Airman Certification Standards Companion Guide (ACS Companion Guide)
The ACS Companion Guide (FAA-G-ACS-2) explains how to use the Airman Certification Standards effectively. It is a meta-document that helps applicants, instructors, and evaluators understand the ACS format, coding system, and how knowledge, risk management, and skill elements are integrated into practical tests. It does not contain test standards itself but explains how to read and apply the ACS documents.
Why This Document Matters
If the ACS documents are the rulebook, this companion guide is the instructions for reading the rulebook. It explains the three-column ACS format (knowledge, risk management, skills), how to decode ACS task codes, what the evaluator is looking for during each element, and how the knowledge test maps to specific ACS codes. For CFI candidates, this guide is especially valuable because it explains how to use the ACS as a teaching framework and how to interpret Learning Statement Codes from knowledge test results.
Chapter-by-Chapter Guide
What each section covers and the key topics to study
1Understanding the ACS Format
How to read ACS documents including the three-column format and task coding system.
Understanding the ACS Format
How to read ACS documents including the three-column format and task coding system.
Key Topics
2Using the ACS for Training and Testing
How instructors and applicants should use the ACS throughout training and test preparation.
Using the ACS for Training and Testing
How instructors and applicants should use the ACS throughout training and test preparation.
Key Topics
Study Tips
- Read this guide before diving into any ACS document — it saves time by explaining the structure and coding system so you know exactly what each element means.
- Use the knowledge test code correlation to understand which ACS areas your knowledge test missed questions map to. This helps target your study for weak areas before the checkride.
- CFI candidates: understand how the DPE uses the ACS to structure the checkride. Each task has specific knowledge, risk management, and skill elements that must be evaluated.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the ACS Companion Guide a testing standard?
No. The companion guide explains how to use the ACS documents — it does not contain test standards itself. The actual standards are in the certificate-specific ACS documents (Private Pilot ACS, Instrument Rating ACS, Commercial Pilot ACS, CFI ACS).
What are Learning Statement Codes?
Learning Statement Codes (LSCs) appear on your knowledge test report and correspond to specific ACS elements. They tell you exactly which knowledge areas you missed, allowing you to focus your study on weak areas before the practical test. The ACS Companion Guide explains how to decode these codes.
Quick Facts
- Document ID
- FAA-G-ACS-2
- Last Updated
- 2023
- Cost
- Free
- Publisher
- FAA
Applies To
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Related Documents
Private Pilot ACS
FAA-S-ACS-6CPrivate Pilot Airman Certification Standards - Airplane
Instrument ACS
FAA-S-ACS-8CInstrument Rating Airman Certification Standards - Airplane
Commercial ACS
FAA-S-ACS-7BCommercial Pilot Airman Certification Standards - Airplane
CFI ACS
FAA-S-ACS-25Flight Instructor for Airplane Category Airman Certification Standards
LSC Guide
N/ALearning Statement Reference Guide
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Airman Certification Standards Companion Guide (FAA-G-ACS-2) is an official FAA publication available at FAA.gov
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