Private Pilot ACS · Area VII

PA.VII Slow Flight and Stalls

4 tasks and 67 knowledge, risk management and skill elements. Each code below is a link target: a code from your test report, such as PA.VII.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.VII.A Maneuvering During Slow Flight

To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with maneuvering during slow flight in cruise configuration.

PA.VII.A.K1Knowledge: Aerodynamics associated with slow flight in various airplane configurations, including the relationship between angle of attack, airspeed, load factor, power setting, airplane weight and center of gravity, airplane attitude, and yaw effects.
PA.VII.A.R1Risk management: Inadvertent slow flight and flight with a stall warning, which could lead to loss of control.
PA.VII.A.R2Risk management: Range and limitations of stall warning indicators (e.g., aircraft buffet, stall horn, etc.).
PA.VII.A.R3Risk management: Uncoordinated flight.
PA.VII.A.R4Risk management: Effect of environmental elements on airplane performance (e.g., turbulence, microbursts, and high- density altitude).
PA.VII.A.R5Risk management: Collision hazards.
PA.VII.A.R6Risk management: Distractions, task prioritization, loss of situational awareness, or disorientation.
PA.VII.A.S1Skill: Clear the area.
PA.VII.A.S2Skill: Select an entry altitude that allows the Task to be completed no lower than 1,500 feet above ground level (AGL) (ASEL, ASES) or 3,000 feet AGL (AMEL, AMES).
PA.VII.A.S3Skill: Establish and maintain an airspeed at which any further increase in angle of attack, increase in load factor, or reduction in power, would result in a stall warning (e.g., aircraft buffet, stall horn, etc.).
PA.VII.A.S4Skill: Accomplish coordinated straight-and-level flight, turns, climbs, and descents with the aircraft configured as specified by the evaluator without a stall warning (e.g., aircraft buffet, stall horn, etc.).
PA.VII.A.S5Skill: Maintain the specified altitude, ±100 feet; specified heading, ±10°; airspeed, +10/-0 knots; and specified angle of bank, ±10°.

PA.VII.B Power-Off Stalls

To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with power-off stalls.

PA.VII.B.K1Knowledge: Aerodynamics associated with stalls in various airplane configurations, including the relationship between angle of attack, airspeed, load factor, power setting, airplane weight and center of gravity, airplane attitude, and yaw effects.
PA.VII.B.K2Knowledge: Stall characteristics as they relate to airplane design, and recognition impending stall and full stall indications using sight, sound, or feel.
PA.VII.B.K3Knowledge: Factors and situations that can lead to a power-off stall and actions that can be taken to prevent it.
PA.VII.B.K4Knowledge: Fundamentals of stall recovery.
PA.VII.B.R1Risk management: Factors and situations that could lead to an inadvertent power-off stall, spin, and loss of control.
PA.VII.B.R2Risk management: Range and limitations of stall warning indicators (e.g., aircraft buffet, stall horn, etc.).
PA.VII.B.R3Risk management: Stall warning(s) during normal operations.
PA.VII.B.R4Risk management: Stall recovery procedure.
PA.VII.B.R5Risk management: Secondary stalls, accelerated stalls, and cross-control stalls.
PA.VII.B.R6Risk management: Effect of environmental elements on airplane performance related to power-off stalls (e.g., turbulence, microbursts, and high-density altitude).
PA.VII.B.R7Risk management: Collision hazards.
PA.VII.B.R8Risk management: Distractions, task prioritization, loss of situational awareness, or disorientation.
PA.VII.B.S1Skill: Clear the area.
PA.VII.B.S2Skill: Select an entry altitude that allows the Task to be completed no lower than 1,500 feet above ground level (AGL) (ASEL, ASES) or 3,000 feet AGL (AMEL, AMES).
PA.VII.B.S3Skill: Configure the airplane in the approach or landing configuration, as specified by the evaluator, and maintain coordinated flight throughout the maneuver.
PA.VII.B.S4Skill: Establish a stabilized descent.
PA.VII.B.S5Skill: Transition smoothly from the approach or landing attitude to a pitch attitude that induces a stall.
PA.VII.B.S6Skill: Maintain a specified heading ±10° if in straight flight; maintain a specified angle of bank not to exceed 20°, ±10° if in turning flight, while inducing the stall.
PA.VII.B.S7Skill: Acknowledge cues of the impending stall and then recover promptly after a full stall occurs.
PA.VII.B.S8Skill: Execute a stall recovery in accordance with procedures set forth in the Pilot's Operating Handbook (POH) or Airplane Flight Manual (AFM).
PA.VII.B.S9Skill: Configure the airplane as recommended by the manufacturer, and accelerate to best angle of climb speed (VX) or best rate of climb speed (VY).
PA.VII.B.S10Skill: Return to the altitude, heading, and airspeed specified by the evaluator.
PA.VII.B.S11Skill: Use single-pilot resource management (SRM) or crew resource management (CRM), as appropriate.

PA.VII.C Power-On Stalls

To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with power-on stalls.

PA.VII.C.K1Knowledge: Aerodynamics associated with stalls in various airplane configurations, including the relationship between angle of attack, airspeed, load factor, power setting, airplane weight and center of gravity, airplane attitude, and yaw effects.
PA.VII.C.K2Knowledge: Stall characteristics as they relate to airplane design, and recognition impending stall and full stall indications using sight, sound, or feel.
PA.VII.C.K3Knowledge: Factors and situations that can lead to a power-on stall and actions that can be taken to prevent it.
PA.VII.C.K4Knowledge: Fundamentals of stall recovery.
PA.VII.C.R1Risk management: Factors and situations that could lead to an inadvertent power-on stall, spin, and loss of control.
PA.VII.C.R2Risk management: Range and limitations of stall warning indicators (e.g., aircraft buffet, stall horn, etc.).
PA.VII.C.R3Risk management: Stall warning(s) during normal operations.
PA.VII.C.R4Risk management: Stall recovery procedure.
PA.VII.C.R5Risk management: Secondary stalls, accelerated stalls, elevator trim stalls, and cross-control stalls.
PA.VII.C.R6Risk management: Effect of environmental elements on airplane performance related to power-on stalls (e.g., turbulence, microbursts, and high-density altitude).
PA.VII.C.R7Risk management: Collision hazards.
PA.VII.C.R8Risk management: Distractions, task prioritization, loss of situational awareness, or disorientation.
PA.VII.C.S1Skill: Clear the area.
PA.VII.C.S2Skill: Select an entry altitude that allows the Task to be completed no lower than 1,500 feet above ground level (AGL) (ASEL, ASES) or 3,000 feet AGL (AMEL, AMES).
PA.VII.C.S3Skill: Establish the takeoff, departure, or cruise configuration, as specified by the evaluator, and maintain coordinated flight throughout the maneuver.
PA.VII.C.S4Skill: Set power (as assigned by the evaluator) to no less than 65 percent power.
PA.VII.C.S5Skill: Transition smoothly from the takeoff or departure attitude to the pitch attitude that induces a stall.
PA.VII.C.S6Skill: Maintain a specified heading, ±10° if in straight flight; maintain a specified angle of bank not to exceed 20°, ±10° if in turning flight, while inducing the stall.
PA.VII.C.S7Skill: Acknowledge cues of the impending stall and then recover promptly after a full stall occurs.
PA.VII.C.S8Skill: Execute a stall recovery in accordance with procedures set forth in the Pilot's Operating Handbook (POH)/Flight Manual (FM).
PA.VII.C.S9Skill: Configure the airplane as recommended by the manufacturer, and accelerate to best angle of climb speed (VX) or best rate of climb speed (VY).
PA.VII.C.S10Skill: Return to the altitude, heading, and airspeed specified by the evaluator.
PA.VII.C.S11Skill: Use single-pilot resource management (SRM) or crew resource management (CRM), as appropriate.

PA.VII.D Spin Awareness

To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge of the causes and procedures for recovery from unintentional spins and understands the risk associated with unintentional spins.

PA.VII.D.K1Knowledge: Aerodynamics associated with spins in various airplane configurations, including the relationship between angle of attack, airspeed, load factor, power setting, airplane weight and center of gravity, airplane attitude, and yaw effects.
PA.VII.D.K2Knowledge: What causes a spin and how to identify the entry, incipient, and developed phases of a spin.
PA.VII.D.K3Knowledge: Spin recovery procedure.
PA.VII.D.R1Risk management: Factors and situations that could lead to inadvertent spin and loss of control.
PA.VII.D.R2Risk management: Range and limitations of stall warning indicators (e.g., aircraft buffet, stall horn, etc.).
PA.VII.D.R3Risk management: Spin recovery procedure.
PA.VII.D.R4Risk management: Effect of environmental elements on airplane performance related to spins (e.g., turbulence, microbursts, and high-density altitude).
PA.VII.D.R5Risk management: Collision hazards.
PA.VII.D.R6Risk management: Distractions, task prioritization, loss of situational awareness, or disorientation.

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.V Performance Maneuvers and Ground Reference Maneuvers2 tasks PA.VI Navigation4 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.