What the ACS Doesn’t Tell You About the Checkride

The Airman Certification Standards (ACS) have become the foundation of pilot training. Whether you’re preparing for a private pilot checkride, an instrument rating, flight review, or IPC, the ACS defines exactly what knowledge, risk management, and skill elements you must demonstrate.

But many pilots discover a challenge as checkride day approaches: the ACS tells you what you’ll be tested on, but it doesn’t always explain how those tasks are evaluated in a real-world setting.

That’s where experience—and often a good instructor—makes all the difference.

Chief instructors, check airmen, and designated pilot examiners (DPEs) develop a unique perspective after watching hundreds of applicants navigate checkrides. They see the common mistakes, the areas where applicants tend to overcomplicate tasks, and the habits that separate confident pilots from those who struggle under pressure.

A new training resource from PilotWorkshops aims to make some of those insights more accessible. The Checkride Insights series takes the FAA’s ACS and adds practical commentary, examiner observations, and real-world examples directly alongside the standards themselves.

The concept first appeared in a Private Pilot edition and has now expanded to include an Instrument Rating version. Rather than replacing the ACS, the guides serve as companions to it, helping pilots understand how the standards are applied during practical evaluations.

The format is simple: the official ACS appears on one side of the page, while annotations and commentary appear alongside the applicable task. These notes explain common errors, discuss how examiners frequently approach a topic, and offer practical tips for preparation.

For instructors, resources like this can also provide useful talking points during ground training. Many students become overwhelmed trying to memorize ACS elements without fully understanding their practical application. Adding context can help transform a list of standards into meaningful learning objectives.

The newest Instrument Rating edition includes coverage of both the instrument checkride and the Instrument Proficiency Check (IPC), making it useful not only for instrument students but also for rated pilots looking to regain IFR currency or sharpen their skills.

Ultimately, successful checkride preparation requires more than simply knowing what’s in the ACS. Pilots must understand how to apply those standards in realistic scenarios, communicate their decision-making process, and demonstrate sound judgment in addition to technical proficiency.

The ACS remains the roadmap, but resources that provide additional context can help pilots better understand the journey—and arrive at checkride day with greater confidence.

Checkride Insights Instrument Pilot is available for $69 at Sportys.com.

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Eric Radtke

It was his first airplane trip at age seven that made Eric decide to become a pilot. "While boarding the airplane, a flight attendant noticed my interest in the flight deck and urged me to go talk to the pilot. I give a lot of credit to that pilot for my career choice." Eric earned a bachelor’s degree in finance and went on to an airline career. He learned to fly at Sporty’s as part of the University of Cincinnati’s Professional Pilot Program, an initiative he later directed.Eric now manages Sporty’s media network including FlightTrainingCentral.com. In addition, Eric serves as a Captain in a Cincinnati-based corporate flight department.

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