Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Flight Deck Management Lesson Plan

Commercial Pilot (Airplane) • ACS Area II, Task B

The Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Flight Deck Management covers the knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with flight deck management practices.

Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Flight Deck Management Lesson Plan

Introduction

  • Schedule

    Topic:
    Time:
    Attention/Motivator:
    0:05
    Part 1, Lesson Introduction:
    0:05
    Part 2, Flight Deck Management:
    0:15
    Part 3, Avionics and Automation:
    0:15
    Part 4, Flight Deck Management Guided Scenario(s):
    0:20
    Part 5, Lesson Conclusion:
    0:05
    Remotivation/Closure:
    0:05
    Total Ground Time:
    0:00

  • Attention-Getter:

    • Research a 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.

  • Motivator:

    • Cockpit management are the actions and procedures, starting with preflight, in which all necessary equipment, documents, checklists, and navigation charts appropriate for the flight are on board and easily accessible.
    • With this comes the need to keep things organized to reduce Foreign Object Debris (FOD) and confusion in flight.

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Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Flight Deck Management Lesson Plan

Materials

Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Flight Deck Management Lesson Plan

Instructor Actions

  • Before the lesson, review reference materials.
  • Part 1, Lesson Introduction:
  • Part 2, Flight Deck Management:
    • Teach the required contents and timing of an appropriate passenger briefing, including operation and required use of safety belts and shoulder harnesses. (CA.II.B.K1)
    • Review aircraft preflight assessment flight deck considerations:
      • Use the appropriate normal, abnormal, and emergency checklists without allowing checklist use to replace situational awareness. (CA.II.B.K2)
      • Verify that installed and portable navigation systems contain current, appropriate navigation data for the proposed operation. (CA.II.B.K3)
      • Secure baggage, cargo, loose equipment, and other items against movement, interference with controls, and evacuation hazards. (CA.II.B.K4)
    • Establish passenger expectations, sterile-aircraft periods, and positive-transfer procedures to prevent passenger distractions during critical phases of flight. (CA.II.B.R3)
    • Review Aeronautical Decision Making, Single-Pilot Resource Management, and Crew Resource Management.
  • Part 3, Avionics and Automation:
    • Review flying with inoperative equipment. (CA.II.B.R2)
    • Assess the benefits, limitations, failure modes, programming errors, mode confusion, workload, and distraction risks associated with installed automation and portable electronic devices. (CA.II.B.R1)
    • Practice verifying automation modes and navigation data, monitoring system performance, maintaining manual-flight proficiency, and reverting to a lower level of automation when appropriate.
  • Part 4, Guided Scenario:
    • Have the learner inspect and secure all cabin items, baggage, and cargo for the assigned commercial flight. (CA.II.B.S1)
    • Require a complete passenger briefing that identifies the pilot-in-command and addresses restraints, doors, passenger conduct, sterile-aircraft expectations, propeller avoidance, and emergency procedures. (CA.II.B.S2)
    • Have the learner correctly program, verify, monitor, and manage the aircraft's automation, including recognizing and correcting an introduced programming or mode-selection error. (CA.II.B.S3)
    • Introduce a passenger distraction, equipment limitation, or automation anomaly and require the learner to apply ADM and SRM/CRM while maintaining aircraft control and situational awareness. (CA.II.B.S4)
  • Part 5, 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) Flight Deck Management Lesson Plan

Guided Scenario(s)

  • Discuss varying experience of passengers, assumptions, and why there is a legal requirement to brief passengers.
  • Discuss impacts of missing a checklist item.
  • Discuss impact of a shifting center of gravity from cargo movement.
  • Discuss potential distractions and the businest phases of flight.
  • Related scenarios:
    • None.
  • Aids: None.
Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Flight Deck Management Lesson Plan

Student Actions

Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Flight Deck Management Lesson Plan

Airman Certification Standards

Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Flight Deck Management Airman Certification Standards

Knowledge 4 ACS Elements
  • CA.II.B.K1:
    Passenger briefing requirements, including operation and required use of safety restraint systems.
  • CA.II.B.K2:
    Use of appropriate checklists.
  • CA.II.B.K3:
    Requirements for current and appropriate navigation data.
  • CA.II.B.K4:
    Securing items and cargo.
Risk Management 3 ACS Elements
  • CA.II.B.R1:
    Use of systems or equipment, including automation and portable electronic devices.
  • CA.II.B.R2:
    Inoperative equipment.
  • CA.II.B.R3:
    Passenger distractions.
Skills 4 ACS Elements
  • CA.II.B.S1:
    Secure all items in the aircraft.
  • CA.II.B.S2:
    Conduct an appropriate passenger briefing, including identifying the pilot-in-command (PIC), use of safety belts, shoulder harnesses, doors, passenger conduct, sterile aircraft, propeller blade avoidance, and emergency procedures.
  • CA.II.B.S3:
    Properly program and manage the aircraft's automation, as applicable.
  • CA.II.B.S4:
    Appropriately manage risks by utilizing ADM, including SRM/CRM.
Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Flight Deck Management Lesson Plan

Conclusion

  • Re-Motivation:

    • Flight Deck Management reinforces that safe flight depends on disciplined preparation, positive aircraft control, and attention to detail before and after the airborne portion of a flight.
    • Checklists, clear communication, traffic awareness, configuration verification, and early recognition of discrepancies prevent routine ground tasks from creating avoidable hazards.
    • Managing distractions and continuously confirming aircraft position, condition, and readiness turn standard procedures into effective risk controls.
    • Continued practice with Flight Deck Management prepares commercial pilots for busier environments, unfamiliar aircraft, and more complex operations later in training.

  • Closure:

    • The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) provides test-taking guidance and test guides on its website.
    • To learn more about preparing for the practical test, visit the checkride page.
    • Advise students that this lesson will be used as a starting point for the next lesson.
    • Assign study materials for the next lesson.