Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Normal Approach and Landing Lesson Plan
The Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Normal Approach and Landing Lesson Plan covers the knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with normal takeoff, climb operations, and rejected takeoff procedures.
Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Normal Approach and Landing Lesson Plan
Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Normal Approach and Landing 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:
- Normal aircraft landings are the most basic of all landing procedures/maneuvers.
- The purpose of this maneuver is to safely execute a landing under normal conditions (i.e., hard surface, minimal wind, plenty of available landing distance).
- Normal landings are closely related to the performance of flight at minimum controllable airspeeds.
- While this procedure is for normal landing, assuming the wind is blowing right down the runway, that will almost never be the case.
Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Normal Approach and Landing Lesson Plan
Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Normal Approach and Landing Lesson Plan Materials
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Required Materials:
- Writing instrument (pen, marker, etc.).
- Writing surface (paper, whiteboard, etc.).
- Weight and Balance worksheet.
- Pilot Information/Operating Handbook.
- Airman Certification Standards.
- Student jacket.
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Optional Materials:
- Personal Weather Minimums Worksheet.
- Instructor endorsement log.
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Reference Materials:
- Federal Aviation Regulations Part 91.
- Federal Aviation Regulations Part 93.
- Aeronautical Information Manual.
- Risk Management Handbook.
- Airplane Flying Handbook.
- Seaplane, Skiplane, and Float/Ski Equipped Helicopter Operations 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) Normal Approach and Landing Lesson Plan
Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Normal Approach and Landing Lesson Plan Instructor Actions
- Before the lesson, review reference materials.
- Part 1, Introduce the lesson:
- Review the lesson plan, including the attention-getter and motivator.
- Review the airman certification standards.
- Introduce normal approach and landing.
- Part 2, Descent Planning:
- Introduce crabbing to compensate for winds.
- Introduce slips to landing to compensate for winds.
- Part 3, Descent Performance Calculations:
- Introduce pitch angle and it's relation to slide slope.
- Introduce vertical speed and it's relation to slide slope.
- Introduce vertical speed and it's relation to slide slope.
- Part 4, Factors Impacting Approach and Landing Performance:
- Introduce winds (airborne into surface) impacts to normal approach and landing performance, including determining wind direction with or without visual indicators.
- Introduce wind shear impacts to normal takeoff and climb performance.
- Introduce wake turbulence considerations during normal approach and landing.
- Introduce outside air temperature and field elevation/density altitude impacts to normal takeoff and climb performance.
- Introduce runway surface condition impacts to normal approach and landing.
- Introduce runway slope impacts to normal approach and landing.
- Introduce gross weight impacts and to normal approach and landing.
- Introduce flight profile impacts to normal approach and landing.
- Introduce tire pressure impacts to normal approach and landing.
- Part 5, Landing Performance Calculations:
- Review Performance and Limitations lesson plan (as appropriate), specifically takeoff and climb performance.
- Review weight & balance performance calculation.
- Part 4, Normal Approach & Landing Procedures:
- Review taxiing, as required.
- Introduce aircraft configuration considerations.
- Introduce normal landing procedures.
- Introduce multiengine considerations, as appropriate.
- Introduce normal landing common errors.
- Introduce rejected takeoff considerations.
- Part 7, Anomalies and Malfunctions:
- Introduce potential emergency procedures during normal takeoff & climb.
- Introduce aborted/rejected landing.
- Part 8, Safety:
- Introduce collision hazards.
- Introduce low altitude maneuvering, including stall, spin and controlled flight into terrain risks.
- Introduce distractions, task prioritization, situational awareness, and disorientation.
- Introduce runway incursion risks.
- Part 9, Guided Scenario:
- Part 10, Conclude Lesson:
- Relate lesson to power-on stalls.
- 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) Normal Approach and Landing Lesson Plan
Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Normal Approach and Landing Lesson Plan Guided Scenario(s)
- Discuss the purpose of an conditions which warrant a normal takeoff and climb procedure.
- Conduct a weight and balance calculation for the day.
- Conduct a takeoff distance calculation for the day, noting where takeoff should occur in reference to the airport runways (save for later in lesson)
- Provide simulated variables that cover different airfield elevations (takeoff distance), temperatures, surface conditions, and winds for subsequent calculations and discuss on how they effect takeoff and climb performance.
- Conduct a normal takeoff and compare actual rotation location to calculated location.
- Discuss how crosswind takeoffs.
- How do control inputs change as the aircraft accelerates?
- How does the pilot manage the liftoff/transition to climb?
- Discuss rejecting the takeoff in the rain/snow.
- How would rejecting a takeoff on a wet runway change a pilot's action?
- How would performance change?
- Discuss an engine failure on takeoff roll, just after takeoff, and while in the climb.
- How does a pilot recognize loss of performance? What is normal RPM expected?
- How do pilot options change as the aircraft gains altitude?
- Discuss the importance of checking for aircraft on final before taxiing onto the runway.
- What are some reasons pilots may be on final without other pilots otherwise knowing?
- Discuss hazards by providing an example of taking off after a larger aircraft (windshear).
- Discuss minimum safe altitudes.
- Describe minimum safe altitudes for a given area?
- Discuss how minimum safe altitudes apply to takeoff/airport operations?
- Discuss reasons where Vx and Vy would be most appropriate for climbout.
- Discuss risk in climb (power-on stall) as well as terrain avoidance being low altitude, nose-high, high workload.
- Discuss why noise abatement procedures exist and where to find them.
- Have student locate noise abatement procedures for the local or a nearby airport.
- Related scenarios:
Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Normal Approach and Landing Lesson Plan
Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Normal Approach and Landing Lesson Plan Student Actions
- Complete the assigned readings (see content above).
- 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) Normal Approach and Landing Lesson Plan
Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Normal Approach and Landing Airman Certification Standards
- Objective: To determine whether the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with normal approach and landing with emphasis on proper use and coordination of flight controls
- Note: If a crosswind condition does not exist, the applicant’s knowledge of crosswind elements must be evaluated through oral testing
- References: AIM; FAA-H-8083-2 (Risk Management Handbook), FAA-H-8083-3 (Airplane Flying Handbook), FAA-H-8083-23 (Seaplane, Skiplane, and Float/Ski Equipped Helicopter Operations Handbook), FAA-H-8083-25 (Pilot Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge); POH/AFM
Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Normal Approach and Landing Knowledge:
The applicant demonstrates an understanding of:-
CA.IV.B.K1:
A stabilized approach, including energy management concepts. -
CA.IV.B.K2:
Effects of atmospheric conditions, including wind, on approach and landing performance. -
CA.IV.B.K3:
Wind correction techniques on approach and landing.
Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Normal Approach and Landing Risk Management:
The applicant is able to identify, assess, and mitigate risks associated with:-
CA.IV.B.R1:
Selection of runway/landing surface, approach path, and touchdown area based on pilot capability, aircraft performance and limitations, available distance, and wind. -
CA.IV.B.R2:
Effects of:-
CA.IV.B.R2a:
Crosswind. -
CA.IV.B.R2b:
Windshear. -
CA.IV.B.R2c:
Tailwind. -
CA.IV.B.R2d:
Wake turbulence. -
CA.IV.B.R2e:
Runway surface/condition.
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CA.IV.B.R3:
Planning for:-
CA.IV.B.R3a:
Rejected landing and go-around. -
CA.IV.B.R3b:
Land and hold short operations (LAHSO).
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CA.IV.B.R4:
Collision hazards. -
CA.IV.B.R5:
Low altitude maneuvering, including stall, spin, or controlled flight into terrain (CFIT). -
CA.IV.B.R6:
Distractions, task prioritization, loss of situational awareness, or disorientation.
Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Normal Approach and Landing Skills:
The applicant exhibits the skills to:-
CA.IV.B.S1:
Complete the appropriate checklist(s). -
CA.IV.B.S2:
Make radio calls as appropriate. -
CA.IV.B.S3:
Ensure the airplane is aligned with the correct/assigned runway or landing surface. -
CA.IV.B.S4:
Scan the runway or landing surface and adjoining area for traffic and obstructions. -
CA.IV.B.S5:
Select and aim for a suitable touchdown point considering the wind, landing surface, and obstructions. -
CA.IV.B.S6:
Establish the recommended approach and landing configuration, airspeed, and trim, and adjust pitch attitude and power as required to maintain a stabilized approach. -
CA.IV.B.S7:
Maintain manufacturer’s published approach airspeed or in its absence not more than 1.3 times the stalling speed or the minimum steady flight speed in the landing configuration (VSO), ±5 knots with gust factor applied. -
CA.IV.B.S8:
Maintain directional control and appropriate crosswind correction throughout the approach and landing. -
CA.IV.B.S9:
Make smooth, timely, and correct control application during round out and touchdown. -
CA.IV.B.S10:
Touch down at a proper pitch attitude, within 200 feet beyond or on the specified point, with no side drift, and with the airplane’s longitudinal axis aligned with and over the runway center/landing path. -
CA.IV.B.S11:
Execute a timely go-around if the approach cannot be made within the tolerances specified above or for any other condition that may result in an unsafe approach or landing. -
CA.IV.B.S12:
Utilize runway incursion avoidance procedures.
Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Normal Approach and Landing Lesson Plan
Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Normal Approach and Landing Lesson Plan Conclusion
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Re-Motivation:
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Closure:
- The FAA provides test-taking guidance and test guides on its website.
- To learn more about earning 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.