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It outlines revision timelines and compliance expectations for Sport Pilot Practical Test Standards and Airman Certification Standards effective October 22, 2025, including transitions from “A” to “B” versions. It also covers updates to reference materials, including the replacement of the Helicopter Instructor’s Handbook content, and announces practical test bank changes and guidance updates for Aviation Mechanic programs.",{"@graph":14,"@context":73},[15,34,56],{"@type":16,"itemListElement":17},"BreadcrumbList",[18,23,27,31],{"item":19,"name":20,"@type":21,"position":22},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",1,{"item":24,"name":25,"@type":21,"position":26},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/","Document",2,{"item":28,"name":29,"@type":21,"position":30},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/research-report/","Research & Report",3,{"item":32,"name":10,"@type":21,"position":33},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/april-2026-edition-airman-testing-community-advisory/319733/",4,{"url":32,"name":10,"@type":35,"image":36,"author":41,"headline":10,"publisher":44,"fileFormat":47,"inLanguage":8,"description":12,"dateModified":48,"datePublished":49,"encodingFormat":47,"isAccessibleForFree":50,"interactionStatistic":51},"DigitalDocument",{"url":37,"@type":38,"width":39,"height":40},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/april-2026-edition-airman-testing-community-advisory/319733.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":42,"@type":43},"Mali","Person",{"url":19,"name":45,"@type":46},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-11-13","2026-09-20",true,{"@type":52,"interactionType":53,"userInteractionCount":55},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":54},"ViewAction",14,{"@type":57,"mainEntity":58},"FAQPage",[59,65,69],{"name":60,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":62},"What is the purpose of the Airman Testing Community Advisory (ATCA)?","Question",{"text":63,"@type":64},"ATCA provides an additional channel for change-management communications to stakeholders and supports correlation of training and testing for an effective certification process.","Answer",{"name":66,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":67},"What changed for Sport Pilot PTS and ACS effective October 22, 2025?",{"text":68,"@type":64},"Evaluators, instructors, and applicants must comply with updates to Title 14 CFR chapter 1, subchapter D, part 61 effective October 22, 2025, regardless of the PTS version being used. “A” versions may be used until the “B” versions become effective, but outdated standards and information in the “A” versions must be replaced with the new rule requirements.",{"name":70,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":71},"What reference material update is described for FAA-H-8083-4?",{"text":72,"@type":64},"FAA-H-8083-4, Helicopter Instructor’s Handbook (published in 2012), is no longer necessary because its content is redundant with FAA-H-8083-21B, Helicopter Flying Handbook (published in 2019). FAA-H-8083-21B is identified as the primary source used by CFIs and students.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":32,"og:type":75,"og:title":10,"og:site_name":45,"og:description":12},"article",{"robots":77,"canonical":32},"index,follow",{"doc_id":79,"site_id":7},319733,1790100563,{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":83},"success",[84,88,92,96,101,106,111,115,120,123,127],{"id":22,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":85,"show_sort_weight":86,"slug":87},"Story & Novel",90,"story-novel",{"id":26,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":89,"show_sort_weight":90,"slug":91},"Literature",80,"literature",{"id":33,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":93,"show_sort_weight":94,"slug":95},"Exam",70,"exam",{"id":97,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":98,"show_sort_weight":99,"slug":100},5,"Comic",60,"comic",{"id":102,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":103,"show_sort_weight":104,"slug":105},6,"Technology",50,"technology",{"id":107,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":108,"show_sort_weight":109,"slug":110},7,"Healthcare",40,"healthcare",{"id":112,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":29,"show_sort_weight":113,"slug":114},8,30,"research-report",{"id":116,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":117,"show_sort_weight":118,"slug":119},9,"Religion & Spirituality",20,"religion-spirituality",{"id":118,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":121,"show_sort_weight":118,"slug":122},"World Cup","world-cup",{"id":124,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":125,"show_sort_weight":124,"slug":126},10,"Lifestyle","lifestyle",{"id":128,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":129,"show_sort_weight":97,"slug":130},19,"General","general",{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":132},{"doc_id":79,"user_id":133,"nickname":42,"user_avatar":134,"doc_module":4,"category_id":112,"category_name":29,"doc_title":10,"doc_description":12,"doc_content":135,"file_id":136,"file_url":137,"file_type":138,"file_size":139,"view_count":55,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":22,"is_downloadable":22,"audit_status":22,"page_count":140,"language":141,"language_code":8,"site_id":7,"html_lang":8,"table_of_contents":142,"faqs":143,"seo_title":144,"seo_description":12,"update_tm":145,"read_time":113,"preview_page_count":4},2336475104362,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/avatar/22000c4c46a41b752dd?x-image-process=image/resize,m_fixed,w_180,h_180&k=1786595829695023868","April 2026 Edition  \nThe Airman Testing Community Advisory (ATCA) is produced by the General Aviation and Commercial Division, Training and Certification Group, Testing Standards Section (TSS), which is the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) office responsible for practical test and airman certification standards, certification testing programs, and supporting reference materials. The purpose of this advisory is to provide an additional channel for change management communications to our stakeholders and to support correlation of training and testing for an effective certification process.  \nStakeholder Communications  \nYou are encouraged to submit questions and comments regarding our products and services by emailing us at: [TestingStandardsComments@faa.gov](TestingStandardsComments@faa.gov). (This email address replaces the previous [afs630comments@faa.gov](afs630comments@faa.gov) email address. )  \nPlease continue to email comments related to Practical Test Standards (PTS) and Airman Certification Standards (ACS) [to](to acsptsinquiries@faa.gov)[ ](to acsptsinquiries@faa.gov)[acsptsinquiries@faa.gov](to acsptsinquiries@faa.gov).  \nFrequently Asked Questions (FAQ)  \nThe latest version of the Testing Standards Section Frequently Asked Questions document is available at this link: Frequently Asked Questions.  \nStandards  \nSport Pilot Practical Test Standards (PTS)  \nFAA-S-8081-29A, Sport Pilot and Flight Instructors with a Sport Pilot Rating PTS for Airplane Category, Rotorcraft Category Gyroplane, and Glider Category; FAA-S-8081-30A, Sport Pilot and Flight Instructors with a Sport Pilot Rating PTS for Lighter-Than-Air Category; and FAA-S-8081-31A, Sport Pilot and Flight Instructors with a Sport Pilot Rating PTS for Powered Parachute Category and Weight-Shift-Control Aircraft Category are in the process of being revised to harmonize with Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certificate (MOSAIC) and will be posted to our website as soon as possible after October 22, 2025.  \nIt is the expectation that Evaluators, Instructors, and Applicants comply with changes to Title 14 CFR chapter 1, subchapter D, part 61, effective October 22, 2025, regardless of the Sport Pilot and Flight Instructors with a Sport Pilot Rating PTS version being used.  \nEvaluators, instructors, and applicants can continue to use FAA-S-8081-29A, FAA-S-8081-30A, and FAA-S- 8081-31A until the updated versions, FAA-S-8081-29B, FAA-S-8081-30B, and FAA-S-8081-31B, become effective. However, they must replace any outdated standards and information in the \"A\" versions with the most current standards and information from the new rule, which takes effect on October 22, 2025.  \nReference Materials  \nThe TSS continually evaluates our internal processes for developing, revising, and maintaining reference materials to ensure programmatic efficiencies and increased agility in keeping pace with advancements in aviation safety and technologies.  \nFAA-H-8083-4, Helicopter Instructor’s Handbook  \nThe FAA determined that FAA-H-8083-4, Helicopter Instructor’s Handbook, published in 2012, is no longer necessary. The content of this handbook is entirely redundant, as the same concepts are already contained in FAA-H-8083-21B, Helicopter Flying Handbook, published in 2019. FAA-H-8083-21B is the primary source used by certified flight instructors (CFI) and students for teaching and learning helicopter ground and flight concepts.  \nThree Airman Knowledge Test Questions (AKTQ) currently reference FAA-H-8083-4 . One question was revised and assigned a different reference, and two questions were unchanged, with the FAA-H-8083-4 reference replaced by another valid reference. These changes took effect on April 27, 2026, as part of the quarterly cycle update.  \nAviation Maintenance Technician (AMT)  \nDesignated Mechanic Examiner (DME) Communications  \nDMEs interested in contributing real-world maintenance expertise to improve the practical test should contact [the TSS Airworthiness Te","cbCaieMq7TkUGPVx","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaieMq7TkUGPVx","pdf",804244,12,"English","# Stakeholder Communications\n# Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)\n# Standards\n## Sport Pilot Practical Test Standards (PTS)\n# Reference Materials\n## Helicopter Instructor’s Handbook\n# Aviation Maintenance Technician (AMT)\n# Practical Test Banks Updates\n## Aviation Mechanic General (AMG)\n## Minimum Tools and Equipment List (MTEL) Updates","[{\"question\":\"What is the purpose of the Airman Testing Community Advisory (ATCA)?\",\"answer\":\"ATCA provides an additional channel for change-management communications to stakeholders and supports correlation of training and testing for an effective certification process.\"},{\"question\":\"What changed for Sport Pilot PTS and ACS effective October 22, 2025?\",\"answer\":\"Evaluators, instructors, and applicants must comply with updates to Title 14 CFR chapter 1, subchapter D, part 61 effective October 22, 2025, regardless of the PTS version being used. “A” versions may be used until the “B” versions become effective, but outdated standards and information in the “A” versions must be replaced with the new rule requirements.\"},{\"question\":\"What reference material update is described for FAA-H-8083-4?\",\"answer\":\"FAA-H-8083-4, Helicopter Instructor’s Handbook (published in 2012), is no longer necessary because its content is redundant with FAA-H-8083-21B, Helicopter Flying Handbook (published in 2019). FAA-H-8083-21B is identified as the primary source used by CFIs and students.\"}]","April 2026 Edition - Airman Testing Community Advisory | PDF",1789946680]