Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Airworthiness Requirements Lesson Plan

Use oral questions, scenario decisions, and aircraft-specific walkthroughs to verify the objectives below. Apply the current Commercial Pilot Airplane ACS and aircraft limitations; this review does not replace commercial maneuver standards or instructor assessment.

• CA.I.B.K1: Distinguish 91 209 requirement and safety exception from engine running recommendation.
• CA.I.B.K1: Identify required position light period including alaska alternative.
• CA.I.B.K1: Identify operative lighting required by 91 205.
• CA.I.B.K1a: Explain effect of aircraft damage on registration.
• CA.I.B.K1a: State aircraft registration validity period.

• Review the lesson plan, including the attention-getter and motivator.
• Review the airman certification standards (ACS).

• Define airworthiness and explain the general airworthiness requirements, compliance responsibilities, and process used to determine airworthiness. (CA.I.B.K1)
• Use retrieval questioning to have the learner explain the roles and responsibilities of the owner and operator, assuming they are not the same individual or entity.
• Review the documents required for an aircraft to be considered airworthy.
  • Use retrieval questioning to have the learner explain airworthiness documents in the context of the acronym "ARROW" or "airworthiness certificate, registration certificate, radio station license, operating handbook, and weight and balance."
  • Contrast the responsibilities for maintaining airworthiness and determining airworthiness.

• Locate and review the required aircraft certificates and documents—the airworthiness certificate, registration certificate, radio station license when required, operating handbook, and current weight-and-balance information—including their required location and validity or expiration. (PA.I.B.K1a)
• Discuss the registration certificate:
  • Use retrieval questioning to have the learner explain how registration applies to airworthiness requirements.
  • Use retrieval questioning to have the learner explain registration certificate eligibility, issuance, and validity.
  • Use retrieval questioning to have the learner explain the location and expiration of registration certificates.
  • Use retrieval questioning to have the learner explain what to do if missing, including how to replace and what qualifies as a replacement.
• Review airworthiness certificates:
  • Use retrieval questioning to have the learner explain special airworthiness certificates/special flight permits.
  • Use retrieval questioning to have the learner explain supplemental type certificates.
  • Use retrieval questioning to have the learner explain the location and expiration of airworthiness certificates.
• Review the Pilot Operating Handbook:
  • Use retrieval questioning to have the learner explain the difference between PIM and POH (Pilot's Operating Handbook) and AFM.
  • Use retrieval questioning to have the learner explain the location and expiration of POH.
  • Use retrieval questioning to have the learner explain the location of any flight manual supplements (i.e., avionics equipment).
• Review the radio station license:
  • Review operations that require a radio station license.
  • Use retrieval questioning to have the learner explain the location and expiration of a radio station license.
• Review weight and balance:
  • Use retrieval questioning to have the learner explain the location and expiration of an aircraft's weight and balance.
  • Discuss how the performance and limitations lesson plan will go into more depth.

• Review required inspections and the airplane logbook documentation used to verify compliance. (CA.I.B.K1b)
  • ELT checks, Pitot-static checks, altimeter checks, NAVAID checks, etc.
• Use guided questioning to have the learner explain and apply airworthiness directives and special airworthiness information bulletins, including how each affects a proposed flight. (CA.I.B.K1c)
• Use guided questioning to have the learner explain and apply service bulletins and their relationship to continued airworthiness.
• Use retrieval questioning to have the learner explain the purpose, eligibility, limitations, and application procedure for a special flight permit. (CA.I.B.K1d)
• Airplane Logbook Documentation. (CA.I.B.K1b)
• Review equipment requirements for day and night VFR flight, including operations with inoperative equipment, an approved MEL, the KOEL, and required discrepancy records or placards. (CA.I.B.K3, CA.I.B.K3a, CA.I.B.K3b, CA.I.B.K3c, CA.I.B.K3d)
  • Use retrieval questioning to have the learner explain inoperative equipment considerations.
  • Use retrieval questioning to have the learner explain minimum equipment lists and kinds of equipment lists.
  • Discuss how the operation of aircraft systems lesson plan will go in more depth.
• When applicable, review the operating limitations associated with aircraft issued a special airworthiness certificate and explain how those limitations govern the proposed operation. (CA.I.B.K4)

• Review pilot-performed preventive maintenance, including authorization, approved tasks, performance standards, return-to-service considerations, and required records. (CA.I.B.K2)
  • Define preventive maintenance.
  • Use retrieval questioning to have the learner explain preventive maintenance items.
  • Review who can perform preventive maintenance.
  • Use retrieval questioning to have the learner explain preventive maintenance procedures in the context of the acronym "MC-PLT," or "manuals, craftsmanship, parts, logged, and tools."
  • Use retrieval questioning to have the learner explain logging preventive maintenance.
  • Use guided questioning to have the learner explain and apply considerations for flights following preventive maintenance.

• Elicit prior knowledge, then establish the operational relevance of records as legal documents, discussing substantiating work and the dangers of making or receiving falsified aircraft records.
• Given inoperative equipment discovered before flight, require the learner to determine whether the aircraft may be operated, what maintenance or deactivation action is required, what placards or records are required, and whether a special flight permit or maintenance is necessary. (CA.I.B.R1)

• Lead a guided scenario.
• Using the scenario aircraft's certificates, POH/AFM, weight-and-balance data, maintenance records, inspection status, Airworthiness Directives, and equipment discrepancies, have the learner locate and describe the relevant airworthiness and registration information, determine whether the airplane is airworthy, and apply the appropriate procedure for any inoperative equipment. (CA.I.B.S1, CA.I.B.S2, CA.I.B.S3)

• 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.

• Who's responsibility is it to repair? Who can repair it?

• Who's responsibility is it to repair? Who can repair it?

• Who's responsibility is it to repair? Who can repair it?
• If it is not repaired, what steps must be taken before flight?

• Who's responsibility is it to repair? Who can repair it?
• If it is not repaired, what steps must be taken before flight?

• Who's responsibility is it to replace?
• Can the pilot legally fly?

• Locate and review the documents required: airworthiness and registration certificate, radio station license (if applicable), operators manual, and weight and balance for accuracy and expiration.
  • Discuss the types of airworthiness certificates.
• Review an aircraft maintenance logbook with an A&P and discuss:
  • What the required inspections are and how they can be found/are logged in the aircraft logbook.
  • What Airworthiness Directives exist, how to find them, and how they've been complied with and logged.
  • What Special Airworthiness Information Bulletins exist, how to find them, and how they've been complied with and logged.

• Do the items appear on a minimum equipment list? (if applicable).
  • If not applicable, use an example.
• Do the items appear on a kinds of equipment list? (if applicable).
  • If not applicable, use an example.
• What are the items required for VFR (Visual Flight Rules) operations?
• In any case, how must these items be placarded when found?

• At what point must the aircraft be legally terminated? (VFR required equipment/unairworthy).
• What are other considerations to an aircraft that has multiple pieces of equipment fail together or on the same flight?

• Preflight Assessment.