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What’s New in Airman Testing: June 2025 Updates You Should Know

July 4, 2025/in News/by Flight Training Central Staff

Each quarter, the FAA releases an Airman Testing Community Advisory (ATCA), summarizing the latest changes and clarifications in testing and training standards. The June 2025 edition might not break any news headlines, but there are several important updates that flight instructors, students, and aviation educators should keep on their radar.

Video tip: How to determine the wind direction for takeoff and landing

July 2, 2025/in Video Tips/by Bret Koebbe

When departing or approaching an airport, it’s important that you choose a runway that allows you to takeoff or land into the wind. This week’s tip looks at some common wind direction indicators found on the ground at many airports, along with how to use the radio to tune into automated weather reporting systems.

What’s New in Airman Testing: June 2025 Updates You Should Know

July 4, 2025/in News/by Flight Training Central Staff

Video tip: How to determine the wind direction for takeoff and landing

July 2, 2025/in Video Tips/by Bret Koebbe

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

What’s New in Airman Testing: June 2025 Updates You Should Know

July 4, 2025/in News/by Flight Training Central Staff

Each quarter, the FAA releases an Airman Testing Community Advisory (ATCA), summarizing the latest changes and clarifications in testing and training standards. The June 2025 edition might not break any news headlines, but there are several important updates that flight instructors, students, and aviation educators should keep on their radar—especially as the new MOSAIC rule looms, and testing guidance continues to evolve.

Here are the highlights worth your attention:

MOSAIC Means Handbook Updates Are Coming

The FAA has prepped updated content for five essential handbooks in anticipation of the Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certification (MOSAIC) rule. Once the rule is officially published, these addendums will follow 90 days later:

Airplane Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-3C)
Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (FAA-H-8083-25C)
Weight-Shift-Control Aircraft Flying Handbook
Powered-Parachute Flying Handbook
Weight and Balance Handbook

These updates are designed to align with new aircraft certification categories and privileges introduced under MOSAIC, so check back later this summer for downloadable addendums.

Flight Instructor Test Questions Updated

In case you missed it, the FAA finalized changes last December to 14 CFR §61.197 and §61.199, modernizing recency of experience and reinstatement requirements for CFIs. In response, the FAA updated knowledge test questions to match the revised regs. These revised questions went live June 18, 2025.

ACS Codes Now on More Tests

The FAA continues its transition to a more transparent and structured knowledge testing system. As of this advisory, 31 of the 89 airman knowledge tests now feature ACS codes directly on the score report (AKTR). This allows applicants and instructors to easily tie missed questions back to specific standards—making post-test debriefs more actionable.

Other Notables

The FAA is removing the outdated Flying Light Twins Safely pamphlet from the ACS reference list and encouraging pilots to rely on the Airplane Flying Handbook for multiengine topics, especially Vmc.
Two new Sport Pilot helicopter knowledge exams (simplified flight controls) are coming, aligned with MOSAIC.
Sample tests offered through PSI are being upgraded with a better user interface and more representative content.

While these updates may seem incremental, they’re part of a broader effort to synchronize testing standards, study materials, and regulatory language across the board. As always, staying current—whether as a student or CFI—means keeping an eye on the details.

For a full copy of the June 2025 ATCA, visit FAA.gov/training_testing/testing.

Video tip: How to determine the wind direction for takeoff and landing

July 2, 2025/in Video Tips/by Bret Koebbe

When departing or approaching an airport, it’s important that you choose a runway that allows you to take off or land into the wind. This week’s tip looks at some common wind direction indicators found on the ground at many airports, along with how to use the radio to tune into automated weather reporting systems.