Instrument Pilot ACS Review - Part 1

This is part 1 of at least a 3 part series on the Instrument Pilot ACS. Join me as I take a deep dive into the ACS from an examiner's perspective and discuss how I use this document to conduct an instrument checkride. If you plan to take your instrument practical test soon, you don't want to miss this!
/ vslaviation
vsl.aero

[@jeff5697]

Just passed my IR ride! Thanks for all the help along the way!

[@SethLakeDPE]

Congratulations! Glad I could help!

[@soloexcavation9887]

I don’t know what it is Seth. you really simplify a critical path of development for study strategy . Thanks I think it’s because you’re really interested in sharing knowledge, instead of just being an examiner… good job

[@SethLakeDPE]

Thank you so much for the kind words. And yes, I really do love to share knowledge and have a genuine love of teaching and communicating. Thank you!

[@danielh2553]

Hi Seth, I just passed my private pilot check ride over the weekend. The examiner kept asking me “who told you that?” during the oral portion. He said I had a much deeper comprehension and preparation than his average private pilot candidate. Much credit goes to you and your channel, so thank you!!

[@SethLakeDPE]

Congratulations! That's great to hear. The whole goal of mine when I started this was to help guys do better on their checkride and it's good to hear from people when that happens. Best of luck in your future flying!

[@WalidFeghali]

Am I the only one who thinks the longer these are from Seth, the better? :) Thanks so much, great stuff!

[@SethLakeDPE]

You're welcome!

[@craggslist]

Hey Seth!! Thanks for the support during my commute! It helped me pass my checkride earlier today! I can't wait to hear what you have to say about Commercial

[@SethLakeDPE]

Great!

[@stevelawson7635]

I'll begin my instrument training in September. No doubt these videos will be a valuable resource. Thank you for taking the time to produce and share!!

[@SethLakeDPE]

That's awesome to hear! Best of luck with your training!

[@aramelmi1020]

What an amazing review Very thoughtful of you for spending the time to prepare and for sharing this

[@SethLakeDPE]

Thank you for the kind words and for watching!

[@thehardhustlers]

Can't explain how much I needed this. By far the best prep I've come across on KZbin. Thank you!

[@SethLakeDPE]

Great to hear!

[@JulioAlarcon-vl2ps]

my check ride will be soon , thank you so much

[@KenMuenster]

Excellent information and review Seth, thank you as I prepare for my instrument check ride.

[@SethLakeDPE]

Glad it was helpful!

[@pilotrachie3777]

Can you share your journey to becoming a DPE? That’s a career goal of mine and it’s impressive how you did it so young!

[@SethLakeDPE]

Good idea, I might do that someday.

[@patmcinteer7933]

I do some instructing and I'm thrilled to have these and your private pilot prep videos for my students. I've watched them all as well and learned a few things that'll make me a better instructor. Every student should review these multiple times preparing for check ride!

[@SethLakeDPE]

Thanks for taking the time to watch and I'm so glad you found it useful!

[@Superxpninja]

This series is great.I did my initial instrument check ride with you. As an instructor I’m so glad you’re making these! I will be sending these to my instrument students. Also if possible I would like one of your custom ACS documents!

[@SethLakeDPE]

I'm so glad you found the helpful! I'm working on making the custom ACS documents available to anyone who wants them. More to follow soon! Thank you so much for taking the time to watch!

[@linus1]

@@SethLakeDPE Hey Seth! Is the custom ACS document available yet?

[@davidrivera7069]

I've been watching your videos since my private (passed on the first try). I am preparing to IFR. Do you have those ACS available? thank you

[@dawsonpocock6821]

Working on my instrument right now. Great resource! Thank you!

[@SethLakeDPE]

You're welcome!

[@michaelwilliamsd.o.5006]

YOUR SERIES IS SO GREAT! THANK YOU. BEING SAFE IS THE BOTTOM LINE.

[@SethLakeDPE]

Safety is paramount!

[@aviationstartupco]

Nice man, taking my instrument check ride Friday. Appreciate you putting this together, it helps a ton to understand the logic behind questions DPEs ask, from a DPE.

[@SethLakeDPE]

Happy to help!

[@aviationstartupco]

@@SethLakeDPE BTW I passed the checkride. Thanks again!

[@earnedwings5206]

Thank you Seth this was very helpful. I’m working on my instrument rating, and have started it twice now as worked pulled me away but I’m on it steady again. I should be ready for my practical exam in roughly a month. Please keep up the great videos! Best wishes and safe flying!

[@SethLakeDPE]

Best of luck on your training, the instrument rating is a tough one but very satisfying to complete!

[@earnedwings5206]

@@SethLakeDPE thank you very much!

[@richa4425]

Seth, thanks for sharing your content. I like how you structured it in a logical military manner vice being scattered like some CFIs that possibly don't know the material well. Going through the ACS has been for me difficult to understand but your explanations help. I was pass on to friends

[@SethLakeDPE]

Thank you for the feedback, glad you found it helpful!

[@LifeWithMatteo]

Amazing. I can’t believe we have access to this. Thank you! Checkride march 19th. This makes me feel more prepared

[@SethLakeDPE]

How did it go?

[@LifeWithMatteo]

@@SethLakeDPE The examiner had to cancel his trip down to FL for some reason, and my school or myself haven’t rescheduled one yet. But thanks for asking, i plan to study your videos to keep the knowledge fresh

[@Nick-wv9hu]

Im really looking forward to part 2 and 3. My check ride is in 4 days and i find these videos are very helpful.

[@SethLakeDPE]

Glad you find them helpful. The Holidays got in the way of part two for a couple of days. Good luck on your checkride, I'm sure you'll do great!

[@Nick-wv9hu]

@@SethLakeDPE thanks I passed I'm working on my commercial now I'd love for you to do some commercial videos if you get time

[@SethLakeDPE]

@@Nick-wv9hu great to hear! Commercial is up next in just a few weeks!

[@sreback]

Already listened to the podcast, and going through it again on KZbin. Studying for my IR checkride, not yet scheduled. Also hoping to get a look at your custom ACS.

[@SethLakeDPE]

Working on the custom ACS still. It will be available very soon.

[@karinabos9196]

Thanks Seth!! Subscribed!!

[@SethLakeDPE]

Thanks!

[@samueal7608]

​ @Seth Lake GREAT VIDEO! Encouraging to see DPE's with such a passion for aviation. When its ready would like your custom ACS. Thank you!

[@SethLakeDPE]

Thanks for feedback! I will let you know when they are available. I’m hoping it will be done in the next month or two.

[@Tatumthornton]

Thank you!!!!!

[@timhoke2]

Wow! Seth this is so helpful. I scored very high on my knowledge exam in December, but life got real busy and I was not able to complete the practical part. So, beginning this coming December, I plan to fly every day that I can and get ready for the check ride. I'm pretty sure my CFII will not let me take the flying part until I am ready, but the oral part brings great fear to me. As a DPE, your excellent teaching and tips will help me pass the oral part. Thanks!!!

[@camodrums]

How did you study for the written?

[@timhoke2]

@@camodrums I used King and Rod Machado. Then I went through Sheppard Air. Sheppard Air is GREAT for the written test questions (almost exact and I scored a 97). However, Sheppard is not that good for really UNDERSTANDING the concepts. They strongly recommend getting a ground school study. If you want to pass the written exam, definitely use Sheppard Air. If you want to actually understand the material, get King, Machado, or another of your choice. Now I am boning up for the oral part of the checkride. So, I've gone back through King and and looking at lots of KZbin videos. Learn the Sheppard Air material the way they say and you will pass the written exam. Hope this helps.

[@ajace595]

Thank you for this video series. I find it so helpful to see the thought path that leads to specific questions coming up. Do you have an update on making your annotated ACS document available?

[@SethLakeDPE]

Thank you for the feedback! I'm glad you found it helpful. I have made some progress on the ACS and will release a video when they are ready for folks to get copies of. Thanks for the interest!

[@kkcvicurn]

Very helpful. I start the 10 day IR course in 6 weeks.

[@SethLakeDPE]

Best of luck!

[@Flywith_los]

This is awesome to watch! Love your videos. Do you have a Custom ACS to follow?

[@SethLakeDPE]

Yes, the ACE Guide is available in the store now. Just check the channel.

[@flogsbymm]

This is gold

[@flogsbymm]

Instrument check ride scheduled march 21st, 2022

[@SethLakeDPE]

Best of luck! Please let me know if you found this series useful!

[@mianatwood]

Subscribed!

[@SethLakeDPE]

👍

[@williamforbes9684]

great material! Due to take my ride soon, where can I get a copy of your custom ACS???

[@SethLakeDPE]

Thanks! Soon the will be available. Stay tuned!

[@nelsonbrandt7847]

I like the idea of using IFR circling minimums as personal minimums.

[@SethLakeDPE]

Great!

[@masterswitchaviation]

What was the link for the Digital ACS that you showed on your screen? I can only find a PDF version and it doesn't have the info below the tables like yours did.

[@SethLakeDPE]

The ACS I use is a custom document I've created. You can purchase one on my website or on my KZbin store.

[@ahlamjallaq9158]

Hey Seth! Was wondering if your annotated ACS document is available yet?

[@SethLakeDPE]

Yes! The ACE Document is on the Shopify store now! Checkout the channel to purchase it.

[@kagehardy5596]

I would love the links for task B weather information ❤ I copied everything down into my ACS for the first page and now will take you up on your offer for the links :) thanks I owe you big!

[@SethLakeDPE]

The first version of the ACS is done and I will be uploading it to a Patreon. I'll make an announcement when I'm ready to go live with it.

[@diaryrecorded5524]

@@SethLakeDPE I dont see a link to your patreon... thanks for helping me with all this homework I feel like its never ending how much information there is to cram into my tiny brain thanks again

[@diaryrecorded5524]

@@SethLakeDPE I searched on Patreon for Seth Lake and I also searched VSL and there was less than 20 creators that came up in my search and I couldn't find you.

[@TurboJenkins]

Do you have any media pages, or live streams where we can pay to get questions answered?

[@SethLakeDPE]

Not yet, but I plan on starting a weekly live stream AMA. Stay tuned to the channel for updates!

[@TurboJenkins]

@@SethLakeDPE yes sir, looking forward to it!

[@Tyleraviator99]

I would love it if you do one for commercial

[@SethLakeDPE]

Coming soon!

[@Tyleraviator99]

@@SethLakeDPE do you know approximately when it will come?

[@charlesgaston3295]

I would really like a custom ACS document. I am going to take my instrument check ride in the next month or so. I am based in Camden Ar.

[@SethLakeDPE]

Ok, I'm putting some finishing touches on it and will let you know when it's available.

[@charlesgaston3295]

@@SethLakeDPE Thank you, all this is awesome.

[@refutedbeans7624]

@@SethLakeDPE could you please let me know as well?

[@SethLakeDPE]

Will do

[@CJNY-nl4hx]

@@SethLakeDPE Interested in the custom ACS Doc...My Checkride is July 12th

[@forrestmunden8306]

Thoughts on students flying barefoot? I’ve been flying barefoot for months but my DPE said it was unprofessional. I just fly better without shoes on lol.

[@SethLakeDPE]

I like very thin soled shoes. Sperry makes some good ones and here lately I've been using the brand Xero which is very thin. I would avoid going barefoot for safety reasons. But I also would avoid heavy footwear such as work boots.

[@thehardhustlers]

Can't explain how much I needed this. By far the best prep I've come across on KZbin. Thank you!

[@SethLakeDPE]

👍