FAA Airman Certification Standards Code
PH.VIII.K — Emergency Equipment and Survival Gear
Private Pilot Helicopter · Area of Operation VIII: Emergency Operations · Standard: FAA-S-ACS-15
What does ACS code PH.VIII.K cover?
ACS Code PH.VIII.K covers "Emergency Equipment and Survival Gear" under Area of Operation VIII (Emergency Operations) for the FAA Private Pilot Helicopter certificate (FAA-S-ACS-15). 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-15 (Private Pilot Helicopter)
- Area of Operation: Area VIII — Emergency Operations
- Task: Task K — Emergency Equipment and Survival Gear
- 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
- PH.VIII.K.K1: Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) operations, limitations, and testing requirements.
- PH.VIII.K.K2: Fire extinguisher operations and limitations.
- PH.VIII.K.K3: Emergency equipment and survival gear needed for:
- PH.VIII.K.K3a: a. Climate extremes (hot/cold)
- PH.VIII.K.K3b: b. Mountainous terrain
- PH.VIII.K.K3c: c. Overwater operations
- PH.VIII.K.R1: Survival gear (water, clothing, shelter) for 48 to 72 hours.
Risk Management Elements
- PH.VIII.K.R1: Survival gear (water, clothing, shelter) for 48 to 72 hours.
How do I study PH.VIII.K?
- Read each element for PH.VIII.K in FAA-S-ACS-15 and note any you cannot explain in your own words.
- Study each one in the FAA source it points to: the handbook chapter, the 14 CFR section or the AIM paragraph.
- Practice with questions tagged PH.VIII.K, and read the explanation for every miss.
- Retest, then review the ACS codes you still miss on your practice test report.
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