A shared Private and Commercial Airplane ACS reading guide. FAA handbook PDF links open at the printed page where the selected section begins; AIM links target the relevant numbered paragraph.
P / C colors identify ACS applicability, not whether every aircraft-specific item applies to every airplane. PHAK and AFH page links use each chapter’s PDF numbering (for example, PHAK 7-25 opens PDF page 25). The 2026 Aviation Weather Handbook is one PDF: its links name the relevant section and request a PDF text search; some viewers may ignore that request, so use the section name/bookmarks if needed. AIM links use official FAA HTML text highlighting when supported; otherwise the correct AIM section opens. Selected references are study aids, not an official item-by-item FAA crosswalk. Verify current regulations, handbook addenda, the aircraft POH/AFM and applicable limitations.
Risks: Proficiency vs. currency; flying unfamiliar aircraft or avionics.
Skills: Apply requirements to act as PIC under VFR in a given scenario.
Risks: Inoperative equipment discovered prior to flight.
Skills: Determine airworthiness and apply procedures for inoperative equipment.
AWH 2026 reading links: “Read online” opens the relevant part of an independent HTML edition (not FAA-hosted); the accompanying “FAA PDF” link is the original FAA-H-8083-28B. Where a section is later in a paginated chapter, the printed PDF page or section number is supplied instead of an unreliable PDF search jump.
Risks: Go/no-go decisions, diversion circumstances, personal minimums, forecast turbulence/icing.
Skills: Obtain briefings, analyze conditions, and correlate weather for go/no-go decisions.
Risks: Pilot, aircraft, environment, external pressures, ATC service limits, fuel planning.
Skills: Prepare cross-country plan, navigation log, re-calculate fuel reserves, use EFB.
| ACS | Knowledge Item | Resources & Links |
|---|---|---|
| P+C | • Airspace classes and associated requirements and limitations. | 14 CFR Part 71 · designated airspace14 CFR § 91.12614 CFR § 91.13014 CFR § 91.131PHAK Controlled/uncontrolled airspace (15-2–15-3)PHAK Operating in airspace (15-7–15-11)AIM 3-2-3 · Class B AirspaceAIM 3-2-4 · Class C AirspaceAIM 3-2-5 · Class D Airspace |
| P+C | • Chart symbols and visual flight rules minimums. | Chart Users’ Guide (current)14 CFR § 91.15514 CFR § 91.157PHAK Basic VFR minimums (15-7–15-8)AIM 3-1-4 · Basic VFR Weather MinimumsAIM 3-3-2 · VFR Requirements |
| P+C | • Special use airspace (SUA), SFRA, TFRs, and special VFR requirements. | 14 CFR § 91.13714 CFR § 91.14114 CFR § 91.157FAA AIM (current)PHAK Special use airspace (15-3–15-4)PHAK TFRs (15-6)AIM 3-4-1 · GeneralAIM 3-5-3 · Temporary Flight RestrictionsAIM 3-5-7 · Special Air Traffic Rules (SATR) and Special Flight Rules Area (SFRA) |
Risks: Operating across various classes and types of airspace.
Skills: Comply with VFR weather minimums, communication requirements, and SATR/SFRA rules.
| ACS | Knowledge Item | Resources & Links |
|---|---|---|
| P+C | • Elements related to performance and limitations using charts, tables, and data. | PHAK Performance charts (11-19–11-27)PHAK Loaded weight and CG (10-7–10-11)AFH Preflight assessment (2-1–2-4) |
| P+C | • Factors affecting performance: atmospheric conditions, pilot technique, configuration, airport environment, and loading/CG. | PHAK Density altitude / weather effects (11-3–11-5)PHAK Takeoff and landing performance (11-12–11-18)PHAK Effects of weight and balance (10-2–10-4)AFH Energy management principles (4-1–4-6)AFH Managing energy errors (4-11–4-12)AIM 7-2-2 · Barometric Pressure Altimeter Errors |
| P+C | • Aerodynamics underlying aircraft performance. | PHAK Lift / airfoil principles (4-5–4-9)PHAK Forces, lift and drag (5-1–5-8)PHAK Forces in maneuvers (5-22–5-25)AFH The airplane as an energy system (4-1–4-4)AFH Rules of energy control (4-6–4-9) |
Risks: Use of performance charts, aircraft limitations, and calculated vs. actual performance.
Skills: Compute weight and balance, correct CG errors, and use performance charts.
Risks: Detection, management of failures, and automated system monitoring.
Skills: Operate at least three specified systems appropriately and complete checklists.
Risks: Physiological issues, hazardous attitudes, distractions, confirmation/expectation bias.
Skills: Associate symptoms/corrective actions for conditions and perform self-assessment.
Commercial pilot only · FAA-S-ACS-7B · specific FAA reading links by knowledge, risk-management, and skill element.
Handbook and advisory-circular PDFs use numbered PDF page links; page positioning is subject to browser PDF viewer support. AIM links open the official HTML section and attempt to highlight the relevant paragraph. References are study aids, not a replacement for current rules, the applicable POH/AFM, or the official ACS. Conditional ACS skills remain conditional where equipment is not installed.
Knowledge, risk management, and skills for flight where supplemental oxygen is required or recommended.
| ACS | Element / reading assignment | Resources & links |
|---|---|---|
| C | CA.VIII.A.K1 Supplemental oxygen requirements for crew and passengers. | 14 CFR § 91.211 · Supplemental oxygenPHAK 7-37 · Oxygen requirementsAC 61-107B · Applicable regulations |
| C | CA.VIII.A.K2a–c Physiological impairment, hypoxia symptoms, and time of useful consciousness (TUC). | PHAK 17-3–17-4 · HypoxiaAIM 8-1-2 · Effects of AltitudeAC 61-107B · HypoxiaAC 61-107B · TUC chart |
| C | CA.VIII.A.K3a Continuous-flow, demand/diluter-demand, and pressure-demand systems: characteristics and limitations. | PHAK 7-38 · Oxygen delivery systemsAC 61-107B · Regulator and mask typesFAA oxygen equipment safety brochure |
| C | CA.VIII.A.K3b Aviator’s breathing oxygen versus other oxygen types; proper identification. | PHAK 7-39 · Servicing oxygen systemsAC 61-107B · Aviator’s breathing oxygenFAA oxygen equipment safety brochure |
| C | CA.VIII.A.K3c Precautions while using supplemental oxygen: equipment checks, fit, flow and oxygen-related fire hazards. | PHAK 7-37 · Oxygen inspection / fire cautionsPHAK 7-39 · Oxygen servicingAC 61-107B · Oxygen equipmentFAA oxygen equipment safety brochure |
| C | CA.VIII.A.R1–R2 Risk management: high-altitude flight, inadequate oxygen supply, and misuse or failure of oxygen equipment. | AIM 8-1-2 · Effects of AltitudeAC 61-107B · Hypoxia recognitionAC 61-107B · High-altitude emergencies |
| C | CA.VIII.A.R3–R4 Risk management: compressed-gas cylinder handling and increased combustion risk in oxygen-rich environments. | PHAK 7-37 · Cylinder / fire precautionsAC 61-107B · Oxygen equipmentFAA oxygen equipment safety brochure |
| C | CA.VIII.A.S1 Calculate oxygen quantity required for an evaluator-provided flight scenario. | 14 CFR § 91.211PHAK 7-37 · Oxygen supplyAC 61-107B · Oxygen equipmentFAA · Oxygen supply / preflight |
| C | CA.VIII.A.S2–S3 Operate or simulate installed/portable oxygen equipment when available, and brief passengers on its use. | PHAK 7-38–7-39 · Delivery / equipmentFAA oxygen equipment safety brochureAC 61-107B · Equipment inspection / procedures |
| C | CA.VIII.A.S4 Apply SRM or CRM to oxygen-system use and high-altitude scenarios. | AFH 15-14 · High-altitude training outlineAC 61-107B · Emergency considerations |
Knowledge, risk management, and skills for high-altitude flight in pressurized aircraft.
| ACS | Element / reading assignment | Resources & links |
|---|---|---|
| C | CA.VIII.B.K1 Fundamentals of cabin pressurization, cabin altitude, differential pressure, outflow valves, indications and failure modes. | PHAK 7-34–7-36 · Pressurized aircraftAC 61-107B · Pressurization systemAFH 15-14 · High-altitude systems outline |
| C | CA.VIII.B.K2a–c Physiological impairment, hypoxia symptoms, and time of useful consciousness (TUC). | PHAK 17-3–17-4 · HypoxiaAIM 8-1-2 · Effects of AltitudeAC 61-107B · HypoxiaAC 61-107B · TUC chart |
| C | CA.VIII.B.K2d Effects of rapid decompression on crew and passengers. | PHAK 7-35–7-36 · DecompressionAC 61-107B · DecompressionAC 61-107B · TUC after decompression |
| C | CA.VIII.B.R1–R2 Risk management: high-altitude operations and a pressurization malfunction, where the equipment is installed. | PHAK 7-34–7-36 · Pressurized aircraftAC 61-107B · Pressurization14 CFR § 91.211 · Pressurized-cabin provisions |
| C | CA.VIII.B.S1–S2 Operate the pressurization system and respond to simulated malfunctions, if installed. | PHAK 7-34–7-36 · System fundamentalsAC 61-107B · Pressurization systemAC 61-107B · Decompression response |
| C | CA.VIII.B.S3 Brief passengers about supplemental oxygen following a pressurization failure, if installed. | PHAK 7-37–7-39 · Oxygen systemsFAA oxygen equipment safety brochureAC 61-107B · Emergency response |
| C | CA.VIII.B.S4 Use SRM or CRM to manage the scenario. | AC 61-107B · Emergency considerationsAFH 15-14 · High-altitude training outline |
These references help connect the two tasks to real aircraft and training requirements: