Commercial (Airplane)
National Airspace System Lesson Plan
The Commercial Pilot (Airplane) National Airspace System Lesson Plan covers the knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with National Airspace System (NAS) operations under VFR as a private pilot.
Commercial Pilot (Airplane) National Airspace System Lesson Plan
Commercial Pilot (Airplane) National Airspace System Lesson Plan Introduction
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Attention Getter:
- Research a mishap case study:
- Discuss airspace in training or typical operating area
- Relate similar personal experiences
- Consider incorporating a case study as a guided scenario
- Research a mishap case study:
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Motivator:
- The National Airspace System (NAS) is the network of United States airspace, air navigation facilities, services, airports, regulations, procedures, technical information, human resources, and material shared jointly between the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the military.
- The national airspace system is divided into categories and further classified by complexity, density, nature of operations, level of safety required, and national and public interest.
- The FAA designs rules, regulations, and procedures pilots must follow depending on the airspace they operate within.
- Airspace is generally charted to identify its location, hours of operation, altitudes, etc.
- Nationally, the airspace is monitored and publically displayed using the Operational Information System.
Commercial Pilot (Airplane) National Airspace System Lesson Plan
Commercial Pilot (Airplane) National Airspace System Lesson Plan Materials
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Required Materials:
- Writing instrument (pen, marker, etc.).
- Writing surface (paper, whiteboard, etc.).
- Sectional chart.
- Chart Supplement, U.S.
- Airman Certification Standards.
- Student jacket.
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Optional Materials:
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Reference Materials:
- Navigation Charts Supplement.
- National Airspace System Supplement.
- Special Use Airspace Supplement.
- Special VFR Supplement.
- Other Airspace Supplement.
- Federal Aviation Regulations Part 71.
- Federal Aviation Regulations Part 91.
- Federal Aviation Regulations Part 93.
- Aeronautical Information Manual.
- Risk Management Handbook.
- Airplane Flying Handbook.
- Pilot Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge.
- Airman Certification Standards:
- Hard copies of the ACS and Oral Exam Guides are available on Amazon.
- Digital copies of the ACS are available on the FAA's website.
Commercial Pilot (Airplane) National Airspace System Lesson Plan
Commercial Pilot (Airplane) National Airspace System Lesson Plan Instructor Actions
- Before the lesson, review reference materials.
- Part 1, Introduce the lesson:
- Review the lesson plan, including the attention-getter and motivator.
- Review the airman certification standards.
- Part 2, Airspace Overview:
- Review or review basic VFR weather minimums.
- Review the two airspace categories (regulatory and non-regulatory).
- Review the four types of airspace (controlled, uncontrolled, special use, and other) and which are regulatory vs. not.
- Review basic VFR weather minimums for all airspaces and altitudes.
- Review special VFR requirements and procedures.
- Part 3, Review Class Alpha airspace information:
- Review Class Alpha airspace air traffic services.
- Review Class Alpha airspace dimensions.
- Review Class Alpha airspace depiction (include symbology/airport data information).
- Review Class Alpha airspace operating rules & pilot/equipment requirements (requirements, limitations and phraseology).
- Review Class Alpha ATC authorizations and deviations.
- Part 4, Review Class Bravo airspace information:
- Review Class Bravo airspace air traffic services.
- Review Class Bravo airspace dimensions.
- Review Class Bravo airspace depiction (include symbology/airport data information).
- Review Class Bravo airspace operating rules & pilot/equipment requirements (requirements, limitations and phraseology).
- Review Class Bravo ATC authorizations and deviations.
- Part 5, Review Class Charlie airspace information:
- Review Class Charlie airspace air traffic services.
- Review Class Charlie airspace dimensions.
- Review Class Charlie airspace depiction (include symbology/airport data information).
- Review Class Charlie airspace operating rules & pilot/equipment requirements (requirements, limitations and phraseology).
- Review Class Charlie ATC authorizations and deviations.
- Review secondary/satellite airports.
- Part 6, Review Class Delta airspace information:
- Review Class Delta airspace air traffic services.
- Review Class Delta airspace dimensions.
- Review Class Delta airspace depiction (include symbology/airport data information).
- Review Class Delta airspace operating rules & pilot/equipment requirements (requirements, limitations and phraseology).
- Review Class Delta ATC authorizations and deviations.
- Review weather observations and reporting.
- Part 7, Review Class Echo airspace information:
- Review Class Echo airspace air traffic services.
- Review Class Echo airspace dimensions.
- Review Class Echo airspace depiction (include symbology/airport data information).
- Review Class Echo airspace operating rules & pilot/equipment requirements (requirements, limitations and phraseology).
- Review Class Echo functions.
- Review weather observations and reporting.
- Part 8, Review Class Golf airspace information:
- Review Class Golf airspace air traffic services.
- Review Class Golf airspace dimensions.
- Review Class Golf airspace depiction (include symbology/airport data information).
- Review Class Golf airspace operating rules & pilot/equipment requirements (requirements, limitations and phraseology).
- Review Class Golf airspace considerations.
- Review weather observations and reporting.
- Part 9, Review Special use airspace requirements, limitations, and chart symbology:
- Review prohibited airspace.
- Review restricted airspace.
- Review national security areas.
- Review military operating areas.
- Review alert areas.
- Review controlled firing areas.
- Review warning areas.
- Part 10, Review Other airspace requirements, limitations, and chart symbology:
- Review wildlife & recreational areas.
- Review terminal radar service areas.
- Review airport advisory areas & services.
- Review military training routes.
- Review parachute jump aircraft areas.
- Review temporary flight restrictions (identifying and operating within).
- Review published VFR routes.
- Review air defense identification zones.
- Review Special Air Traffic Rules (SATRs) and Special Flight Rules Areas (SFRAs).
- Review weather reconnaissance areas.
- Review aircraft hazard areas.
- Part 11, Review Special Awareness Training.
- Part 12, Review Equipment:
- Briefly Review the purpose and function of a transponder (discussed fully in operation of systems lesson plan).
- Briefly Review the purpose and function of a Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) equipment (discussed fully in operation of systems lesson plan).
- Briefly Review Reduced Vertical Separation Minima (RVSM) airspace (discussed fully in radio communications, navigation systems/Facilities, and radar services lesson plans).
- Part 13, guided scenario:
- Part 14, Lesson Conclusion:
- Present the remotivation, conclude, and provide guidance for follow-on lessons.
- Review student actions required ahead of the next lesson.
- Update instructor endorsement records and the student's jacket, as required.
Commercial Pilot (Airplane) National Airspace System Lesson Plan
Commercial Pilot (Airplane) National Airspace System Lesson Plan Guided Scenario(s)
- Chose a random series of courses across a sectional, crossing different types and classes of airspace
- Assume a pilot is flying each leg
- Discuss entry requirements
- Discuss equipment requirements
- Discuss radio procedures, as appropriate
- Discuss VFR weather minimums to operate
- Ask the student how to communicate with FSS while enroute
- Point out symbols across the route and have the student interpret
- Discuss how to find special use airspace, especially temporary flight restrictions
- Related scenarios:
Commercial Pilot (Airplane) National Airspace System Lesson Plan
Commercial Pilot (Airplane) National Airspace System Lesson Plan Student Actions
- Complete the assigned readings (see content above).
- Complete or review AOPA's Online Learning Course - Know Before You Go: Navigating Today's Airspace
- Ask pertinent questions
- Perform self-assessment, including fitness for flight and personal minimums, as appropriate
- Make a go/no-go decision, as appropriate
- Complete Special Awareness Training
Commercial Pilot (Airplane) National Airspace System Lesson Plan
Commercial Pilot (Airplane) National Airspace System Airman Certification Standards
- Objective: To determine whether the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with National Airspace System (NAS) operations under VFR as a commercial pilot
- References: 14 CFR parts 71, 91, 93; AIM; FAA-H-8083-2 (Risk Management Handbook), FAA-H-8083-3 (Airplane Flying Handbook), FAA-H-8083-25 (Pilot Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge); VFR Navigation Charts
Commercial Pilot (Airplane) National Airspace System Knowledge:
The applicant demonstrates an understanding of:-
CA.I.E.K1:
Airspace classes and associated requirements and limitations. -
CA.I.E.K2:
Chart symbols. -
CA.I.E.K3:
Special use airspace (SUA), special flight rules areas (SFRA), temporary flight restrictions (TFR), and other airspace areas. -
CA.I.E.K4:
Special visual flight rules (VFR) requirements.
Commercial Pilot (Airplane) National Airspace System Risk Management:
The applicant is able to identify, assess, and mitigate risks associated with:-
CA.I.E.R1:
Various classes and types of airspace.
Commercial Pilot (Airplane) National Airspace System Skills:
The applicant exhibits the skills to:-
CA.I.E.S1:
Identify and comply with the requirements for basic VFR weather minimums and flying in particular classes of airspace. -
CA.I.E.S2:
Correctly identify airspace and operate in accordance with associated communication and equipment requirements. -
CA.I.E.S3:
Identify the requirements for operating in SUA or within a TFR. Identify and comply with special air traffic rules (SATR) and SFRA operations, if applicable.
Commercial Pilot (Airplane) National Airspace System Lesson Plan
Commercial Pilot (Airplane) National Airspace System Lesson Plan Conclusion
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Re-Motivation:
- With a foundation on the requirements to meet certification standards, students can envision a path to certification completion.
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Closure:
- Advise students that this lesson will be used as a starting point for the next lesson
- Assign study materials for the next lesson