Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Pilot Qualifications Lesson Plan
Commercial Pilot (Airplane) • ACS Area I, Task A
The Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Pilot Qualifications Lesson Plan covers the knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with airman and medical certificates including privileges, limitations, currency, and operating as pilot-in-command as a commercial pilot.
Introduction
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Schedule
Topic:Time:Attention/Motivator:0:05Part 1, Lesson Introduction:0:05Part 2, Commercial Pilot Foundations:0:10Part 3, Legalities:0:10Part 4, Pilot Qualifications Risk Management:0:10Part 5, Pilot Qualifications Guided Scenario(s):0:20Part 6, Lesson Conclusion:0:05Remotivation/Closure:0:05Total Ground Time:0:00
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Attention Getter:
- Discuss motivation to become an instrument rated pilot.
- Relate similar personal experiences to the student to establish rapport.
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Motivator:
- The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulates general aviation operations in the United States.
- According to the Federal Aviation Administration, more than 50,000 people are issued one or more certificates, ranging from student to airline transport, by the age of 24.
- Pilot and instructor certificates each have unique privileges and limitations.
- Pilot certificates include student, sport, recreational, private, commercial, airline transport, and remote pilot certificates.
- Instructor certificates include flight and ground instructors.
- Certificates may have additional ratings added to them.
Materials
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Required Materials:
- Writing instrument (pen, marker, etc.).
- Writing surface (paper, whiteboard, etc.).
- Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs) or an internet-enabled device to access FARs.
- Airman Certification Standards.
- Student jacket.
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Optional Materials:
- Instructor endorsement log.
- Pilot Logbook.
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Reference Materials:
- Instructor Endorsement Log.
- Pilot Certificates and Ratings Supplement.
- Eligibility Checklist.
- Aeronautical Knowledge Checklist.
- Aeronautical Experience Checklist.
- Aeronautical Proficiency Requirements Checklist.
- Pilot Logbooks Supplement.
- Medical Certificate Supplement.
- Currency Supplement.
- Fitness for Flight Supplement.
- Aeronautical Decision Making Supplement.
- Register for the WINGS Program.
- Basicmed.
- Medxpress System.
- Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA)'s Online Learning Course - Transitioning to Other Airplanes.
- Federal Aviation Regulations Part 61.
- Federal Aviation Regulations Part 68.
- Federal Aviation Regulations Part 91.
- 119.1(E).
- Advisory Circular (AC) 68-1.
- Risk Management Handbook.
- Airplane Flying Handbook.
- Pilot Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge.
- Test-taking Guidance.
- Test Guides.
- The Checkride Supplement.
Instructor Actions
- Before the lesson, review reference materials.
- Part 1, Lesson Introduction:
- If not previously discussed, provide expectations on time to train, ground instruction vs. flight instruction, and instructor/student availability.
- Review the lesson plan, including the attention and motivator.
- Review the airman certification standards (ACS).
- Part 2, Commercial Pilot Foundations:
- Review commercial pilot certification and eligibility requirements, recent-flight-experience requirements, and recordkeeping; start an eligibility checklist. (CA.I.A.K1)
- Review commercial pilot aeronautical knowledge requirements and start an aeronautical knowledge checklist.
- Review commercial pilot aeronautical experience requirements and start an aeronautical experience checklist.
- Review commercial pilot flight proficiency requirements and start an aeronautical proficiency requirements checklist.
- Discuss the WINGS program and have students register if they haven't already.
- Part 3, Legalities:
- Review pilot logbook/recordkeeping requirements.
- Review commercial pilot privileges and limitations. (CA.I.A.K2)
- Review documents required to exercise commercial pilot privileges. (CA.I.A.K4)
- Review medical-certificate class, duration, privileges, limitations, and temporary disqualifications, including BasicMed privileges and limitations. (CA.I.A.K3, CA.I.A.K5)
- Have the applicant identify the intended operation, required crewmember role, and privileges exercised before selecting a medical-certificate class. Distinguish the pilot certificate held from the privileges exercised on that flight.
- Using current 14 CFR 61.23, compare a flight exercising commercial airplane privileges, a personal flight exercising private privileges, an instructional flight, and a practical test. Identify the required medical class or applicable exception for each; commercial airplane privileges generally require at least a second-class medical. Do not assume every flight by a commercial certificate holder requires a second-class medical.
- Using examination month, age at examination, medical class, certificate limitations, and proposed flight date, determine validity for the intended privileges from the current duration table. Compare validity for commercial privileges with remaining validity for private privileges rather than assigning one expiration date to all operations.
- Present illness, prescription and over-the-counter medication, treatment, and recovery examples. Apply 14 CFR 61.53 to decide when the pilot must refrain from operating despite an unexpired certificate. Identify the information, applicable medical requirements, and aviation-medical advice needed before returning; the instructor must not diagnose conditions or independently approve medication use.
- For an applicant proposing BasicMed, verify eligibility, current examination and course requirements, records, aircraft and operating limitations, and whether the actual operation qualifies. Distinguish an eligible personal, instructional, or practical-test operation from exercising ordinary commercial compensation-or-hire privileges; holding a commercial certificate does not expand BasicMed privileges.
- Part 4, Pilot Qualifications Risk Management:
- Introduce currency versus proficiency and how that distinction informs self-assessment and operational risk controls. (CA.I.A.R1)
- Assess the risks of operating unfamiliar aircraft or unfamiliar flight displays and avionics; develop transition, training, and operational controls appropriate to the scenario. (CA.I.A.R2)
- Part 5, Pilot Qualifications Guided Scenario(s):
- Lead a guided scenario.
- Given a proposed VFR commercial flight, have the learner determine whether the pilot may act as pilot in command by applying certification, category and class, endorsements, recent experience, medical qualification, required documents, and applicable privileges and limitations. (CA.I.A.S1)
- Part 6, Lesson Conclusion:
- 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.
- Update instructor endorsement records and the student's jacket, as required.
Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Pilot Qualifications Lesson Plan Interactive Guided Scenario
Interactive Guided Scenario
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Student Actions
- Complete the assigned readings (see content above).
- Complete relevant knowledge checks:
- Complete relevant interactive scenarios:
- Register for the WINGS program if not done so already.
- Complete or review BasicMed requirements.
- Complete an electronic application for an FAA Medical Clearance, Medical Certificate, through the FAA's MedXPress system.
- Complete or review AOPA's Online Learning Course - Transitioning to Other Airplanes.
- Ask pertinent questions.
- Perform self-assessment, including fitness for flight and personal minimums, as appropriate.
- Make a go/no-go decision, as appropriate.
Airman Certification Standards
Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Pilot Qualifications Airman Certification Standards
- Objective: To determine whether the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with airman and medical certificates including privileges, limitations, currency, and operating as pilot-in-command as a commercial pilot.
- References: 14 CFR parts 61, 68, 91, 119.1(e); AC 68-1; FAA-H-8083-2 (Risk Management Handbook), FAA-H-8083-3 (Airplane Flying Handbook), FAA-H-8083-25 (Pilot Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge).
Knowledge 5 ACS Elements
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CA.I.A.K1: Certification requirements, recent flight experience, and recordkeeping. -
CA.I.A.K2: -
CA.I.A.K3: -
CA.I.A.K4: -
CA.I.A.K5:
Risk Management 2 ACS Elements
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CA.I.A.R1: -
CA.I.A.R2:
Skills 1 ACS Element
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CA.I.A.S1: Apply requirements to act as pilot-in-command (PIC) under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) in a scenario given by the evaluator.
Conclusion
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Re-Motivation:
- Pilot Qualifications gives pilots the regulatory knowledge and professional discipline needed to understand their privileges, limitations, and responsibilities.
- Knowing which rules apply, where to verify current requirements, and when additional authority is required helps prevent assumptions from becoming compliance or safety problems.
- Applying regulations through realistic scenarios connects legal knowledge with sound planning, documentation, communication, and aeronautical decision-making.
- Continued study of Pilot Qualifications prepares commercial pilots to manage more complex operations and regulatory questions with confidence.
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Closure:
- Inform students that this lesson will serve as a starting point for the next lesson.
- Advise the student to register for the WINGS program if they have not already done so.
- Advise the student to complete BasicMed if they have not already done so.
- Assign study materials for the next lesson.
- The FAA provides test-taking guidance and test guides on its website.
- To learn more about preparing for the practical test, visit the checkride page.