Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Pilotage & Dead Reckoning Lesson Plan

Commercial Pilot (Airplane) • ACS Area VI, Task A

The Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Pilotage and Dead Reckoning Lesson Plan covers the knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with pilotage and dead reckoning.

Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Pilotage & Dead Reckoning Lesson Plan

Introduction

  • Schedule

    Topic:
    Time:
    Part 1, Introduction:
    0:05
    Part 2, Pilotage and Dead Reckoning:
    0:45
    Part 3, Pilotage and Dead Reckoning Risk Management:
    0:15
    Part 4, Pilotage and Dead Reckoning Guided Scenario(s):
    0:30
    Part 5, Conclude Lesson:
    0:10
    Remotivation/Closure:
    0:05
    Total Ground Time:
    0:00

  • Attention Getter:

    • Research and present a mishap case study:
    • Discuss how the initial conditions developed into an incident/accident/mishap.
    • Relate similar personal experiences of the same type of incident/accident/mishap.
    • Consider incorporating a case study as a guided scenario.

  • Motivator:

    • Flight planning is the process in which a pilot prepares for an upcoming flight
    • It is a descriptive process therefore involving more than one type of navigation.
    • If no wind information is available, plan using statistical winds, make them headwinds to be conservative in your fuel planning
    • Course: is pre-flight
    • Track: is flown
    • Charts are all "true" as in true north and must be compensated to find magnetic north
    • Include the following:
      • Diverts (direction and channels/frequencies)
    • Checkpoints:
      • Check points should be set approximately 10 NM (nautical miles) apart
      • Your first checkpoint should be Top of Climb (TOC) and the last should be Top of Descent (TOD)

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Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Pilotage & Dead Reckoning Lesson Plan

Materials

Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Pilotage & Dead Reckoning Lesson Plan

Instructor Actions

  • Before the lesson, review reference materials.
  • Part 1, Introduce the lesson:
    • Review the lesson plan, including the attention and motivator.
    • Review the airman certification standards (ACS).
    • Use an aircraft- or scenario-specific example, then have the learner explain that pilotage and dead reckoning provide independent navigation skills that support sound position awareness and verification of electronic navigation.
  • Part 2, Pilotage and Dead Reckoning:
    • Elicit prior knowledge, then establish the operational relevance of pilotage and dead reckoning. (CA.VI.A.K1)
    • Use an aircraft- or scenario-specific example, then have the learner explain magnetic compass errors and their effect on navigation. (CA.VI.A.K2)
    • Interpret topography and relate terrain features, obstructions, and charted information to route selection and position verification. (CA.VI.A.K3)
    • Use an aircraft- or scenario-specific example, then have the learner explain selection of an appropriate route, altitude or altitudes, and checkpoints, including terrain, obstacles, airspace, glide capability, weather, and checkpoint visibility. (CA.VI.A.K4, CA.VI.A.K4a, CA.VI.A.K4b, CA.VI.A.K4c)
    • Demonstrate plotting a course, including determining heading, speed, and course; calculating wind-correction angle; estimating time, speed, and distance; and accounting for true airspeed and density altitude. (CA.VI.A.K5, CA.VI.A.K5a, CA.VI.A.K5b, CA.VI.A.K5c, CA.VI.A.K5d)
    • Use an aircraft- or scenario-specific example, then have the learner explain power-setting selection and its relationship to planned performance, groundspeed, time, and fuel consumption. (CA.VI.A.K6)
    • Compare planned calculations with actual flight results and determine the corrections required for wind, groundspeed, elapsed time, course, and fuel consumption. (CA.VI.A.K7)
    • Use guided questioning to have the learner explain and apply flight-planning and navigation tools.
    • Use guided questioning to have the learner explain and apply common pilotage and dead-reckoning errors.
    • Discuss Pilotage and Dead Reckoning airman certification standards.
    • Use guided questioning to have the learner explain and apply case studies.
  • Part 3, Pilotage and Dead Reckoning Risk Management:
    • Have the learner identify and mitigate collision hazards while navigating by outside visual references, including traffic, terrain, obstacles, and reduced visual scanning during chart or flight-log use. (CA.VI.A.R1)
    • Manage distractions, prioritize tasks, preserve situational awareness, and recognize conditions that may cause disorientation while navigating. (CA.VI.A.R2)
    • Monitor and mitigate unplanned fuel or power consumption by comparing planned values with actual groundspeed, elapsed time, power setting, and fuel used. (CA.VI.A.R3)
  • Part 4, Pilotage and Dead Reckoning Guided Scenario(s):
    • Lead the guided scenario.
    • Require the learner to prepare and use a flight log for the planned route. (CA.VI.A.S1)
    • Require the learner to navigate by pilotage using suitable outside visual references. (CA.VI.A.S2)
    • Require the learner to navigate using precomputed headings, groundspeeds, elapsed time, and landmarks or checkpoints. (CA.VI.A.S3)
    • Require the learner to use the magnetic direction indicator in navigation, including turns to headings. (CA.VI.A.S4)
    • Require the learner to verify the airplane’s position within two nautical miles of the flight-planned route. (CA.VI.A.S5)
    • Require the learner to arrive at en route checkpoints within three minutes of the initial or revised estimated time of arrival and provide a destination estimate. (CA.VI.A.S6)
    • Require the learner to maintain the selected altitude within ±100 feet and heading within ±10°. (CA.VI.A.S7)
  • Part 5, Conclude Lesson:
    • Tie lesson back to previous lessons to reinforce past experiences (law of readiness).
    • Present the remotivation, conclude, and provide guidance for follow-on lessons.
    • Review student actions required ahead of the next lesson.
  • Update the instructor log and student progress. Select the student and sign off completed objectives. If the student does not have a connected account, record the update manually in the instructor log and student training record.
Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Pilotage & Dead Reckoning Lesson Plan

Guided Scenario(s)

Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Pilotage & Dead Reckoning Lesson Plan

Student Actions

Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Pilotage & Dead Reckoning Lesson Plan

Airman Certification Standards

Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Pilotage and Dead Reckoning Airman Certification Standards

Knowledge 7 ACS Elements
  • CA.VI.A.K1:
    Pilotage and dead reckoning.
  • CA.VI.A.K2:
    Magnetic compass errors.
  • CA.VI.A.K3:
    Topography.
  • CA.VI.A.K4:
    Selection of appropriate:
    • CA.VI.A.K4a:
      Route.
    • CA.VI.A.K4b:
      Altitude(s).
    • CA.VI.A.K4c:
      Checkpoints.
  • CA.VI.A.K5:
    Plotting a course, including:
  • CA.VI.A.K6:
    Power setting selection.
  • CA.VI.A.K7:
    Planned versus actual flight plan calculations and required corrections.
Risk Management 3 ACS Elements
Skills 7 ACS Elements
  • CA.VI.A.S1:
    Prepare and use a flight log.
  • CA.VI.A.S2:
    Navigate by pilotage.
  • CA.VI.A.S3:
    Navigate by means of pre-computed headings, groundspeeds, elapsed time, and reference to landmarks or checkpoints.
  • CA.VI.A.S4:
    Use the magnetic direction indicator in navigation, including turns to headings.
  • CA.VI.A.S5:
    Verify position within three nautical miles of the flight-planned route.
  • CA.VI.A.S6:
    Arrive at the en route checkpoints within five minutes of the initial or revised estimated time of arrival (ETA) and provide a destination estimate.
  • CA.VI.A.S7:
    Maintain the selected altitude ±100 feet and heading ±10°.
Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Pilotage & Dead Reckoning Lesson Plan

Conclusion

  • Re-Motivation:

    • Pilotage and Dead Reckoning connects careful preflight planning with the continuous awareness needed to keep the aircraft, route, fuel, weather, and available alternatives aligned.
    • Using multiple navigation references and verifying position, performance, and changing conditions helps pilots detect errors before they narrow available options.
    • Timely communication, workload management, and a willingness to revise the plan turn navigation knowledge into practical aeronautical decision-making.
    • Further practice with Pilotage and Dead Reckoning prepares commercial pilots for longer, less familiar, and more operationally complex flights.

  • Closure:

    • The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) provides test-taking guidance and test guides on its website.
    • To learn more about preparing for the practical test, visit the checkride page.
    • Advise students that this lesson will be used as a starting point for the next lesson.
    • Assign study materials for the next lesson.