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AviationLost procedures
The examiner tells you that you are lost: you find your position with the right method, keep a sensible heading and climb if needed, look for big landmarks, use the navigation systems or call ATC, and decide what to do. It is Task D of Area VI, Navigation, in the FAA Private Pilot Airman Certification Standards, the checkride every private pilot flies.
Free to startThe steps
- Use an appropriate method to determine your position.
- Keep an appropriate heading and climb as necessary.
- Identify prominent landmarks.
- Use the navigation systems and facilities, or contact an ATC facility for help.
- Select an appropriate course of action.
Safety rules that stop the station
- Any action, or lack of action, that makes the examiner step in to keep the flight safe is unsatisfactory.
- If you do not use sound aeronautical decision-making, including single-pilot resource management, the examiner marks the task as failed.
To pass
- Your position found with a sound method and a safe course of action chosen, with help from navigation or ATC when needed.
- Know the methods to find your position, the help available when lost such as radar services, and the risks of collision, distractions, not recording times over waypoints, and when to ask for help or declare an emergency.
- Missing the standard on this task fails the task and its area of operation.
Official source
Federal · FAA Private Pilot ACS
Private Pilot for Airplane Category Airman Certification Standards (FAA-S-ACS-6C)
The FAA publishes the Private Pilot Airman Certification Standards free: every task of the checkride with its knowledge, risks and tolerances.
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