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United States Department of TransportationUnited States Department of Transportation

Practical Test Standards (PTS)

Any reproduction or modification of this material from original FAA source material is solely the responsibility of the publisher.

Pilots

Airline Transport

Title		 Publication
Date		 Change
Date
Airline Transport Pilot Practical Test Standards for Helicopter (FAA-S-8081-20 with Changes 1, 2, 3, and 4) (PDF) Aug 1998 7/27/2016
Airline Transport Pilot and Aircraft Type Rating Practical Test Standards for Airplane has been superseded by the Airline Transport Pilot and Type Rating for Airplane Airman Certification Standards. n/a n/a
Commercial

Title		 Publication
Date		 Change
Date
Commercial Pilot Practical Test Standards for Airplane has been superseded by the Commercial Pilot – Airplane Airman Certification Standards. n/a n/a
Commercial Pilot Practical Test Standards for Rotorcraft (Helicopter and Gyroplane) (FAA-S-8081-16B) (PDF) Feb 2013  
Commercial Pilot Practical Test Standards for Lighter-Than-Air (Balloon, Airship) (FAA-S-8081-18) (PDF) May 1997  
Commercial Pilot Practical Test Standards for Glider (FAA-S-8081-23A) with changes 1 and 2 (PDF) Nov 2006 09/03/2014
Private

Title		 Publication
Date		 Change
Date
Private Pilot Practical Test Standards for Airplane has been superseded by the Private Pilot – Airplane Airman Certification Standards. n/a n/a
Private Pilot Practical Test Standards for Rotorcraft (Helicopter, Gyroplane) (FAA-S-8081-15A with Change 1) (PDF) July 2005 05/06/2013
Private Pilot Practical Test Standards for Lighter-Than-Air (Balloon, Airship) (FAA-S-8081-17) (PDF) June 1996  
Private Pilot Practical Test Standards for Glider (FAA-S-8081-22) (PDF) Apr 1999 09/01/2010
Private Pilot Practical Test Standards for Powered Parachute (PPL and PPS) and Weight Shift Control (WSCL and WSCS) (FAA-S-8081-32 with Change 1) (PDF) Dec 2004 7/5/2017
Sport

Title		 Publication
Date		 Change
Date
Sport Pilot Practical Test Standards for Airplane, Gyroplane, Glider, and Flight Instructor (FAA-S-8081-29 with Change 3) (PDF) Dec 2004 05/02/2014
Sport Pilot Practical Test Standards for Airship, Balloon, and Flight Instructor (FAA-S-8081-30 with Change 4) (PDF) Dec /2004 05/02/2014
Sport Pilot Practical Test Standards for Weight Shift Control, Powered Parachute, and Flight Instructor (FAA-S-8081-31 with Change 4) (PDF) Dec 2004 7/12/2017
Recreational

Title		 Publication
Date		 Change
Date
Recreational Pilot Practical Test Standards for Airplane, Rotorcraft/Helicopter, and Rotorcraft/Gyroplane (FAA-S-8081-3A) (PDF) Aug 2006  

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Flight Instructors

 

Title		 Publication
Date		 Change
Date
Flight Instructor Practical Test Standards for Airplane (FAA-S-8081-6D with Changes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6) (PDF) Jun 2012 4/19/2018
Flight Instructor Practical Test Standards for Rotorcraft (Helicopter, Gyroplane) (FAA-S-8081-7B) with Changes 1, 2 & 3) (PDF) Dec 2006 7/26/2016
Flight Instructor Practical Test Standards for Glider (FAA-S-8081-8B) (PDF) Oct 2006  
Flight Instructor Instrument Practical Test Standards for Airplane and Helicopter (FAA-S-8081-9D with changes 1 & 2) (PDF) Jul 2010 4/18/2014

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Mechanics

 

Title		 Publication
Date		 Change
Date
Aviation Mechanic General Practical Test Standards (FAA-S-8081-26A) (PDF) July 2012 4/27/2015
Aviation Mechanic Airframe Practical Test Standards (FAA-S-8081-27A with Change 2) (PDF) July 2012 9/29/2015
Aviation Mechanic Powerplant Practical Test Standards (FAA-S-8081-28A) (PDF) July 2012 4/27/2015
Aviation Mechanic General, Airframe, and Powerplant Practical Test Standards (FAA-S-8081-26B) (PDF)The Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration signed the interim final rule “Part 147, Aviation Maintenance Technician Schools” on March 9, 2022. The interim final rule incorporates this version of the Aviation Mechanic General, Airframe, and Powerplant Practical Test Standards (FAA-S-8081-26B) by reference. For identification and document-control purposes, this PTS is dated November 1, 2021. However, this PTS is not enforceable until the effective date of the interim final rule. Upon publication, the interim final rule can be found on the Federal Register’s website, www.federalregister.gov, and will direct the effective date of compliance with this PTS. March 2022

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Other Airmen Standards

 

Title		 Publication
Date		 Change
Date
Instrument Rating Practical Test Standards for Airplane, Helicopter, and Powered Lift (FAA-S-8081-4E with Changes 1, 2, 3, 4, & 5) (PDF).

The Airplane portion of this PTS has been superseded by the Instrument Rating Airman Certification Standards. Helicopter and Powered Lift applicants should continue to use this PTS.		 Jan 2010 9/11/2013
Aircraft Dispatcher Practical Test Standards (FAA-S-8081-10D with Changes 1, 2, & 3) (PDF) May 2013 1/8/2018
Flight Engineer Practical Test Standards for Reciprocating Engine, Turbopropeller, and Turbojet Powered Aircraft (FAA-S-8081-21 with Changes 1, 2, 3, & 4) (PDF) Jan 1999 1/8/2018
Parachute Rigger Practical Test Standards (FAA-S-8081-25B) (PDF) 2012  

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