Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Soft Field Takeoff & Climb Lesson Plan
Commercial Pilot (Airplane) • ACS Area V, Task C
The Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Soft/Rough Field Takeoff and Climb Lesson Plan covers the knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with soft-field takeoff, climb operations, and rejected takeoff procedures.
Introduction
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Schedule
Topic:Time:Part 1, Introduction:0:05Part 2, Factors Impacting Takeoff Performance:0:10Part 3, Takeoff Performance Calculations:0:10Part 4, Factors Impacting Climb Performance:0:10Part 5, Climb Performance Calculations:0:10Part 6, Soft/Rough Field Takeoff & Climb Procedures:0:10Part 7, Anomalies and Malfunctions:0:10Part 8, Safety:0:10Part 9, Guided Scenario(s):0:15Part 10, Conclude Lesson:0:10Remotivation/Closure:0:05Total Ground Time:0:00
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Attention Getter:
- Research and present 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:
- Soft field takeoffs maximize performance when departing from a soft or rough runway surface
- Otherwise "hard" surfaces can become "soft" following rainstorms or disturbance
- These soft and rough surfaces provide unique challenges which may make the aircraft harder to control and reduce acceleration
- Additionally, with soft and perhaps bumpy surfaces, you are at risk of getting the nose wheel stuck
- For this reason, procedures may specify a flap setting
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:
- Takeoff and Climb Supplement.
- Instructor Endorsement Log.
- Takeoff and Climb Performance Supplement.
- Wake Turbulence Supplement.
- Principles of Flight Supplement.
- Aircraft Stability Supplement.
- Visual Scanning and Collision Avoidance Supplement.
- Flight Deck Management Supplement.
- Taxiing Supplement.
- Weight and Balance Supplement.
- Fitness for Flight Supplement.
- Aeronautical Information Manual.
- Risk Management Handbook.
- Airplane Flying Handbook.
- Pilot Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge.
- Descent and Landing Performance Supplement.
- Emergency Procedures Supplement.
- Radio Communications Supplement.
- Test-taking Guidance.
- Test Guides.
- The Checkride Supplement.
Instructor Actions
- Before the lesson, review reference materials.
- Part 1, Introduce the lesson:
- Review the lesson plan, including the attention and motivator.
- Review the airman certification standards.
- Review soft/rough field takeoff and climb.
- Part 2, Factors impacting takeoff performance:
- Review surface wind impacts to soft/rough field takeoff and climb performance, including determining wind direction with or without visual indicators.
- Review wind shear impacts to soft/rough field takeoff and climb performance.
- Review wake turbulence considerations during soft/rough field takeoff and climb.
- Review outside air temperature and field elevation/density altitude impacts to soft/rough field takeoff and climb performance.
- Review runway surface condition impacts to soft/rough field takeoff and climb.
- Review runway slope impacts to soft/rough field takeoff and climb.
- Review gross weight center of gravity impacts and to soft/rough field takeoff and climb.
- Review power settings impacts to soft/rough field takeoff and climb.
- Review flight profile impacts to soft/rough field takeoff and climb.
- Review nose strut slope impacts to soft/rough field takeoff and climb.
- Review tire pressure impacts to soft/rough field takeoff and climb.
- Review ground effect.
- Review the importance of weight transfer.
- Review the four left turning tendencies.
- Part 3, Takeoff performance calculations:
- Review Performance and Limitations lesson plan (as appropriate), specifically takeoff and climb performance.
- Review weight & balance performance calculation.
- Part 4, Factors impacting climb performance:
- Review best rate/best angle of climb.
- Part 5, Climb Performance Calculations:
- Review determining Top-of-Climb (TOC), connecting TOC's relevance in cross-country flight planning.
- Review determining climb gradient, connecting climb gradient to departure procedure flight planning.
- Review determining rate-of-climb requirements, connecting climb rate to obstacle avoidance.
- Part 6, Soft/Rough Field Takeoff & Climb Procedures:
- Review taxiing, as required.
- Review aircraft configuration considerations.
- Review soft/rough field takeoff procedures.
- Review soft/rough field takeoff common errors.
- Review rejected takeoff considerations.
- Part 7, Anomalies and Malfunctions:
- Review potential emergency procedures during soft/rough field takeoff & climb.
- Review aborted/rejected takeoffs.
- Part 8, Safety:
- Review collision hazards.
- Review low altitude maneuvering, including stall, spin and controlled flight into terrain risks.
- Review distractions, task prioritization, situational awareness, and disorientation.
- Review runway incursion risks.
- Part 9, Guided Scenario(s):
- 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.
Guided Scenario(s)
- Discuss the purpose of an conditions which warrant a soft/rough field 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 soft/rough field 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:
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.
Airman Certification Standards
Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Soft/Rough Field Takeoff and Climb Lesson Plan Airman Certification Standards
- Objective: To determine whether the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with soft-field takeoff, climb operations, and rejected takeoff procedures
- 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 6 ACS Elements
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CA.IV.C.K1: Effects of atmospheric conditions, including wind, on takeoff and climb performance. -
CA.IV.C.K2: -
CA.IV.C.K3: Appropriate airplane configuration. -
CA.IV.C.K4: -
CA.IV.C.K5: -
CA.IV.C.K6:
Risk Management 6 ACS Elements
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CA.IV.C.R1: Selection of runway based on pilot capability, airplane performance and limitations, available distance, and wind. -
CA.IV.C.R2: Effects of:-
CA.IV.C.R2a: Crosswind. -
CA.IV.C.R2b: Windshear. -
CA.IV.C.R2c: Tailwind. -
CA.IV.C.R2d: Wake turbulence. -
CA.IV.C.R2e: Takeoff surface/condition.
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CA.IV.C.R3: Abnormal operations, to include planning for:-
CA.IV.C.R3a: Rejected takeoff. -
CA.IV.C.R3b: Potential engine failure in takeoff/climb phase of flight.
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CA.IV.C.R4: -
CA.IV.C.R5: Low altitude maneuvering, including stall, spin, or controlled flight into terrain (CFIT). -
CA.IV.C.R6:
Skills 14 ACS Elements
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CA.IV.C.S1: Complete the appropriate checklist(s). -
CA.IV.C.S2: -
CA.IV.C.S3: Verify assigned/correct runway. -
CA.IV.C.S4: -
CA.IV.C.S5: Position the flight controls for the existing wind, if applicable. -
CA.IV.C.S6: Clear the area, maintain necessary flight control inputs, taxi into takeoff position and align the airplane on the runway centerline without stopping, while advancing the throttle smoothly to takeoff power. -
CA.IV.C.S7: Confirm takeoff power and proper engine and flight instrument indications. -
CA.IV.C.S8: Establish and maintain a pitch attitude that transfers the weight of the airplane from the wheels to the wings as rapidly as possible. -
CA.IV.C.S9: Lift off at the lowest possible airspeed and remain in ground effect while accelerating to Vx or Vy, as appropriate. -
CA.IV.C.S10: Establish a pitch attitude for Vx or Vy, as appropriate, and maintain selected airspeed ±5 knots during the climb. -
CA.IV.C.S11: Configure the airplane after a positive rate of climb has been verified or in accordance with airplane manufacturer's instructions. -
CA.IV.C.S12: Maintain Vx or Vy, as appropriate, ±5 knots to a safe maneuvering altitude. -
CA.IV.C.S13: Maintain directional control and proper wind-drift correction throughout takeoff and climb. -
CA.IV.C.S14: noise abatement procedures, as applicable.
Conclusion
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Re-Motivation:
- Soft Field Takeoff and Climb combines performance planning, directional control, and precise aircraft configuration during a phase of flight with little time or altitude to correct errors.
- Wind, runway condition, density altitude, weight, obstacles, and aircraft limitations must be evaluated before committing to the takeoff.
- Briefing abort points, continuously evaluating acceleration and aircraft response, and acting decisively when performance is not as expected transform calculations into meaningful risk management.
- Continued practice with Soft Field Takeoff and Climb prepares commercial pilots for more demanding runway, weather, and aircraft-performance scenarios later in training.
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Closure:
- The 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.