Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Power off 180 Accuracy Approach & Landing Lesson Plan

Commercial Pilot (Airplane) • ACS Area V, Task M

The Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Power-Off 180° Approach and Landing Lesson Plan covers the knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with Power-Off 180 Degree Accuracy Approach and Landing.

Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Power off 180 Accuracy Approach & Landing Lesson Plan

Introduction

  • Schedule

    Topic:
    Time:
    Part 1, Introduce the lesson:
    0:05
    Part 2, Risk Management and Guided Scenario:
    0:10
    Part 3, Power-Off 180° Approach and Landing Procedure:
    0:15
    Part 4, Conclude Lesson:
    0:10
    Remotivation/Closure:
    0:05
    Total Ground Time:
    0:00

  • Attention Getter:

  • Motivator:

    • A power-off 180° accuracy approach develops the planning, energy management, judgment, and precision needed to reach a selected landing point without engine power.
    • The maneuver makes the consequences of wind, configuration, ground track, and delayed decisions immediately visible while building skills applicable to an actual engine failure.

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Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Power off 180 Accuracy Approach & Landing Lesson Plan

Materials

Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Power off 180 Accuracy Approach & Landing Lesson Plan

Instructor Actions

  • Review the maneuver's common errors and assess the learner's understanding of their mitigations.
  • Before the lesson, review reference materials.
  • Part 1, Introduce the lesson:
  • Part 2, Power-Off 180° Approach and Landing Procedure:
    • Use an aircraft- or scenario-specific example, then have the learner explain a stabilized approach and energy-management concepts as applied to a power-off accuracy landing. (CA.IV.M.K1)
    • Use an aircraft- or scenario-specific example, then have the learner explain how altitude, wind, atmospheric conditions, airplane configuration, and available landing distance affect the maneuver. (CA.IV.M.K2)
    • Use an aircraft- or scenario-specific example, then have the learner explain wind-correction techniques and how the selected key positions, ground track, and aiming point must be adjusted throughout the approach. (CA.IV.M.K3)
    • Use an aircraft- or scenario-specific example, then have the learner explain the power-off 180° procedure, including planning, configuration, airspeed, touchdown standards, and go-around considerations. (CA.IV.M.K4)
    • Demonstrate and assess the complete maneuver:
      • Complete the appropriate checklist and make radio calls as appropriate. (CA.IV.M.S1, CA.IV.M.S2)
      • Select a suitable touchdown point and plan the maneuver considering wind, landing surface, traffic, obstacles, and airplane performance. (CA.IV.M.S3)
      • Close the throttle abeam the selected touchdown point and establish the recommended glide airspeed, adjusted for gusts as appropriate. (CA.IV.M.S4, CA.IV.M.S5)
      • Configure the airplane and vary ground track, flap setting, and airspeed as necessary while maintaining coordinated flight. (CA.IV.M.S6, CA.IV.M.S7)
      • Touch down in a normal landing attitude at or within 200 feet beyond the specified point, with no side drift and the longitudinal axis aligned with the runway centerline. (CA.IV.M.S8)
  • Part 3, Risk Management and Guided Scenario:
    • Manage the risk of selecting an unsuitable touchdown point or delaying necessary corrections. (CA.IV.M.R1)
    • Evaluate wind, windshear, turbulence, runway condition, traffic, obstacles, and changing atmospheric conditions before and during the maneuver. (CA.IV.M.R2, CA.IV.M.R2a, CA.IV.M.R2b, CA.IV.M.R2c, CA.IV.M.R2d, CA.IV.M.R2e)
    • Manage abnormal operations, including a go-around or rejected landing and a potential engine failure during approach or landing. (CA.IV.M.R3, CA.IV.M.R3a, CA.IV.M.R3b)
    • Manage collision hazards, low-altitude stall/spin or CFIT hazards, distractions, task prioritization, loss of situational awareness, and disorientation. (CA.IV.M.R4, CA.IV.M.R5, CA.IV.M.R6)
    • Establish objective go-around criteria and discuss when continuing the maneuver becomes unsafe. (CA.IV.M.R7)
    • Use the interactive guided scenario to have the learner plan, fly, evaluate, and explain the maneuver while responding to changing wind, traffic, and energy conditions.
  • Part 4, Conclude Lesson:
    • Use guided questioning to have the learner explain and apply risk management: Is this procedure low, medium, or high risk?
    • Use guided questioning to have the learner explain and apply calculated versus actual performance.
    • Tie lesson back to previous lessons (power-off stalls) 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 the instructor log and student progress. Select the student and sign off completed objectives. If the student does not have a connected account, record the update manually in the instructor log and student training record.
Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Power off 180 Accuracy Approach & Landing Lesson Plan

Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Power off 180 Accuracy Approach & Landing Lesson Plan Interactive Guided Scenario

Integrated guided scenario for Commercial Pilot Airplane Power Off 180 Accuracy Approach And Landing.

Commercial Pilot Airplane Power Off 180 Accuracy Approach And Landing Guided Flight

Work through one integrated 98-decision guided scenario combining 7 linked lesson topics into a comprehensive training exercise.

98 Decisions7 TopicsIntegrated Guided ScenarioConsequence-BasedRetry and Debrief
Decision 1
0%

Scenario Complete

Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Power off 180 Accuracy Approach & Landing Lesson Plan

Student Actions

Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Power off 180 Accuracy Approach & Landing Lesson Plan

Airman Certification Standards

Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Power-Off 180° Accuracy Approach and Landing (ASEL, ASES) Airman Certification Standards

  • Objective: To determine whether the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with power-off 180° Accuracy Approach and Landing (ASEL, ASES)
  • Note: See Appendix 3: Aircraft, Equipment, and Operational Requirements & Limitations for information related to this Task
  • References: AIM; 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.
Knowledge 4 ACS Elements
  • CA.IV.M.K1:
    A stabilized approach, including energy management concepts.
  • CA.IV.M.K2:
    Effects of atmospheric conditions, including wind, on approach and landing performance.
  • CA.IV.M.K3:
    Wind correction techniques on approach and landing.
  • CA.IV.M.K4:
    Purpose of power-off accuracy approach.
Risk Management 7 ACS Elements
  • CA.IV.M.R1:
    Selection of approach path and touchdown area based on pilot capability, airplane performance and limitations, available distance, and wind.
  • CA.IV.M.R2:
    Effects of:
    • CA.IV.M.R2a:
      Crosswind.
    • CA.IV.M.R2b:
      Windshear.
    • CA.IV.M.R2c:
      Tailwind.
    • CA.IV.M.R2d:
      Wake turbulence.
    • CA.IV.M.R2e:
      Water surface/condition.
  • CA.IV.M.R3:
    Planning for:
    • CA.IV.M.R3a:
      Rejected landing and go-around.
    • CA.IV.M.R3b:
      Land and hold short operations (LAHSO).
  • CA.IV.M.R4:
    Collision hazards.
  • CA.IV.M.R5:
    Low altitude maneuvering, including stall, spin, or controlled flight into terrain (CFIT).
  • CA.IV.M.R6:
    Distractions, task prioritization, loss of situational awareness, or disorientation.
  • CA.IV.M.R7:
    Forward slip operations, including fuel flowage, tail stalls with flaps, and airspeed control.
Skills 8 ACS Elements
  • CA.IV.M.S1:
    Complete the appropriate checklist(s).
  • CA.IV.M.S2:
    Make radio calls as appropriate.
  • CA.IV.M.S3:
    Plan and follow a flightpath to the selected landing area considering altitude, wind, terrain, and obstructions.
  • CA.IV.M.S4:
    Select the most suitable touchdown point based on wind, landing surface, obstructions, and aircraft limitations.
  • CA.IV.M.S5:
    Position airplane on downwind leg, parallel to landing runway.
  • CA.IV.M.S6:
    Correctly configure the airplane.
  • CA.IV.M.S7:
    As necessary, correlate crosswind with direction of forward slip and transition to side slip before touchdown.
  • CA.IV.M.S8:
    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 centerline or landing path, as applicable.
Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Power off 180 Accuracy Approach & Landing Lesson Plan

Conclusion

  • Re-Motivation:

    • Power Off 180 Accuracy Approach and Landing requires disciplined planning, stabilized energy management, and precise control from the approach through touchdown and rollout.
    • Evaluating wind, runway conditions, obstacles, aircraft performance, and personal limitations helps pilots recognize when an approach remains safe and when a timely go-around is required.
    • Consistent airspeed control, runway alignment, traffic scanning, communication, and checklist discipline integrate aircraft handling with sound operational judgment.
    • Continued practice with Power Off 180 Accuracy Approach and Landing prepares commercial pilots for changing conditions and increasingly demanding landing scenarios in later 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.