Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Performance & Limitations 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.F.K1: Apply elements related to performance and limitations by explaining the use of charts, tables, and data to determine performance to the aircraft, conditions, or flight scenario presented.
• CA.I.F.K1: Explain weight effect and control input limits of va.
• CA.I.F.K2: Define density altitude.
• CA.I.F.K2: Explain use of density altitude for performance.
• CA.I.F.K2: Interpret equivalent air density from density altitude.
• CA.I.F.K2: Explain combined airplane performance effects of high density altitude.
• CA.I.F.K2: Explain density altitude effect on lift.
• CA.I.F.K2: Explain density altitude effect on propeller thrust.
• CA.I.F.K2: Explain density altitude effect on aerodynamic drag.
• CA.I.F.K2: Explain density altitude effect on normally aspirated engine power.
• CA.I.F.K2: Identify factors that increase density altitude.
• CA.I.F.K2: Explain pressure effect on air density and density altitude.
• CA.I.F.K2: Explain temperature effect on air density and density altitude.
• CA.I.F.K2: Explain humidity effect on air density and density altitude.
• CA.I.F.R2: Identify and assess the hazards associated with airplane limitations.
• CA.I.F.R2: Select and justify effective controls for the risks associated with airplane limitations.
• CA.I.F.K3: Identify torque reaction roll direction.
• CA.I.F.K3: Identify conditions that amplify left turning tendencies.
• CA.I.F.K3: Explain cause of torque reaction.
• CA.I.F.K3: Define angle of attack by reference lines.
• CA.I.F.K3: Distinguish variable angle of attack from design characteristics.
• CA.I.F.K3: Explain density altitude effect on lift.
• CA.I.F.K3: Explain density altitude effect on propeller thrust.
• CA.I.F.K3: Explain density altitude effect on aerodynamic drag.
• CA.I.F.R1: Identify and assess the hazards associated with use of performance charts, tables, and data.
• CA.I.F.R1: Select and justify effective controls for the risks associated with use of performance charts, tables, and data.

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

• Principles of Flight
  • Use retrieval questioning to have the learner explain Lift, including AOA (angle of attack)
  • Use retrieval questioning to have the learner explain weight
  • Use retrieval questioning to have the learner explain thrust
  • Use retrieval questioning to have the learner explain drag
  • Use retrieval questioning to have the learner explain ground effect
• Use a concrete example, then have the learner describe the interaction of forces.

• Use retrieval questioning to have the learner explain Temperature Conversion.
• Review turn performance
  • Load Factor.
  • Rate and radius of turns.
• Review stall performance
  • Stall Speed Banked.
• Review takeoff performance.
  • Use retrieval questioning to have the learner explain normal takeoff and climb performance
  • Crosswind Component.
  • Use retrieval questioning to have the learner explain soft-field takeoff and climb performance.
  • Short-Field Takeoff and Climb.
  • Use retrieval questioning to have the learner explain confined area takeoff and maximum performance climb
  • Rate of Climb Performance.
  • Use retrieval questioning to have the learner explain takeoff performance rules of thumb.
• Use retrieval questioning to have the learner explain climb performance.
• Use retrieval questioning to have the learner explain rate of climb.
• Use retrieval questioning to have the learner explain descent performance.
• Review landing performance.
  • Normal landing
  • Crosswind landing
  • Short-field landing
  • Soft-field landing
  • Confined area approach and landing
• Pivotal altitude
• Temperature conversion
• Pressure Altitude
• Density Altitude
• Determining Climb Gradient
• Determining Rate-of-Climb Requirements
• Maneuvering Speed
• Rate of Turn
• Overbank Acceleration
• Minimum Safe Altitude (MSA)

• Explain and assess how atmospheric conditions, pilot technique, airplane configuration, airport environment, and loading and weight-and-balance conditions affect the accuracy and applicability of performance calculations. (CA.I.F.K2a, CA.I.F.K2b, CA.I.F.K2c, CA.I.F.K2d, CA.I.F.K2e)
• Weight and Balance
  • Use retrieval questioning to have the learner explain Center of Gravity
  • Use retrieval questioning to have the learner explain effects of a foreward and aft center of gravity
  • Use retrieval questioning to have the learner explain multiengine considerations, as applicable.
• Review aircraft stability
  • Use retrieval questioning to have the learner explain balanced flight including maneuverability vs. controllability.
  • Use retrieval questioning to have the learner explain static and dynamic stability
  • Use retrieval questioning to have the learner explain lateral, vertical, and longitudinal stability
  • Use retrieval questioning to have the learner explain left turning tendancies, including adverse yaw.
  • Use retrieval questioning to have the learner explain pilot induced oscillations and the pilot's impact on aircraft stability.
• Use retrieval questioning to have the learner explain how configuration changes impact performance, including retractable landing gear, high-lift devices, spoilers/speed brakes, and propeller feathering.
• Use retrieval questioning to have the learner explain wing planform, including aspect ratio and wing design
• Use retrieval questioning to have the learner explain factors impacting descent performance and landing performance.
• Use retrieval questioning to have the learner explain pilot technique considerations.
• Use retrieval questioning to have the learner explain performance limitations in PoH

• Given a loading scenario, compute weight and balance, correct any out-of-center-of-gravity condition, and verify that weight and balance remain within limits throughout all phases of flight. (CA.I.F.S1)
• Takeoff & Climb Performance
  • Demonstrate a takeoff distance calculation for each type of takeoff chart provided
  • Demonstrate an aborted takeoff calculation (if provided)
  • Demonstrate a time/distance/fuel for a top of climb, climb gradient required, and rate of climb requirements.
    • Use guided questioning to have the learner explain and apply the factors which impact climb performance, including best angle/rate-of-climb
• Cruise Performance
  • Demonstrate a time/distance/fuel calculation
  • Use guided questioning to have the learner explain and apply factors accounted for on the chart and those not explicitly mentioned which impact cruise performance
• Demonstrate a descent calculation.
• Demonstrate a landing distance calculation for each type of landing chart provided
• Review Turn Performance
  • Rate and Radius of Turns
  • Coordination Throughout Turns
  • Aircraft Performance While Turning (Adverse Yaw [drag], Yaw against the direction of turn [lift], diving tendency, over-banking tendency, oncreased stall speed)
• Stall Performance.
• Glide Performance.
• Descent and landing Performance
  • Demonstrate a landing distance calculation
  • Use guided questioning to have the learner explain and apply various factors accounted for on the chart and those not explicitly mentioned which impact descent and landing performance
• Use the appropriate airplane performance charts, tables, and data to calculate takeoff, climb, cruise, descent, landing, and other performance required by the scenario; explain all assumptions and determine whether the planned operation remains within limitations. (CA.I.F.S2)

• Use guided questioning to have the learner explain and apply the possible differences between calculated performance and actual performance. (CA.I.F.R3)
• 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.

• What must the pilot do with the power after the aircraft starts moving?
• What principle requires the pilot to change the power setting?

• How should the pilot expect stall speed to change? What if the center of gravity tends forward?
• Why does a heavy aircraft requires more takeoff distance? Can a pilot do anything to shorten this disance? If so, what? and at what cost?

• The interaction between the pod and the natural form of the wing is considered what kind of drag?
• The wing it is mounted has several imperfections, rivets, etc. what kind of drag is characterized by these features?
• What sort of performance changes would be expected by such a modification?

• When could the pilot expect to feel this cushion?
• What is causing this anomaly?

• What is the relationship between forces as the pilot establishes steady-state climb (or descent)?