CA.V.A.R3Risk management: Low altitude maneuvering, including stall, spin, or controlled flight into terrain (CFIT).
CA.V.A.R4Risk management: Distractions, task prioritization, loss of situational awareness, or disorientation.
CA.V.A.R5Risk management: Uncoordinated flight.
CA.V.A.S1Skill: Clear the area.
CA.V.A.S2Skill: Establish the manufacturer's recommended airspeed; or if one is not available, an airspeed not to exceed maneuvering speed (VA).
CA.V.A.S3Skill: Roll into a coordinated 360° steep turn with approximately a 50° bank.
CA.V.A.S4Skill: Perform the Task in the opposite direction.
CA.V.A.S5Skill: Maintain the entry altitude ±100 feet, airspeed ±10 knots, bank ±5°, and roll out on the entry heading ±10°.

CA.V.B Steep Spiral (ASEL, ASES)

To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with steep spirals.

CA.V.B.K1Knowledge: Relationship to emergency landing procedures.
CA.V.B.K2Knowledge: Maintaining a constant radius about a point.
CA.V.B.K3Knowledge: Effects of wind on ground track and relation to a ground reference.
CA.V.B.R1Risk management: Division of attention between aircraft control and orientation.
CA.V.B.R2Risk management: Collision hazards.
CA.V.B.R3Risk management: Low altitude maneuvering, including stall, spin, or controlled flight into terrain (CFIT).
CA.V.B.R4Risk management: Distractions, task prioritization, loss of situational awareness, or disorientation.
CA.V.B.R5Risk management: Uncoordinated flight.
CA.V.B.R6Risk management: Effects of wind.
CA.V.B.R7Risk management: Airframe or airspeed limitations.
CA.V.B.S1Skill: Clear the area.
CA.V.B.S2Skill: Select an altitude sufficient to continue through a series of at least three, 360° turns.
CA.V.B.S3Skill: Establish and maintain a steep spiral, not to exceed 60° angle of bank, to maintain a constant radius about a suitable ground reference point.
CA.V.B.S4Skill: Apply wind-drift correction to track a constant radius circle around selected reference point with bank not to exceed 60° a steepest point in turn.
CA.V.B.S5Skill: Divide attention between airplane control, traffic avoidance and the ground track while maintaining coordinated flight.
CA.V.B.S6Skill: Maintain the specified airspeed, ±10 knots and roll out toward an object or specified heading, ±10°, and complete the maneuver no lower than 1,500 feet above ground level (AGL).

CA.V.C Chandelles (ASEL, ASES)

To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with chandelles.

CA.V.C.K1Knowledge: How to conduct proper chandelles.
CA.V.C.K2Knowledge: Aerodynamics associated with chandelles, including:
CA.V.C.K2aKnowledge: Maintaining coordinated flight
CA.V.C.K2bKnowledge: Overbanking tendencies
CA.V.C.K2cKnowledge: Maneuvering speed, including the impact of weight changes
CA.V.C.K2dKnowledge: Accelerated stalls
CA.V.C.K3Knowledge: Appropriate airplane configuration for maximum performance climb.
CA.V.C.K4Knowledge: Proper pitch control required for continuously decreasing airspeed.
CA.V.C.R1Risk management: Division of attention between aircraft control and orientation.
CA.V.C.R2Risk management: Collision hazards.
CA.V.C.R3Risk management: Low altitude maneuvering, including stall, spin, or controlled flight into terrain (CFIT).
CA.V.C.R4Risk management: Distractions, task prioritization, loss of situational awareness, or disorientation.
CA.V.C.R5Risk management: Uncoordinated flight.
CA.V.C.R6Risk management: Energy management.
CA.V.C.R7Risk management: Rate and radius of turn with confined area operations.
CA.V.C.S1Skill: Clear the area.
CA.V.C.S2Skill: Select an altitude that allows the maneuver to be performed no lower than 1,500 feet above ground level (AGL).
CA.V.C.S3Skill: Establish the appropriate entry configuration, power, and airspeed.
CA.V.C.S4Skill: Establish the angle of bank at approximately 30°.
CA.V.C.S5Skill: Simultaneously apply power and pitch to maintain a smooth, coordinated climbing turn, in either direction, to the 90° point, with a constant bank and continuously decreasing airspeed.
CA.V.C.S6Skill: Begin a coordinated constant rate rollout from the 90° point to the 180° point maintaining power and a constant pitch attitude.
CA.V.C.S7Skill: Complete rollout at the 180° point, ±10° just above a stall airspeed, and maintaining that airspeed momentarily avoiding a stall.
CA.V.C.S8Skill: Resume a straight-and-level flight with minimum loss of altitude.

CA.V.D Lazy Eights (ASEL, ASES)

To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with lazy eights.

CA.V.D.K1Knowledge: How to conduct proper lazy eights.
CA.V.D.K2Knowledge: Aerodynamics associated with lazy eights, including how to maintain coordinated flight.
CA.V.D.K3Knowledge: Performance and airspeed limitations.
CA.V.D.K4Knowledge: Phases of the lazy eight maneuver from entry to recovery.
CA.V.D.R1Risk management: Division of attention between aircraft control and orientation.
CA.V.D.R2Risk management: Collision hazards.
CA.V.D.R3Risk management: Low altitude maneuvering, including stall, spin, or controlled flight into terrain (CFIT).
CA.V.D.R4Risk management: Distractions, task prioritization, loss of situational awareness, or disorientation.
CA.V.D.R5Risk management: Uncoordinated flight.
CA.V.D.R6Risk management: Energy management.
CA.V.D.R7Risk management: Accelerated stalls.
CA.V.D.S1Skill: Clear the area.
CA.V.D.S2Skill: Select an altitude that allows the maneuver to be performed no lower than 1,500 feet above ground level (AGL).
CA.V.D.S3Skill: Establish the recommended entry configuration, power, and airspeed.
CA.V.D.S4Skill: Maintain coordinated flight throughout the maneuver.
CA.V.D.S5Skill: Complete the maneuver in accordance with the following:
CA.V.D.S5aSkill: Approximately 30° bank at the steepest point
CA.V.D.S5bSkill: Constant change of pitch and roll rate and airspeed
CA.V.D.S5cSkill: Altitude at 180° point, ±100 feet from entry altitude
CA.V.D.S5dSkill: Airspeed at the 180° point, ±10 knots from entry airspeed
CA.V.D.S5eSkill: Heading at the 180° point, ±10°
CA.V.D.S6Skill: Continue the maneuver through the number of symmetrical loops specified, then resume straight-and- level flight.

CA.V.E Eights on Pylons (ASEL, ASES)

To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with eights on pylons.

CA.V.E.K1Knowledge: Purpose of eights on pylons.
CA.V.E.K2Knowledge: Aerodynamics associated with the eights on pylons, including coordinated and uncoordinated flight.
CA.V.E.K3Knowledge: Pivotal altitude and factors that affect it.
CA.V.E.K4Knowledge: Effect of wind on ground track.
CA.V.E.K5Knowledge: Phases of the eights on pylons maneuver from entry to recovery.
CA.V.E.R1Risk management: Division of attention between aircraft control and orientation.
CA.V.E.R2Risk management: Collision hazards.
CA.V.E.R3Risk management: Low altitude maneuvering, including stall, spin, or controlled flight into terrain (CFIT).
CA.V.E.R4Risk management: Distractions, task prioritization, loss of situational awareness, or disorientation.
CA.V.E.R5Risk management: Uncoordinated flight.
CA.V.E.R6Risk management: Energy management.
CA.V.E.R7Risk management: Emergency landing considerations.
CA.V.E.S1Skill: Clear the area.
CA.V.E.S2Skill: Determine the approximate pivotal altitude.
CA.V.E.S3Skill: Select suitable pylons that permits straight-and-level flight between the pylons.
CA.V.E.S4Skill: Enter the maneuver in the correct direction and position using an appropriate altitude and airspeed.
CA.V.E.S5Skill: Establish the correct bank angle for the conditions, not to exceed 40°.
CA.V.E.S6Skill: Apply smooth and continuous corrections so that the line-of-sight reference line remains on the pylon.
CA.V.E.S7Skill: Divide attention between accurate, coordinated airplane control and outside visual references.
CA.V.E.S8Skill: Maintain pylon position using appropriate pivotal altitude, avoiding slips and skids.

Other areas in this standard

CA.I Preflight Preparation9 tasks CA.II Preflight Procedures6 tasks CA.III Airport and Seaplane Base Operations2 tasks CA.IV Takeoffs, Landings, and Go-Arounds14 tasks CA.VI Navigation4 tasks CA.VII Slow Flight and Stalls5 tasks CA.VIII High-Altitude Operations2 tasks CA.IX Emergency Operations7 tasks CA.X Multiengine Operations4 tasks CA.XI Postflight Procedures2 tasks

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Last updated 11 November 2026.