Private Pilot ACS · Area V

PA.V Performance Maneuvers and Ground Reference Maneuvers

2 tasks and 36 knowledge, risk management and skill elements. Each code below is a link target: a code from your test report, such as PA.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.

Private Pilot Airman Certification Standards, FAA-S-ACS-6C (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.

PA.V.A Steep Turns

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

PA.V.A.K1Knowledge: How to conduct a proper steep turn.
PA.V.A.K2Knowledge: Aerodynamics associated with steep turns, including:
PA.V.A.K2aKnowledge: Maintaining coordinated flight
PA.V.A.K2bKnowledge: Overbanking tendencies
PA.V.A.K2cKnowledge: Maneuvering speed, including the impact of weight changes
PA.V.A.K2dKnowledge: Load factor and accelerated stalls
PA.V.A.K2eKnowledge: Rate and radius of turn
PA.V.A.R1Risk management: Division of attention between aircraft control and orientation.
PA.V.A.R2Risk management: Collision hazards.
PA.V.A.R3Risk management: Low altitude maneuvering, including stall, spin, or controlled flight into terrain (CFIT).
PA.V.A.R4Risk management: Distractions, task prioritization, loss of situational awareness, or disorientation.
PA.V.A.R5Risk management: Uncoordinated flight.
PA.V.A.S1Skill: Clear the area.
PA.V.A.S2Skill: Establish the manufacturer's recommended airspeed; or if one is not available, an airspeed not to exceed the maneuvering speed (VA).
PA.V.A.S3Skill: Roll into a coordinated 360° steep turn with approximately a 45° bank.
PA.V.A.S4Skill: Perform the Task in the opposite direction, as specified by evaluator.
PA.V.A.S5Skill: Maintain the entry altitude ±100 feet, airspeed ±10 knots, bank ±5°, and roll out on the entry heading ±10°.

PA.V.B Ground Reference Maneuvers

To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with ground reference maneuvering which may include a rectangular course, S-turns, and turns around a point.

PA.V.B.K1Knowledge: Purpose of ground reference maneuvers.
PA.V.B.K2Knowledge: Effects of wind on ground track and relation to a ground reference.
PA.V.B.K3Knowledge: Effects of bank angle and groundspeed on rate and radius of turn.
PA.V.B.K4Knowledge: Relationship of rectangular course to airport traffic pattern.
PA.V.B.R1Risk management: Division of attention between aircraft control and orientation.
PA.V.B.R2Risk management: Collision hazards.
PA.V.B.R3Risk management: Low altitude maneuvering, including stall, spin, or controlled flight into terrain (CFIT).
PA.V.B.R4Risk management: Distractions, task prioritization, loss of situational awareness, or disorientation.
PA.V.B.R5Risk management: Uncoordinated flight.
PA.V.B.S1Skill: Clear the area.
PA.V.B.S2Skill: Select a suitable ground reference area, line, or point as appropriate.
PA.V.B.S3Skill: Plan the maneuver:
PA.V.B.S3aSkill: Rectangular course: enter a left or right pattern, 600 to 1,000 feet above ground level (AGL) at an appropriate distance from the selected reference area, 45° to the downwind leg
PA.V.B.S3bSkill: S-turns: enter perpendicular to the selected reference line, 600 to 1,000 feet AGL at an appropriate distance from the selected reference area
PA.V.B.S3cSkill: Turns around a point: enter at an appropriate distance from the reference point, 600 to 1,000 feet AGL at an appropriate distance from the selected reference area
PA.V.B.S4Skill: Apply adequate wind-drift correction during straight and turning flight to maintain a constant ground track around a rectangular reference area, or to maintain a constant radius turn on each side of a selected reference line or point.
PA.V.B.S5Skill: If performing S-Turns, reverse the turn directly over the selected reference line; if performing turns around a point, complete turns in either direction, as specified by the evaluator.
PA.V.B.S6Skill: Divide attention between airplane control, traffic avoidance and the ground track while maintaining coordinated flight.
PA.V.B.S7Skill: Maintain altitude ±100 feet; maintain airspeed ±10 knots.

Other areas in this standard

PA.I Preflight Preparation9 tasks PA.II Preflight Procedures6 tasks PA.III Airport and Seaplane Base Operations2 tasks PA.IV Takeoffs, Landings, and Go-Arounds14 tasks PA.VI Navigation4 tasks PA.VII Slow Flight and Stalls4 tasks PA.VIII Basic Instrument Maneuvers6 tasks PA.IX Emergency Operations7 tasks PA.X Multiengine Operations4 tasks PA.XI Night Operations1 task PA.XII Postflight Procedures2 tasks

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Last updated 11 November 2026.