Commercial Pilot (Airplane)
Preflight Assessment Lesson Plan

The commercial pilot (airplane) preflight assessment lesson plan covers knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with preparation for safe flight.


Attention

Attention

Motivator

Motivator
  • Aeronautical Decision-Making is the systematic approach to consistently determine the best decision in response to a given set of circumstances
  • Safe flying requires the effective integration of three separate sets of skills:
    • Most noticeable are the basic stick-and-rudder skills needed to control the airplane
    • Next are skills related to the proficient operation of aircraft systems
    • Last but not least, are Aeronautical Decision-Making (ADM) skills
  • ADM is an ever evolving systematic approach to the mental process (risk and stress management) used by pilots to consistently determine the best course of action in response to a given set of circumstances
  • An understanding of the decision-making process provides a pilot with a foundation for developing ADM skills
    • It is what a pilot intends to do based on the latest information he or she has
    • Approaches such as the 5P, 3P, and DECIDE models create a structure to the dynamic process of decision-making
  • While these models guide pilots help prevent facing the consequences of improper decision-making, decision-making in a dynamic environment provides unique challenges each flight
  • To maintain readiness for dynamic situations, pilots must continuously practice maintaining situational awareness to their surroundings
  • Two defining elements of ADM are hazard and risk
  • While the FAA strives to eliminate errors through technology, training, systems, and improved flight safety programs, one fact remains: humans make errors
  • There is an element of risk in every flight, and therefore, pilots must apply the principles of risk management throughout the ADM process

Overview

Overview


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

Required Materials

Required Materials
  • Student Jacket, Paper & Pen or Marker & Whiteboard, aircraft for preflight demo

Instructor Actions

Instructor Actions
  • Step 1, Lesson Introduction:
  • Part 2, Review Airworthiness:
    • Review the definition and how to determine airworthiness (introduced on airworthiness-requirements lesson plan).
    • Review roles and responsibilities of the owner and operator assuming they are not the same individual or entity (introduced on airworthiness-requirements lesson plan).
    • Review the documents required for an aircraft to be considered airworthy (introduced on airworthiness-requirements lesson plan).
      • Review airworthiness documents in the context of the acroynm "ARROW" or "airworthiness certificate, registration certificate, radio certificate, operating handbook, and weight and balance
      • Contrast the responsibility for maintaining airworthiness and the determination of airworthiness
  • Step 4, Aircraft Preflight:
  • Step 3, Review Pilot Self-Assessments:
    • Perform self-assessment, including fitness for flight and personal minimums, for actual flight or a scenario given by the instructor (introduced on human factors lesson plan).
  • Part 5, Other Assessment Considerations:
  • Part 6, Guided Scenario
  • Part 7, 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 student's jacket, as required.

Student Actions

Student Actions

Preflight Assessment Guided Scenario(s)

Preflight Assessment Guided Scenario(s)
  • The pilot is flying to a family wedding, but is behind schedule. The pilot is renting their usual aircraft, but notices the airworthiness certificate is missing from the aircraft. However, quickly looking through their phone, the pilot is able to find a photo of the airworthiness certificate that is completely legible. The pilot conducts a thorough preflight and flies to the wedding without incident...
    • Was the aircraft airworthy?
    • Was a photo of the airworthiness certificate sufficient?
    • Should the pilot have done anything differently? What?
  • The pilot discoveres some dents on the aircraft. Is the aircraft safe to fly?
    • How does surface deformation hazards differ between monocoque and semi-monocoque designs?
    • Is it skin damage, or impact formers as well?
    • Is there deformation affecting a large portion of the aircraft, or is it in a localized area?
  • Related scenarios:
    • None

Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Preflight Assessment Airman Certification Standards

Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Preflight Assessment Airman Certification Standards

Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Preflight Assessment Knowledge:

The applicant demonstrates an understanding of:

Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Preflight Assessment Risk Management:

The applicant is able to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with:

  • CA.II.A.R1:

    Pilot.

  • CA.II.A.R2:

    Aircraft.

  • CA.II.A.R3:

    Environment (e.g., weather, airports, airspace, terrain, obstacles).

  • CA.II.A.R4:

    External pressures.

  • CA.II.A.R5:

    Aviation security concerns.

Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Preflight Assessment Skills:

The applicant exhibits the skills to:

  • CA.II.A.S1:

    Inspect the airplane with reference to an appropriate checklist.

  • CA.II.A.S2:

    Verify the airplane is in condition for safe flight and conforms to its type design.

  • CA.II.A.S3:

    Perform self-assessment.

  • CA.II.A.S4:

    Continue to assess the environment for safe flight.

Re-Motivation

Re-Motivation

Closure

Closure
  • Advise students that this lesson will be used as a starting point for the next lesson
  • Assign study materials for the next lesson

Reference Materials

Reference Materials