Commercial Pilot (CASEL) Practical Test Planning

Airman Certification Standards (ACS) The practical test will be based on the Airman Certification Standards (ACS) FAA-S-ACS-7B.

In addition to reviewing the main contents of the ACS, we also recommend reviewing: Appendix 1: Practical Test Roles, Responsibilities, and Outcomes.

Additional Information/Notes:

  • Your examiner's flying weight is 180 pounds.

  • Any resource items you deem helpful may be brought to the test as reference material.

  • You may utilize paper charts and reference materials or an EFB at your discretion.

  • For cross-country planning, if a destination airport is not specified in the scenario, you may select any airport in proximity to the area specified.

  • If the assigned cross-country scenario is a round trip, you only need to plan for one-way.

  • All performance data and weight and balance calculations for the given scenario and our local flight should be complete prior to arriving for the practical test.

  • A “standard” weather briefing for the assigned scenario should be completed and available for reference during the test.

  • Do not hesitate to contact us should you have any questions or need additional information.

Flight Scenarios Please select and plan for ONE of the following scenarios for your evaluation:

Note for Added Ratings: If you are taking this practical test to add a Single-Engine rating to an existing Commercial Pilot certificate, a pre-planned cross-country scenario is not required per the ACS. You do not need to prepare a scenario from the list below.

  • Scenario 1 (KAVL): You have been hired by a local businessperson to fly them and two associates to a meeting near Midcoast regional airport (KLHW). You will be flying the client’s airplane. The primary client is 105 pounds and the two other passengers are each 180 pounds. The primary client has requested to sit in the backseat to discuss the details of the meeting with one of their associates. Each passenger will be bringing a bag weighing 15 pounds.

  • Scenario 2 (KAVL): You have been hired by a local aerial photography company to fly one of their airplanes for a photo shoot. The client will be providing the airplane for this job. A camera operator will be located in the right seat and an observer will be in the back. The camera operator weighs 180 pounds and the observer weighs 190 pounds. You will fly the team of company employees to the photo shoot site in Wilmington, NC. The photo shoot site is about 10 miles west of Wilmington and the shoot will take about 45 minutes once on site. The company has asked to be at the photo shoot site by 0900 for the best possible light. The airplane has 45 pounds of photo equipment in the baggage area.

  • Scenario 3 (KAVL or Other Location): Create your own commercial scenario. You have been hired for a job of your choosing (e.g., aerial survey, transporting a VIP, or a specific cargo run) to a destination at least 120 nautical miles away. Define your passenger or cargo weights and plan the flight as a professional commercial pilot. You will be flying an airplane provided by the client. Ensure you clearly outline the reason for the trip, passengers/cargo and weights, baggage distribution, and any specific issues you planned around.