AA.VI.E.S2
Precision Approaches
What does AA.VI.E.S2 mean?
Establish two-way communications with air traffic control (ATC) appropriate for the phase of flight or approach segment, and use proper communication phraseology..
- Area of Operation
- VI. Instrument Procedures
- Task
- E. Precision Approaches
- Element type
- A Skill element — something you must physically demonstrate to your examiner on the practical test (checkride), not the written.
What you need to know
Precision approaches (like ILS) give you both lateral and vertical guidance down to a Decision Altitude/Decision Height, and the core skill being tested is disciplined execution: correctly tuning and identifying the navaid before relying on it, staying stabilized on speed, configuration, and descent rate throughout, and making a firm go/no-go decision at DA/DH based solely on what you can see. You must never continue descent below DA/DH without the required visual references in sight, and any deviation—whether from ATC instruction, deteriorating weather, an unstable approach, or a suspected instrument malfunction—demands prompt recognition and correction rather than pressing on. Good judgment also means catching unreasonable descent rates or automation misbehavior (autopilot/flight director not doing what you commanded) early, cross-checking raw data against automated displays, and being ready to hand-fly or go missed if things don't add up. Throughout, timely ATC communication and correct readbacks are expected as part of safely managing the approach, not just as a formality.
Why students miss this
Students often treat Decision Altitude/Height as a hard floor they can 'level off and look' at, when the real rule is a continuous decision: if the required visual reference isn't there exactly at DA/DH, the missed approach must already be underway, not started after a pause to check. A related trap is confusing DA/DH stabilization criteria with non-precision MDA logic, leading pilots to think brief descent below DA while searching for the runway is acceptable the way it sometimes gets rationalized at MDA.
Focus on: Drill the concept that at a precision approach's DA/DH, the missed approach is initiated at the moment of reaching that altitude unless the visual references are already clearly in sight, with no dip-and-look allowed.
Drill this area until it sticks
AA.VI.E.S2 came from a question you missed on the FAA Airline Transport Pilot Multiengine Airplane knowledge test. Drill ACS-aligned practice questions with AI explanations and the cited FAA handbook reference behind every answer — free to start.
Missing it isn't a verdict on you — it's a sign your prep skipped the why behind it. Memorizing answer letters is exactly what leaves gaps like this. Here, every answer explains the reasoning and cites the FAA source it comes from, so the concept holds on test day and at the checkride oral.
Study this concept
Plain-English explanations of the key ideas behind AA.VI.E.S2, grounded in the FAA handbooks.
Related ACS codes in E. Precision Approaches
Other elements the FAA tests under this same Task — review them together.
- AA.VI.E.R1Deviating from the assigned approach procedure.
- AA.VI.E.R2Selecting a navigation frequency.
- AA.VI.E.R3Management of automated navigation and autoflight systems.
- AA.VI.E.R4Aircraft configuration during an approach and missed approach.
- AA.VI.E.R5An unstable approach, including excessive descent rates.
- AA.VI.E.R6Deteriorating weather conditions on approach.
- AA.VI.E.R7Continuing to descend below the Decision Altitude (DA)/Decision Height (DH) when the required v…
- AA.VI.E.S1Accomplish the precision instrument approaches selected by the evaluator.
+ 12 more elements in this Task.
Common question
Is there any situation where a pilot can legally go below DA/DH without the runway environment in sight?
No — at DA/DH the pilot must have the required visual references to continue; if not, the missed approach must begin right at that altitude, not after descending further to check.
What is an FAA ACS code?
The FAA's Airman Certification Standards (ACS) break each certificate into Areas of Operation, Tasks, and specific Knowledge (K), Risk Management (R), and Skill (S) elements. Every knowledge-test question maps to one code like AA.VI.E.S2. When you miss a question, your Airman Knowledge Test Report lists its code so you know exactly what to review.
Have a whole list of codes from your report? Paste them all into our free ACS code lookup to see every weak area at once — or browse the aviation glossary for plain-English definitions.