Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Spin Awareness Lesson Plan
The Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Spin Awareness Lesson Plan covers the knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with causes and procedures for recovery from unintentional spins and understands the risk associated with unintentional spins.
Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Spin Awareness Lesson Plan Introduction
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Schedule:
Topic:Time:Attention/Motivator:0:05Part 1, Lesson Introduction:0:05Part 2, Spin Awareness:0:10Part 3, Spin Awareness Risk Management:0:10Part 4, Spin Awareness Guided Scenario(s):0:20Part 5, Lesson Conclusion:0:05Remotivation/Closure:0:05Total Ground Time:0:00
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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:
- Practicing spins build awareness regarding the recognition of, entry into, and recovery from spins
- An aggravated stall resulting in auto-rotation about the spin axis wherein the aircraft follows a corkscrew path due to one wing being more stalled than another
- Characterized by high AOA, low airspeed, and high rate of descent where all aerodynamic and inertial forces are balanced
- It is this balance that must be upset to recover
- Spins can be entered from any flight attitude and from practically any airspeed
- A spin is initiated where the pilot includes or fails to include rudder, aileron, or power individually or in combination during a stall
- Auto-rotation occurs from an asymmetrical stall (think skid)
- There is an abrupt loss of control when leaving the stall and entering the spin
- Certification standards require the practice of spin procedures
- Ensure to follow appropriate regulations related to spins throughout the conduct of the maneuver
Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Spin Awareness Lesson Plan 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:
- Aircraft Categories and Classes Supplement.
- Pilot Certificates and Ratings Supplement.
- Pilot Logbooks Supplement.
- Medical Certificate Supplement.
- Currency Supplement.
- Fitness for Flight Supplement.
- Aeronautical Decision-Making Supplement.
- Federal Aviation Regulations Part 61.
- Federal Aviation Regulations Part 68.
- Federal Aviation Regulations Part 91.
- Advisory Circular 68-1.
- 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) Spin Awareness Lesson Plan 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.
- Part 2, Spin Awareness:
- Review the cause of stalls and what factors increase/decrease stall speed (AOA)
- Discuss spin awareness
- Discuss sources of inadvertent stalls becoming spins
- Discuss auto-rotation
- Discuss spirals
- Discuss phases of a spin
- Discuss regulations related to spins
- Discuss aerodynamics
- Discuss aircraft requirements
- Discuss spin recovery procedure
- Discuss spin recovery common errors
- Part 3, Spin Awareness Risk Management:
- Part 4, Spin Awareness Guided Scenario(s):
- Lead a guided scenario.
- 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) Spin Awareness Lesson Plan Guided Scenario(s)
- While turning base to final, the pilot notices they're about to overshoot the runway.
- Should the pilot just overshoot final toward the other side of the airport?
- Should the pilot increase the angle of bank and get back on final to avoid potentially flying into other aircraft's flight paths?
- Are there any other actions the pilot should or should not perform?
Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Spin Awareness Lesson Plan Student Actions
- Complete the assigned readings (see content above).
- Register for the WINGS program, if not done so already.
- Complete initial BasicMed requirements.
- Complete a student pilot certificate application through the Integrated Airman Certification and Rating Application (IACRA) website or by paper using FAA form 8710-1.
- Complete an electronic application for an FAA Medical Clearance, Medical Certificate, or Student Pilot Medical Certificate through the FAA's MedXPress system.
- Complete or review AOPA's Online Learning Course - Transitioning to Other Airplanes.
- Perform self-assessment, including fitness for flight and personal minimums, as appropriate.
- Ask pertinent questions.
- Make a go/no-go decision, as appropriate.
Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Spin Awareness Airman Certification Standards
- Objective: To determine whether the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge of the causes and procedures for recovery from unintentional spins and understands the risk associated with unintentional spins
- References: AC 61-67; FAA-H-8083-2 (Risk Management Handbook), FAA-H-8083-3 (Airplane Flying Handbook), FAA-H-8083-25 (Pilot Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge); POH/AFM.
Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Spin Awareness Knowledge:
The applicant demonstrates an understanding of:-
CA.VII.D.K1:
Aerodynamics associated with stalls in various airplane configurations, including the relationship between angle of attack, airspeed, load factor, power setting, airplane weight and center of gravity, airplane attitude, and yaw effects. -
CA.VII.D.K2:
What causes a spin and how to identify the entry, incipient, and developed phases of a spin. -
CA.VII.D.K3:
Spin recovery procedure.
Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Spin Awareness Risk Management:
The applicant is able to identify, assess, and mitigate risks associated with:-
CA.VII.D.R1:
Factors and situations that could lead to inadvertent spin and loss of control. -
CA.VII.D.R2:
Range and limitations of stall warning indicators (e.g., aircraft buffet, stall horn, etc.). -
CA.VII.D.R3:
Spin recovery procedure. -
CA.VII.D.R5:
Collision hazards. -
CA.VII.D.R6:
Distractions, task prioritization, loss of situational awareness, or disorientation.
Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Spin Awareness Skills:
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N/A:
N/A.
Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Spin Awareness Lesson Plan Conclusion
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Re-Motivation:
- With a foundation on the requirements to meet certification standards, students can envision a path to certification completion.
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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 earning the practical test, visit the checkride page.