Commercial Pilot ACS Review - Part 2

Join me as I continue the Commercial Pilot ACS Series. The commercial pilot checkride is just like any other FAA practical test and uses the Airman Certification Standards. This test evaluates your knowledge and skills as a pilot to make sure you have what it takes to fly for compensation. In the second episode of the series, I discuss Areas of Operations 2-4. These areas cover preflight, takeoff, and landing tasks!
I would love to hear your feedback on the shows. If you have anything you would like to share, please email me at: [e-mail] I look forward to hearing from you!

[@Paddleforward17]

Love the breakdown of the ACS requirements from an actual DPE perspective. Really appreciate it!

[@SethLakeDPE]

You're very welcome! Glad you like it.

[@bluecow10]

Just passed my IR yesterday, your videos have been a massive help so far. Thank you!

[@SethLakeDPE]

Go glad to hear. Your welcome!

[@jeffmasher4641]

Seth, thank you for making these vids. They have been a huge help for my instrument and now commercial. Planning on a commercial ride in the next month or so.

[@SethLakeDPE]

Thank you for the feedback! Best of luck!

[@phibra8845]

I drilled all your IFR videos, passed successfully and super grateful for your invaluable effort and insight here. Now getting ready for CPL - thanks again!

[@SethLakeDPE]

Congratulations! So glad you found the videos helpful!

[@jimbuck795]

I also thought the power off 180 was an emergency maneuver. Makes more sense that it's an accuracy maneuver. This is really helping me prepare for the commercial checkride.

[@apilotbgsu172]

I like the way you cleared up the Power off 180. skilled landing

[@SethLakeDPE]

Thanks!

[@ethanortiz5335]

Commercial Checkride tomorrow. Your videos are great.

[@SethLakeDPE]

Awesome! Best of luck!

[@josejbr1]

Your presentations are excellent and very informative, looking forward to my next check ride the Commercial. Thanks

[@SethLakeDPE]

Thank you. You're welcome!

[@blakergil]

Seth. Great instructive videos. I’m in a waiting period here in the Dallas area for scheduling my commercial Check-ride (DPE’s are hammered at present) so these videos are immensely valuable. As a fun factoid I really just stumbled on your video that came up in one of several searches regarding commercial check-rides and your name sounded really familiar. I flew regularly to KRUE a few years ago having family nearby and mentioned that to a fellow club member Charla Dumas who stated without hesitation “go do your commercial and CFI with Seth”. Another member also speaks highly of your school. Might fly up after the commercial and chat about CFI. Keep up the great videos

[@SethLakeDPE]

Small world! Would love to talk with you about CFI!

[@braininavatnow9197]

It would be difficult to emphasize the importance of these videos too much. This is mandatory preparation for all people taking the checkrides. We are blessed to have this resource available.

[@SethLakeDPE]

Thank you for the kind words!

[@michaelwilliamsd.o.5006]

So helpful!! Thank you!

[@etienne8397]

Thank you taking your time and making these podcasts. These are a huge help for studying for my commercial checkride. Also, can you do a series on CFI initial? I've heard that ride is pretty tough from a lot of people and would love watching a series like this on it

[@SethLakeDPE]

You're welcome! CFI episodes are in the works.

[@flogsbymm]

Quick lil update, passed my instrument check-ride last week. Now studying for commercial, so this timeline couldn’t fit me any better haha

[@SethLakeDPE]

Awesome! Congratulations on passing the checkride! Good to hear your keeping focused on training for your commercial.

[@julianmotta2453]

Seth, Beyond gratitude for this thorough explanation of the ACS.

[@OurAcousticSessions]

Good stuff Seth! I need the next one soon, commercial checkride mid July 2022. Do you have a date for the next video yet?

[@SethLakeDPE]

Hopefully your checkride went well. Sorry for the delayed part 3 but I've been very busy with checkrides this summer.

[@TomGamingg]

Personal timestamp 25:56

[@tarynnemingione2601]

This is really helpful! Thoughts on doing a go-around on power-off 180 if you think you are going to land short?

[@SethLakeDPE]

Unfortunately, the FAA's position on go-arounds during the P180 is that if you have to do one, the examiner must issue a disapproval. The exception to that is if a go-around must be made due to an unsafe condition such as another aircraft, a vehicle, or wildlife on the runway.

[@mattwilson5412]

I got my checkride next week, drop part 3!! LOL

[@SethLakeDPE]

Already done!

[@mylespratt7760]

For something like the balance weights on the ailerons where would you find where it says it is needed

[@SethLakeDPE]

Great question. This would be something in the maintenance manual. Ask your A&P and they could show you. As a pilot, if you notice something missing, write it up and ask maintenance.

[@mylespratt7760]

Thank you your vids have been very helpful in preparing for my commercial checkride

[@SethLakeDPE]

@@mylespratt7760 Great to hear!

[@xking18]

Kinda curious on a brake check, you obviously holding the toe brakes during engine start or it will start rolling (like a sea plane), can I say brakes are ok just because it did not roll forward? There is not a failure mode on aircraft that I can think of with simple brakes (no hydraulic pump) where they will hold an aircraft on startup but won’t stop immediately after. Thank you sir!

[@SethLakeDPE]

Checking the brakes immediately after the aircraft begins to move is specifically called for the in the ACS. In the commercial ACS it's skill CA.II.D.S5. Technically, there could be a master cylinder or shuttle valve failure that could cause a problem after releasing pressure and application, but I see you point that the brakes holding during startup generally indicates that they are operational. Also, remember that during a normal startup the throttle is set very low so there could be a brake failure that you fail to recognize until adding more power. Hope this helps clarify. Thanks for the feedback!

[@nickpepper4592]

Would you be open to doing one of these for rotor craft? I really enjoyed watching these for airplane.

[@SethLakeDPE]

Potentially. I need to get some more rotor craft experience though.

[@JoeSmith-hu6nb]

So I assume no slips on the power off landing? Wondering what you take is on doing a little slip on final to get down? Some instructors say slips are fine others say slips mean you are not stabilized. ACS not clear.

[@SethLakeDPE]

Personally, I think slips are fine but I could understand someone calling the need for a slip being an indication of an unstable approach. The term "Stable Approach" is a little confusing though. In professional aviation, it is usually defined very clearly with specific altitudes, descent rates, headings, and airspeeds. In GA it's not as clearly defined and is a little subjective. The forward slip is a basic part of approach energy management and it's use might be required during any power-off accuracy landing.

[@matthewpaxton2832]

Hey Seth, I’ve been anxiously waiting for the next video! Unfortunately it’s not wanting to play for me. Not sure if anyone else is having issues?

[@SethLakeDPE]

I haven't heard any other feedback on it not working. Did it work itself out?

[@matthewpaxton2832]

@@SethLakeDPE it’s working for me now! Not sure what the issue was. Thanks!

[@SethLakeDPE]

Great!

[@HectorWPadilla]

Whoop whoop 🙌 ☝️

[@SethLakeDPE]

Haha!

[@MrMR-sk8jm]

So for the short field landing, you don't let the person doing the checkride pick their point? I always aim for the second runway stripe.

[@SethLakeDPE]

It depends. I typically ask for the applicant to touchdown on the 1000' markers (if they are present)

[@fjamesbennett8765]

Referring to an aircraft's type design, where do you find an official list of what must be present on each aircraft?

[@SethLakeDPE]

I go through the process on looking up the TCDS in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/q5CXppZ5Zp6Kl9U

[@jamesm7649]

Man i feel bad for the guys that failed a checkride for not doing a brake check

[@SethLakeDPE]

Yeah, that's rough