Commercial Pilot (Airplane)
Weather Information Lesson Plan
The Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Weather Information Lesson Plan covers the knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with weather information for a flight under VFR.
Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Weather Information 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
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Motivator:
- Regardless of your experience level, weather is likely to be a key factor in your decision-making process
- A pilot's ability to find and interpret weather is essential to make well-informed decisions
- Failure to recognize deteriorating weather conditions leads to a exceptionally high mishap and associated lethality rate
- Weather service to aviation is a joint effort between federal agencies, the military weather services, and other aviation-oriented groups and individuals
- The National Weather Service operates a network of radar sites for detecting coverage, intensity, and movement of precipitation
- FAA and DOD radar sites in the western sections of the country supplement the network
- Local warning radar sites augment the network by operating on an as-needed basis to support warning and forecast programs
Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Weather Information Lesson Plan Materials
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Required Materials:
- Writing instrument (pen, marker, etc.).
- Writing surface (paper, whiteboard, etc.).
- Internet connection (computer, tablet, smartphone, etc.).
- Phone (for preflight briefing).
- Personal Weather Minimums Worksheet.
- Airman Certification Standards.
- Student jacket.
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Optional Materials:
- Pilot Operating Handbook, Electronic Flight Bag
- Instructor endorsement log
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Reference Materials:
- Aircraft Weather and Atmosphere Supplement.
- Mountain Flying Supplement.
- Pilot Logbooks Supplement.
- Air Masses and Weather Fronts Supplement.
- Clouds in the Aviation Environment Supplement.
- Turbulence Supplement.
- Thunderstorms Supplement.
- Microbursts Supplement.
- Icing in the Aviation Environment Supplement.
- Aviation Fog Supplement.
- Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR) Supplement.
- Terminal Area Forecast (TAF) Supplement.
- Graphical Forecasts for Aviation (GFA) Supplement.
- Surface Analysis Chart Supplement.
- Winds and Temperatures Aloft Supplement.
- Convective Outlook Supplement.
- In-Flight Weather Advisories Supplement.
- Pilot Reports Supplement.
- Pilot Briefing Supplement.
- Federal Aviation Regulations Part 91.
- Advisory Circular (91-92) Pilot’s Guide to a Preflight Briefing.
- Aeronautical Information Manual
- Risk Management Handbook.
- Airplane Flying Handbook.
- Pilot Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge.
- 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) Weather Information 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, Atmospheric Conditions:
- Baseline the discussion with a discussion of:
- Weather and atmosphere.
- Mountain wave
- Discuss air mass and weather front formation and expected conditions
- Clouds
- Introduce Turbulence.
- Thunderstorms.
- Microbursts.
- Icing/frost.
- Fog/mist.
- Obstructions to visibility.
- Baseline the discussion with a discussion of:
- Part 3, Weather Products:
- Review Sources of Weather Data
- Retrieve (3) METAR/SPECI reports from different regions and walk through each element (save for guided scenario)
- Retrieve (3) Terminal Aerodrome Forecasts from different regions and walk through each element (save for guided scenario)
- Discuss how the Graphical Forecasts for Aviation (GFA) tool ties everything together
- Retrieve the Surface Analysis Chart most appropriate and discuss the graphic, how to interpret each station, and observation/validity times associated
- Retrieve a Winds and Temperatures Aloft forecast and pick (3) stations along a route of flight
- Retrieve the Convective Outlook most appropriate and discuss the graphic, how to interpret, and forecast/validity times associated
- Retrieve (3) AIRMETs/SIGMETs from different regions (if possible) and walk through each AIRMET/SIGMET (save for guided scenario)
- Retrieve (3) PIREPs from different regions (if possible) and walk through each PIREP (save for guided scenario)
- Discuss what weather resources are available on the ground vs. inflight
- Part 4, Weather Information Guided Scenario
- Lead a guided scenario.
- Complete a personal weather minimums worksheet
- Conduct a self-briefing:
- Call flight service and request a briefing for a cross-country flight, real or for practice
- Discuss advantages and disadvantages of each product
- Review weather equipment capabilities of avionics installed on aircraft, and common equipment across general aviation
- Part 5, 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) Weather Information Lesson Plan 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 Lesson Plan Student Actions
- Complete the assigned readings (see content above).
- Complete a personal weather minimums worksheet
- Complete or review AOPA's Online Learning Course - Weather or Not Thunderstorm Challenge
- 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) Weather Information Airman Certification Standards
- Objective: To determine whether 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-8033-25 (Pilot Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge), FAA-H-8083-28 (Aviation Weather Handbook).
Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Weather Information Knowledge:
The applicant demonstrates an understanding of:-
CA.I.C.K1:
Sources of weather data (e.g., National Weather Service, Flight Service) for flight planning purposes. -
CA.I.C.K2:
Acceptable weather products and resources required for preflight planning, current and forecast weather for departure, en route, and arrival phases of flight such as:-
CA.I.C.K2a:
Airport Observations (METAR and SPECI) and Pilot Observations (PIREP). -
CA.I.C.K2b:
Surface Analysis Chart, Ceiling and Visibility Chart (CVA). -
CA.I.C.K2c:
Terminal Aerodrome Forecasts (TAF). -
CA.I.C.K2d:
Graphical Forecasts for Aviation (GFA). -
CA.I.C.K2e:
Wind and Temperature Aloft Forecast (FB). -
CA.I.C.K2f:
Convective Outlook (AC). -
CA.I.C.K2g:
Inflight Aviation Weather Advisories including Airmen's Meteorological Information (AIRMET), Significant Meteorological Information (SIGMET), and Convective SIGMET.
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CA.I.C.K3:
Meteorology applicable to the departure, en route, alternate, and destination under visual flight rules (VFR) in Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC), including expected climate and hazardous conditions such as:-
CA.I.C.K2a:
Atmospheric composition and stability. -
CA.I.C.K2b:
Wind (e.g., windshear, mountain wave, factors affecting wind, etc.). -
CA.I.C.K2c:
Temperature and heat exchange. -
CA.I.C.K2d:
Moisture/precipitation. -
CA.I.C.K2e:
Weather system formation, including air masses and fronts. -
CA.I.C.K2f:
Clouds. -
CA.I.C.K2g:
Turbulence. -
CA.I.C.K2h:
Thunderstorms and microbursts. -
CA.I.C.K2i:
Icing and freezing level information. -
CA.I.C.K2j:
Fog/mist. -
CA.I.C.K2k:
Frost. -
CA.I.C.K2l:
Obstructions to visibility (e.g., smoke, haze, volcanic ash, etc.).
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CA.I.C.K4:
Flight deck instrument displays of digital weather and aeronautical information.
Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Weather Information Risk Management:
The applicant is able to identify, assess, and mitigate risks associated with:-
CA.I.C.R1:
Making the go/no-go and continue/divert decisions, including:-
CA.I.C.R1a:
Circumstances that would make diversion prudent. -
CA.I.C.R1b:
Personal weather minimums. -
CA.I.C.R1c:
Hazardous weather conditions, including known or forecast icing or turbulence aloft.
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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.
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Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Weather Information Skills:
The applicant exhibits the skills 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.
Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Weather Information Lesson Plan Conclusion
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Re-Motivation:
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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