Attention:
Motivator:
- All aircraft have the requirement for essential interconnected and integrated systems, the performance of which is critical to safe operations
- Several basic aircraft systems are universal, but even the most simple aircraft will contain complex systems
- These systems are reliant on some power source, meaning they rely upon a powerplant not just to move the airplane, but run the systems
- Finally, there are a variety of support systems which for comfort, regulatory, or human physiological reasons, exist to support flight operations, especially those considered high-performance
- Understanding the aircraft systems is critical to its safe operation and proper maintenance
Overview:
Topic:
Time:
Introduction:
0:05
Flight Control System:
0:15
Powerplant System:
0:15
Propeller System:
0:15
Fuel System:
0:15
Oil/Lubrication System:
0:15
Electrical System:
0:15
Pitot-Static and Vacuum/Pressure System:
0:15
Aircraft Landing Gear System:
0:15
Supplemental Oxygen System:
0:10
Hydraulic and Pneumatic System:
0:10
Review (quiz):
0:05
Case Studies:
0:05
Total Ground Time:
2:35
Required Materials:
- Student Jacket, Paper & Pen or Marker & Whiteboard, access to maintenance spaces/A&P
Instructor Actions:
- Introduce the lesson:
- Review the lesson plan, including the attention-getter and motivator.
- Review the airman certification standards.
- Part 1, flight control systems:
- Review aircraft performance and structure.
- Review how the shape of a wing influences lift, including chord, relative wind, and AOA.
- Review primary flight controls, including the controls that manipulate them.
- Review secondary flight controls, including the controls that manipulate them.
- Review other aerodynamic surfaces.
- Review specific aerodynamic surfaces and controls on the aircraft used for training.
- Review preflight checks.
- Review indications of and procedures to handle flight control malfunctions and anomalies.
- Part 2, powerplant:
- Review reciprocating engines and the four-stroke cycle.
- Review the induction system.
- Introduce the ignition system.
- Review turbo-charging systems.
- Review powerplant instrumentation.
- Review specific powerplant system functions and instrumentation on the aircraft used for training.
- Review preflight checks.
- Review indications of and procedures to handle powerplant malfunctions and anomalies.
- Review turbine engines.
- Part 3, environmental:
- Introduce heating systems.
- Introduce cooling systems.
- Introduce pressurization systems function and instrumentation.
- Introduce and discuss specific environmental control system functions and instrumentation on the aircraft used for training.
- Introduce indications and procedures to handle environmental control system anomalies.
- Part 4, propeller system:
- Review propeller mechanics, referencing how propellers relate to airfoil design.
- Review fixed-pitch propeller systems.
- Review variable-pitch propeller systems, if appropriate.
- Review variable-pitch propeller procedures, if appropriate.
- Review propeller instrumentation.
- Review specific propeller system functions and instrumentation on the aircraft used for training.
- Review preflight checks.
- Review indications and procedures to handle propeller malfunctions and anomalies.
- Walk around an engine under maintenance, if available
- Part 5, fuel system:
- Review the types of fuel systems.
- Review the types of aviation fuel, how to recognize them, and how to recognize contamination within them.
- Review the fuel system components.
- Review the fuel system indicators.
- Review the specific fuel system functions and instrumentation on the aircraft used for training.
- Review preflight checks.
- Review indications and procedures to handle fuel system malfunctions and anomalies.
- Guide the student through aircraft refueling procedures (can be done separately after a live flight).
- Part 6, oil/lubrication system:
- Review the types of oil/lubrication systems.
- Review the oil/lubrication system components.
- Review the oil/lubrication system indicators.
- Review the specific oil/lubrication system functions and instrumentation on the aircraft used for training.
- Review preflight checks.
- Review indications and procedures to handle oil/lubrication system malfunctions and anomalies.
- Part 7, electrical system:
- Review the types of electrical systems.
- Review the electrical system components and their function.
- Review what equipment utilizes the electrical system (avionics, interior and exterior lights, instruments, etc.).
- Review the electrical system indicators.
- Review the specific electrical system equipment, functions, and instrumentation on the aircraft used for training.
- Review preflight checks.
- Review indications and procedures to handle electrical system malfunctions and anomalies.
- Part 8, Pitot-static and vacuum/pressure, and associated flight instruments
- Review the Pitot-static system.
- Review the vacuum/pressure system.
- Review Pitot-static instruments (airspeed indicator, altitude, altimeter):
- Review Pitot-static instrument designs.
- Review Pitot-static instrument function/operation.
- Review Pitot-static instrument indications.
- Review Pitot-static instrument system malfunction and anomaly indications and procedures.
- Review vacuum/pressure system instruments (attitude indicator, turn coordination, heading indicator):
- Review vacuum/pressure instrument designs.
- Review vacuum/pressure instrument function/operation.
- Review vacuum/pressure instrument indications.
- Review vacuum/pressure instrument system malfunction and anomaly indications and procedures.
- Part 9, aircraft landing gear systems:
- Review the types of landing gear.
- Review landing gear design.
- Review landing gear components.
- Review brake design.
- Review brake components.
- Review preflight checks.
- Review servicing and maintenance.
- Review landing gear system malfunction and anomaly indications and procedures.
- Part 10, oxygen systems:
- Review supplemental oxygen regulations, including SCUBA diving regulations.
- Review supplemental oxygen system designs.
- Review supplemental oxygen system delivery systems.
- Review oxygen sensing systems.
- Review preflight checks.
- Review supplemental oxygen system servicing and maintenance.
- Review supplemental oxygen system malfunction and anomaly indications and procedures.
- Part 11, hydraulic and pneumatic systems:
- Review hydraulic/pneumatic system designs.
- Review hydraulic/pneumatic system components.
- Review hydraulic/pneumatic system servicing and maintenance.
- Review hydraulic/pneumatic system malfunction and anomaly indications and procedures.
- Part 12, deicing and anti-icing:
- Review the difference between de-icing and anti-icing.
- Review frezing level and icing conditions.
- Review products/calculations used to determine freezing level.
- Review anti-icing systems.
- Review de-icing systems.
- Part 13, review emergency procedures best practices.
- Part 14, conduct the guided scenario.
- Conclude the lesson:
- 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 student's jacket, as required.
Student Actions:
- Complete the assigned readings (see content above).
- Ask pertinent questions
- Perform self-assessment, including fitness for flight and personal minimums, as appropriate
- Make a go/no-go decision, as appropriate
Operation of Aircraft Systems Guided Scenario:
- While flying, the pilot realizes their airspeed is reading much differently than the GPS speed
- How can this be?
- What if the pilot had recently changed altitude?
Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Operation of Systems Airman Certification Standards:
- Objective: To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with safe operation of systems on the airplane provided for the flight test
- Note: If K1 is selected, the evaluator must assess the applicant's knowledge of at least three sub-elements
- References: FAA-H-8083-2 (Risk Management Handbook), FAA-H-8083-3 (Airplane Flying Handbook), FAA-H-8083-23 (Seaplane, Skiplane, and Float/Ski Equipped Helicopter Operations Handbook), FAA-H-8083-25 (Pilot Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge); POH/AFM
Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Operation of Systems Knowledge:
The applicant demonstrates understanding of:-
CA.I.G.K1:
Airplane systems, including:-
CA.I.G.K1a:
Primary flight controls. -
CA.I.G.K1b:
Secondary flight controls. -
CA.I.G.K1c:
Powerplant and propeller. -
CA.I.G.K1d:
Landing gear. -
CA.I.G.K1e:
Fuel, oil, and hydraulic. -
CA.I.G.K1f:
Electrical. -
CA.I.G.K1g:
Avionics. -
CA.I.G.K1h:
Pitot-static, vacuum/pressure, and associated flight instruments. -
CA.I.G.K1i:
Environmental. -
CA.I.G.K1j:
Deicing and anti-icing. -
CA.I.G.K1k:
Water rudders (ASES, AMES). -
CA.I.G.K1l:
Oxygen system.
-
-
CA.I.G.K2:
Indications of and procedures for managing system abnormalities or failures.
Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Operation of Systems Risk Management:
The applicant is able to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with:-
CA.I.G.R1:
Detection of system malfunctions or failures. -
CA.I.G.R2:
Management of a system failure. -
CA.I.G.R3:
Monitoring and management of automated systems.
Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Operation of Systems Skills:
The applicant exhibits the skill to:-
CA.I.G.S1:
Operate at least three of the systems listed in K1a through K1l appropriately. -
CA.I.G.S2:
Complete the appropriate checklist(s).
Re-Motivation:
- Still looking for something? Continue searching:
Closure:
- Advise students that this lesson will be used as a starting point for the next lesson
- Assign study materials for the next lesson
Conclusion:
- 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.
- The FAA provides test-taking guidance and test guides on its website.
- To learn more about earning the practical test, visit the checkride page.