Commercial (Airplane)
Operation of Aircraft Systems Lesson Plan
The Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Operation of Aircraft Systems Lesson Plan covers the knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with safe operation of systems on the airplane provided for the flight test.
Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Operation of Aircraft Systems Lesson Plan
Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Operation of Aircraft Systems Lesson Plan Introduction
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Attention Getter:
- Research 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
- Research a mishap case study:
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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
Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Operation of Aircraft Systems Lesson Plan
Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Operation of Aircraft Systems Lesson Plan Materials
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Required Materials:
- Writing instrument (pen, marker, etc.).
- Writing surface (paper, whiteboard, etc.).
- Airman Certification Standards.
- Student jacket.
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Optional Materials:
- Instructor endorsement log.
- Access to maintenance spaces/A&P and if able, aircraft system components from avionics, to gyros, to fuses/circuit breakers, etc.
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Reference Materials:
- Emergency Procedures Supplement.
- Supplemental Oxygen Supplement.
- Flight Control Systems Supplemental.
- Aircraft icing Protection Systems Supplemental.
- Environmental Control Systems Supplemental.
- Pitot-Static and Vacuum Systems Supplemental.
- Avionics and Flight Instruments Supplemental.
- Aircraft Electrical Systems Supplemental.
- Aviation Fuel Systems Supplemental.
- Lubrication Systems Supplemental.
- Hydraulics and Pneumatics Supplemental.
- Aircraft Landing Gear Supplemental.
- Powerplants Supplemental.
- Propellers Supplemental.
- Fitness for Flight Supplemental.
- Risk Management Handbook.
- Airplane Flying Handbook.
- Pilot Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge.
- Seaplane, Skiplane, and Float/Ski Equipped Helicopter Operations Handbook.
- 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) Operation of Aircraft Systems Lesson Plan
Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Operation of Aircraft Systems Lesson Plan Instructor Actions
- Before the lesson, review reference materials.
- Part 1, Lesson introduction:
- Review the lesson plan, including the attention-getter and motivator.
- Review the airman certification standards.
- Part 2, flight control systems:
- Review Review aircraft components 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 3, powerplant systems:
- 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 4, propeller systems:
- 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, environmental systems:
- 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 6, fuel systems:
- Review the types of aviation fuel systems.
- Review aviation fuel system design.
- Review aviation fuel grades.
- Review refueling procedures.
- Review fueling contamination.
- Review fueling system icing.
- Review indications and procedures to handle fuel system malfunctions and anomalies.
- Review and discuss specific fuel system functions and instrumentation on the aircraft used for training.
- Review preflight checks.
- Demonstrate aircraft refueling procedures (can be done separately after a live flight).
- Part 7, oil/lubrication systems:
- 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 8, 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 9, Review electrical systems, covering the design and limitations relevant to the training aircraft used.
- Review and generally discuss the types of electrical systems (alternating and direct current).
- Review and generally discuss the electrical system components and their function (alternators/generators, batteries, switches, fuses/circuit breakers, voltage regulators, ammeter/loadmeters, static wicks/dischargers, bus bars, and associated wiring.
- Review and generally discuss what equipment utilizes the electrical system (avionics, interior and exterior lights, instruments, etc.).
- Review and generally discuss the electrical system indicators.
- Review and discuss the specific electrical system equipment, functions, and instrumentation on the aircraft used for training (vice what is vacuum driven, etc.).
- Review preflight checks.
- Review indications and procedures to handle electrical system malfunctions and anomalies (potential impacts, where to find appropriate procedures).
- Note: discussed fully in systems and equipment malfunctions lesson plan.
- After material is introduced, review the electrical system components, their purpose, and relevant performance numbers and limitations
- Part 10, 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 11, 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 12, deicing and anti-icing systems:
- 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, Pitot-static systems, vacuum/pressure systems, 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.
- Review the airspeed indicator
- Review the altimeter
- Review the vertical speed indicator
- Part 14, Other Avionics:
- Review the attitude indicator
- Review the heading indicator
- Review the turn coordinator
- Review the magnetic compass
- Review automatic-dependent surveillance-broadcast
- Review communications avionics
- Review distance measuring equipment
- Review emergency locator transmitter
- Review enhanced flight vision system
- Review flight management and autopilot systems
- Review global positioning system
- Review transponder
- Review VHF Omni Direcitonal Range (VOR) and Tactical Air Navigation (TACAN) systems
- Part 15, Guided Scenario.
- Part 16, 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) Operation of Aircraft Systems Lesson Plan
Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Operation of Aircraft Systems Lesson Plan 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 Aircraft Systems Lesson Plan
Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Operation of Aircraft Systems Lesson Plan 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
Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Operation of Aircraft Systems Lesson Plan
Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Operation of Systems Airman Certification Standards
- Objective: To determine whether 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 an 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.
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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 risks 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 skills 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).
Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Operation of Aircraft Systems Lesson Plan
Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Operation of Aircraft Systems 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