Instrument Rating Airplane Airman Certification Standards (FAA-S-ACS-8C) Plus Companion Guide for Pilots (FAA-G-ACS-2)

This is the NEW 2024 FAA Instrument Rating Airplane Airman Certification Standards (FAA-S-ACS-8C).
It also includes the New ACS Companion Guide for Pilots (FAA-G-ACS-2).

Effective May 31, 2024

The U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Office of Safety Standards, Regulatory Support Division, Airman Testing Standards Branch, has published the Instrument Rating – Airplane Airman Certification Standards (ACS) to communicate the aeronautical knowledge, risk management, and flight proficiency standards for the Instrument Rating in the airplane category.

Material in FAA-S-ACS-8C supersedes FAA-S-ACS-8B, Instrument Rating ‒ Airplane Airman Certification Standards (ACS), Change 1.

The FAA created FAA-G-ACS-2, Airman Certification Standards Companion Guide for Pilots, to provide guidance considered relevant and useful to the community. The number of appendices in the ACS was reduced and much of the non-regulatory material was moved to the Airman Certification Standards Companion Guide for Pilots. Applicants, instructors, and evaluators should consult this companion guide to familiarize themselves with ACS procedures.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) developed this Airman Certification Standards Companion Guide FAA-G-ACS-2, for use with the Airman Certification Standards (ACS) for pilot certification. This guide, along with the regulatory material in the ACS, may assist an applicant in preparing for the FAA knowledge exam and practical test (checkride) that lead to pilot certification.