I got this in my morning email from AOPA. I don't know what to make of it all. I have included the links to the AOPA article as well as to the FAA docs which are referenced. News from the FAA often scares me. I have no idea what all this means re new changes to folks looking to get their Instrument Rating, or for that matter, just their Private Pilot. I can't quite digest it all. Maybe some of the savy BCP CFI, CFII, etc. members can comment. Here are the links.

From AOPA:
" Changes to pilot testing and certification set for June "
https://www.aopa.org/News-and-Video/All-News/2016/February/23/Changes-to-pilot-testing-and-certification-set-for-June?WT.mc_id=160308fbonews&WT.mc_sect=nws

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“Revamping the testing and certification system has been a massive undertaking, but one that’s well worthwhile,” said David Oord, AOPA vice president of regulatory affairs and chairman of the working group. “Over time, the existing system has become dated. Taking the knowledge test should require a real understanding and comprehension of the information required and how it can affect your flying, rather than memorizing facts and answers to sample questions. The updated system addresses those problems and is designed to adapt as technology and the flying environment change. The new system also directly links both the knowledge and practical exams.”

From FAA
" What's New and Upcoming in Airman Testing (revised February 2016) "
https://www.faa.gov/training_testing/testing/media/whats_new_general.pdf

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ACS Implementation
•
The FAA intends to implement the Airman
Certification Standards (ACS) for Private Pilot
Airplane (PAR) and Instrument Rating Airplane (IRA) on June 15, 2016.
•
The Practical Test Standards (PTS) documents for PAR and IRA will be cancelled as of this
date.
•
The FAA and its industry partners in
the Airman Certification Standards Working Group (ACS
WG) will communicate details of the transition and implementation plan over the next few
months.
•
These details will include publication of the final ACS for PAR and IRA 60 to 90 days ahead of
the June 15,2016 effective date.
•
Please check this page frequently for updates, and keep a lookout for information published
by industry partners on the ACS Working Group.

Denali,

I see more positive than negative, at least in the hype about the coming changes. It looks like most of the PTS items will be retained but paired up with knowledge test items. It looks like the knowledge test items are what will change, which is very good. The old ones, based on most missed items, were just horrible specific test question memory torture that had no need to reflect anything on the practical test or now ACS.

We who have been in aviation many years understand the psychology of the FAA. This looks like an attempt to improve the knowledge test and flight test, now ACS, without loosing face. The fact that they had in no way been paired was embarrassing but when in government work, one does not admit error. The inclusion, in 2013, of both "accelerate in ground effect to Vx or Vy as appropriate," and allowing "no more than 1.3 Vso" on the stabilized approach were embarrassing. They had been teaching otherwise since the beginning of PTS in the 70s. More of the same needed to happen, but big changes would have been really embarrassing. This complete redoing of the knowledge test and paring it with the enhanced PTS, now called ACS, allows them to make needed changes without the embarrassment.

Contact

Denali,

I forgot the Instrument flight test, which is probably what you are worried about. Other than the NDB/ADF stuff, which I loved, and the much newer computer stuff, which while is better stuff I never got the hang of, what can change? If they pair the knowledge test and flight test; that is good. The procedural track is the procedural track. ATC, altitude, alternate minimums, ect., all of that stuff is locked in. The instrument test, both knowledge and flight, have always been the most fair. Because of the legality of IFR and the need to have everybody on the same page, they could never mess with our minds and retain questions only because they were most missed. With this test they always had to admit, not every pilot speaks nonsense.

Contact

I agree with both of Jim's posts. An overhaul of the PTS and especially the knowledge tests was long overdue. And, to their credit, the FAA included input from a number of professional flight instructors during the development of these new standards.

The down side is that it'll take a little while to "adjust" to the new standards, but in time, I think these standards will better fit the "real world" as we know it today.

MTV