Flight Instructor ACS · Area XI
AI.XI Basic Instrument Maneuvers
5 tasks and 85 knowledge, risk management and skill elements. Each code below is a link target: a code from your test report, such as AI.XI.A.K1, lands on its own line.
Flight Instructor Airman Certification Standards, FAA-S-ACS-25 (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.
AI.XI.A Straight-and-Level Flight
To determine the applicant understands attitude instrument flying during straight-and-level flight, can apply that knowledge, manage associated risks, demonstrate appropriate skills, and provide effective instruction, solely by reference to instruments.
- AI.XI.A.K1Knowledge
- Flight instruments as they relate to:
- AI.XI.A.K1aKnowledge
- Instrument limitations and potential errors
- AI.XI.A.K1bKnowledge
- Indication of the aircraft attitude
- AI.XI.A.K1cKnowledge
- Function and operation
- AI.XI.A.K1dKnowledge
- Proper instrument cross-check techniques
- AI.XI.A.K2Knowledge
- Common errors related to this Task.
- AI.XI.A.R1Risk management
- Instrument flying hazards, including failure to maintain visual flight rules (VFR), spatial disorientation, loss of control, fatigue, stress, and emergency off airport landings.
- AI.XI.A.R2Risk management
- When to seek assistance or declare an emergency in a deteriorating situation.
- AI.XI.A.R3Risk management
- Collision hazards.
- AI.XI.A.R4Risk management
- Distractions, task prioritization, loss of situational awareness, or disorientation.
- AI.XI.A.R5Risk management
- Fixation and omission.
- AI.XI.A.R6Risk management
- Instrument Interpretation.
- AI.XI.A.R7Risk management
- Control application solely by reference to instruments.
- AI.XI.A.R8Risk management
- Trimming the aircraft.
- AI.XI.A.S1Skill
- Maintain straight-and-level flight using proper instrument cross-check and interpretation, and coordinated control application.
- AI.XI.A.S2Skill
- Maintain altitude ±100 feet, heading ±10°, and airspeed ±10 knots.
- AI.XI.A.S3Skill
- Analyze and correct common errors related to this Task.
AI.XI.B Constant Airspeed Climbs
To determine the applicant understands attitude instrument flying during constant airspeed climbs, can apply that knowledge, manage associated risks, demonstrate appropriate skills, and provide effective instruction, solely by reference to instruments.
- AI.XI.B.K1Knowledge
- Flight instruments as they relate to:
- AI.XI.B.K1aKnowledge
- Instrument limitations and potential errors
- AI.XI.B.K1bKnowledge
- Indication of the aircraft attitude
- AI.XI.B.K1cKnowledge
- Function and operation
- AI.XI.B.K1dKnowledge
- Proper instrument cross-check techniques
- AI.XI.B.K2Knowledge
- Common errors related to this Task.
- AI.XI.B.R1Risk management
- Instrument flying hazards, including failure to maintain visual flight rules (VFR), spatial disorientation, loss of control, fatigue, stress, and emergency off airport landings.
- AI.XI.B.R2Risk management
- When to seek assistance or declare an emergency in a deteriorating situation.
- AI.XI.B.R3Risk management
- Collision hazards.
- AI.XI.B.R4Risk management
- Distractions, task prioritization, loss of situational awareness, or disorientation.
- AI.XI.B.R5Risk management
- Fixation and omission.
- AI.XI.B.R6Risk management
- Instrument Interpretation.
- AI.XI.B.R7Risk management
- Control application solely by reference to instruments.
- AI.XI.B.R8Risk management
- Trimming the aircraft.
- AI.XI.B.S1Skill
- Transition to the climb pitch attitude and power setting on an assigned heading using proper instrument cross-check and interpretation, and coordinated flight control application.
- AI.XI.B.S2Skill
- Climb at a constant airspeed to specific altitudes in straight flight and turns.
- AI.XI.B.S3Skill
- Level off at the assigned altitude and maintain altitude ±100 feet, heading ±10°, and airspeed ±10 knots.
- AI.XI.B.S4Skill
- Analyze and correct common errors related to this Task.
AI.XI.C Constant Airspeed Descents
To determine the applicant understands attitude instrument flying during constant airspeed descents, can apply that knowledge, manage associated risks, demonstrate appropriate skills, and provide effective instruction, solely by reference to instruments.
- AI.XI.C.K1Knowledge
- Flight instruments as they relate to:
- AI.XI.C.K1aKnowledge
- Instrument limitations and potential errors
- AI.XI.C.K1bKnowledge
- Indication of the aircraft attitude
- AI.XI.C.K1cKnowledge
- Function and operation
- AI.XI.C.K1dKnowledge
- Proper instrument cross-check techniques
- AI.XI.C.K2Knowledge
- Common errors related to this Task.
- AI.XI.C.R1Risk management
- Instrument flying hazards, including failure to maintain visual flight rules (VFR), spatial disorientation, loss of control, fatigue, stress, and emergency off airport landings.
- AI.XI.C.R2Risk management
- When to seek assistance or declare an emergency in a deteriorating situation.
- AI.XI.C.R3Risk management
- Collision hazards.
- AI.XI.C.R4Risk management
- Distractions, task prioritization, loss of situational awareness, or disorientation.
- AI.XI.C.R5Risk management
- Fixation and omission.
- AI.XI.C.R6Risk management
- Instrument Interpretation.
- AI.XI.C.R7Risk management
- Control application solely by reference to instruments.
- AI.XI.C.R8Risk management
- Trimming the aircraft.
- AI.XI.C.S1Skill
- Transition to the descent pitch attitude and power setting on an assigned heading using proper instrument cross-check and interpretation, and coordinated flight control application.
- AI.XI.C.S2Skill
- Descend at a constant airspeed to specific altitudes in straight flight and turns.
- AI.XI.C.S3Skill
- Level off at the assigned altitude and maintain altitude ±100 feet, heading ±10°, and airspeed ±10 knots.
- AI.XI.C.S4Skill
- Analyze and correct common errors related to this Task.
AI.XI.D Turns to Headings
To determine the applicant understands attitude instrument flying during turns to headings, can apply that knowledge, manage associated risks, demonstrate appropriate skills, and provide effective instruction, solely by reference to instruments.
- AI.XI.D.K1Knowledge
- Flight instruments as they relate to:
- AI.XI.D.K1aKnowledge
- Instrument limitations and potential errors
- AI.XI.D.K1bKnowledge
- Indication of the aircraft attitude
- AI.XI.D.K1cKnowledge
- Function and operation
- AI.XI.D.K1dKnowledge
- Proper instrument cross-check techniques
- AI.XI.D.K2Knowledge
- Common errors related to this Task.
- AI.XI.D.R1Risk management
- Instrument flying hazards, including failure to maintain visual flight rules (VFR), spatial disorientation, loss of control, fatigue, stress, and emergency off airport landings.
- AI.XI.D.R2Risk management
- When to seek assistance or declare an emergency in a deteriorating situation.
- AI.XI.D.R3Risk management
- Collision hazards.
- AI.XI.D.R4Risk management
- Distractions, task prioritization, loss of situational awareness, or disorientation.
- AI.XI.D.R5Risk management
- Fixation and omission.
- AI.XI.D.R6Risk management
- Instrument Interpretation.
- AI.XI.D.R7Risk management
- Control application solely by reference to instruments.
- AI.XI.D.R8Risk management
- Trimming the aircraft.
- AI.XI.D.S1Skill
- Turns to headings, maintain altitude ±100 feet, maintain a standard rate turn, roll out on the assigned heading ±10°, and maintain airspeed ±10 knots.
- AI.XI.D.S2Skill
- Analyze and correct common errors related to this Task.
AI.XI.E Recovery from Unusual Flight Attitudes
To determine the applicant understands attitude instrument flying while recovering from unusual attitudes, can apply that knowledge, manage associated risks, demonstrate appropriate skills, and provide effective instruction, solely by reference to instruments.
- AI.XI.E.K1Knowledge
- Prevention of unusual attitudes, including flight causal, physiological, and environmental factors, and system and equipment failures.
- AI.XI.E.K2Knowledge
- Procedures for recovery from unusual attitudes in flight.
- AI.XI.E.K3Knowledge
- Procedures available to safely regain visual meteorological conditions (VMC) after flight into inadvertent instrument meteorological conditions or unintended instrument meteorological conditions (IIMC)/(UIMC).
- AI.XI.E.K4Knowledge
- Appropriate use of automation, if applicable.
- AI.XI.E.K5Knowledge
- Common errors related to this Task.
- AI.XI.E.R1Risk management
- Situations that could lead to loss of control in-flight (LOC-I) or unusual attitudes in-flight (e.g., stress, task saturation, inadequate instrument scan distractions, and spatial disorientation).
- AI.XI.E.R2Risk management
- Assessment of the unusual attitude.
- AI.XI.E.R3Risk management
- Control input errors, inducing undesired aircraft attitudes.
- AI.XI.E.R4Risk management
- Collision hazards.
- AI.XI.E.R5Risk management
- Distractions, task prioritization, loss of situational awareness, or disorientation.
- AI.XI.E.R6Risk management
- Interpreting flight instruments.
- AI.XI.E.R7Risk management
- Control application solely by reference to instruments.
- AI.XI.E.R8Risk management
- Operating envelope considerations.
- AI.XI.E.S1Skill
- Use proper instrument cross-check and interpretation to identify an unusual attitude (including both nose-high and nose-low) in flight, and apply the appropriate flight control, power input, and aircraft configuration in the correct sequence, to return to a stabilized level flight attitude.
- AI.XI.E.S2Skill
- Use single-pilot resource management (SRM) or crew resource management (CRM), as appropriate.
- AI.XI.E.S3Skill
- Analyze and correct common errors related to this Task.
Other areas in this standard
Keeping a flying club current
FlightWay is flying club software. It tracks each member’s flight review and medical expiry and can refuse a booking that would break the club’s currency rules, alongside scheduling, billing and the club’s books.
Last updated 11 November 2026.