CH.VIII.L — Flight Solely by Reference to Instruments

What does ACS code CH.VIII.L cover?

ACS Code CH.VIII.L covers "Flight Solely by Reference to Instruments" under Area of Operation VIII (Emergency Operations) for the FAA Commercial Pilot Helicopter certificate (FAA-S-ACS-16). Candidates are tested on knowledge elements and risk management factors defined in 14 CFR regulations and FAA handbooks (PHAK / AFH).

Task Specification & Required References

• ACS Document: FAA-S-ACS-16 (Commercial Pilot Helicopter)
• Area of Operation: Area VIII — Emergency Operations
• Task: Task L — Flight Solely by Reference to Instruments
• Primary FAA Sources: Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (FAA-H-8083-25), Airplane Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-3) / Helicopter Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-21), Aviation Weather Handbook (FAA-H-8083-28), 14 CFR Parts 61, 91 & 107, Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM).

Airman Certification Standards Elements

Knowledge Elements

• CH.VIII.L.K1: Elements related to attitude instrument flying during straight-and-level flight, climbs, turns, and descents.
• CH.VIII.L.K2: Interpretation, operation, and limitations of pitch, bank, and power instruments.
• CH.VIII.L.K3: Normal and abnormal instrument indications and operations.

Risk Management Elements

• CH.VIII.L.R1: Situations that can affect physiology and degrade instrument cross-check.
• CH.VIII.L.R2: Spatial disorientation and optical illusions.
• CH.VIII.L.R3: Flying an unfamiliar aircraft, or operating with unfamiliar flight display systems and avionics.

How do I study CH.VIII.L?

1. Read each element for CH.VIII.L in FAA-S-ACS-16 and note any you cannot explain in your own words.
2. Study each one in the FAA source it points to: the handbook chapter, the 14 CFR section or the AIM paragraph.
3. Practice with questions tagged CH.VIII.L, and read the explanation for every miss.
4. Retest, then review the ACS codes you still miss on your practice test report.

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Related ACS tasks

• Previous task: CH.VIII.K — Emergency Equipment and Survival Gear
• Next task: CH.VIII.M — Recovery from Unusual Flight Attitudes
• Same area: CH.VIII.A — Powerplant Failure in a Hover in a Single-Engine Helicopter
• Same area: CH.VIII.B — Powerplant Failure at Altitude in a Single-Engine Helicopter
• Same area: CH.VIII.C — Approach and Landing with One Engine Inoperative (OEI) (Simulated)
• Same area: CH.VIII.D — Systems and Equipment Malfunctions
• Same area: CH.VIII.E — Vortex Ring State (VRS)
• Same area: CH.VIII.F — Low Rotor Revolutions Per Minute (RPM) Recognition and Recovery