Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Weather Information
Lesson Plan

Introduction:

  • Objective: To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with weather information for a flight under VFR
  • Note: If K2 is selected, the evaluator must assess the applicant’s knowledge of at least three sub-elements
  • Note: If K3 is selected, the evaluator must assess the applicant’s knowledge of at least three sub-elements
  • References: 14 CFR part 91; AC 91-92; AIM; FAA-H-8083-2 (Risk Management Handbook), FAA-H-8083-3 (Airplane Flying Handbook), FAA-H-8083-25, FAA-H-8083-28

Attention:

Motivator:

Overview:

Topic:
Time:
Introduction:
0:05
Weather Information:
0:15
Review (quiz):
0:05
Case Studies:
0:05
Total Ground Time:
0:30

Required Materials:

  • Student Jacket, Paper & Pen or Marker & Whiteboard, internet access

Instructor Actions:

Student Actions:

Weather Information Guided Scenario(s):

  • In the climb on a cold day, a pilot enters the clouds and simultaneously notices the outside air temperature is 10°c
    • How can the pilot check the outside air temperature?
    • If in meteorological conditions, is icing a hazard?
  • With the previous METAR/SPECI reports:
    • What does the wind information tell us (tie to airport diagrams, takeoff performance, etc.)?
    • What does the visibility tell us?
    • What does the present weather tell us?
    • What does the sky condition tell us?
    • What does the temperature/dewpoint tell us (tie to density altitude, hazards, etc.)?
    • What do the remarks tell us?
  • ATC provides a PIREP to a pilot about to enter the same area
    • What is the pilot required to do?
    • What can the pilot decide to do?
  • A pilot is planning a cross-country flight, for what reasons would they want to review AIRMETs/SIGMETs?
    • How does it affect preflight planning?
  • A pilot is planning a local flight, for what reasons would they want to use a surface analysis chart?
    • How does it affect preflight planning?
    • What are the types of airmasses and fronts depicted?
    • What kind of weather would be expected in those frontal areas?
  • A pilot is planning a local flight, for what reasons would they want to use a convective outlook?
    • How does it affect preflight planning?
  • With the previous TAF reports:
    • What does the wind information tell us (tie to weather enroute limitations, etc.)?
    • What does the visibility tell us?
    • What does the present weather tell us?
    • What does the sky condition tell us?
    • What does the temperature/dewpoint tell us (tie to density altitude, hazards, etc.)?
    • What does "FM" or "BECMG" tell us?
  • Provided a route of flight that passes near (3) stations:
    • What are the winds doing?
    • Are the temperatures above or below standard and what are the implications of either?
    • What does a temperature inversion look like?
    • In those instances of high wind velocities, how does one decifer the three digit wind speed?
  • Related scenarios:

Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Weather Information Airman Certification Standards:

  • Objective: To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with weather information for a flight under VFR
  • Note: If K2 is selected, the evaluator must assess the applicant’s knowledge of at least three sub-elements
  • Note: If K3 is selected, the evaluator must assess the applicant’s knowledge of at least three sub-elements
  • References: 14 CFR part 91; AC 91-92; AIM; FAA-H-8083-2 (Risk Management Handbook), FAA-H-8083-3 (Airplane Flying Handbook), FAA-H-8083-25, FAA-H-8083-28

Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Weather Information Knowledge:

The applicant demonstrates understanding of:

Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Weather Information Risk Management:

The applicant is able to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with:
  • CA.I.C.R1:

    Making the go/no-go and continue/divert decisions, including:
  • CA.I.C.R2:

    Use and limitations of:
    • CA.I.C.R2a:
      Installed onboard weather equipment.
    • CA.I.C.R2b:
      Aviation weather reports and forecasts.
    • CA.I.C.R2c:
      Inflight weather resources.

Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Weather Information Skills:

The applicant exhibits the skill to:
  • CA.I.C.S1:

    Use available aviation weather resources to obtain an adequate weather briefing.
  • CA.I.C.S2:

    Analyze the implications of at least three of the conditions listed in K3a through K3l, using actual weather or weather conditions provided by the evaluator.
  • CA.I.C.S3:

    Correlate weather information to make a go/no-go decision.

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: