Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Runway/Taxiway/Heliport/Helipad Signs, Markings, and Lighting Lesson Plan
Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) • ACS Area III, Task A
The Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Runway/Taxiway/Heliport/Helipad Signs, Markings, and Lighting Lesson Plan covers the knowledge, risk management, and skills required by FAA-S-ACS-16.
Introduction
Attention Getter:
- Present a realistic commercial helicopter operation in which the outcome depends on sound runway/taxiway/heliport/helipad signs, markings, and lighting knowledge, risk management, and technique.
- Ask the learner to identify the earliest decision or control input that protects the available safety margin.
Motivator:
- To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with runway/taxiway/heliport/helipad signs, markings and lighting.
Materials
Required Materials:
- FAA-S-ACS-16, Commercial Pilot for Rotorcraft Category Helicopter Rating Airman Certification Standards.
- Model-specific Rotorcraft Flight Manual (RFM), approved checklist, and performance data.
- Student training record and applicable lesson records.
Reference Materials:
- FAA-S-ACS-16.
- Helicopter Flying Handbook.
- Task references: 14 CFR part 91; AIM; FAA-H-8083-2, FAA-H-8083-21, FAA-H-8083-25
Instructor Actions
- State the ACS objective and establish the commercial operating context.
- Knowledge Elements:
- Explain, correlate, and assess the learner's understanding of Airport runway, heliport, helipad, taxiway signs, markings, and lighting. (CH.III.A.K1)
- Explain, correlate, and assess the learner's understanding of Airport movement area. (CH.III.A.K2)
- Risk Management:
- Use a commercial helicopter scenario to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with Interpretation of signs, markings, or lighting. (CH.III.A.R1)
- Use a commercial helicopter scenario to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with Landing site dimensions and limitations. (CH.III.A.R2)
- Use a commercial helicopter scenario to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with Conflict with aircraft, vehicles, and persons. (CH.III.A.R3)
- Use a commercial helicopter scenario to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with Distractions, task prioritization, loss of situational awareness, or disorientation. (CH.III.A.R4)
- Use a commercial helicopter scenario to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with Runway incursion. (CH.III.A.R5)
- Skill Development:
- Demonstrate, coach, and assess the learner's ability to Comply with airport/heliport/helipad signs, markings, and lighting encountered, as applicable to the helicopter provided for the practical test. (CH.III.A.S1)
- Syllabus Objective Coverage:
- Explain airport runway, heliport, helipad, taxiway signs, markings, and lighting.
- Explain airport movement area.
- Assess and manage interpretation of signs, markings, or lighting.
- Assess and manage landing site dimensions and limitations.
- Assess and manage conflict with aircraft, vehicles, and persons.
- Identify and assess the hazards associated with distractions, task prioritization, loss of situational awareness, or disorientation.
- Select and justify effective controls for the risks associated with distractions, task prioritization, loss of situational awareness, or disorientation.
- Manage takeoff distractions.
- Recover from a checklist interruption.
- Preserve situational awareness during climb.
- Apply in a scenario: Checklist Interruption.
- Apply in a scenario: Passenger Brief.
- Identify and assess the hazards associated with runway incursion.
- Select and justify effective controls for the risks associated with runway incursion.
- Comply with airport/heliport/helipad signs, markings, and lighting encountered, as applicable to the helicopter provided for the practical test.
- Require the learner to use the RFM, checklist, limitations, and current operational information, then document deficiencies and retraining.
Guided Scenario(s)
- Place the learner in a realistic commercial helicopter operation involving passengers, schedule pressure, changing weather or landing-area conditions, and aircraft performance limitations.
- Require the learner to identify, assess, and mitigate Interpretation of signs, markings, or lighting.
- Require the learner to brief, perform, or explain how to Comply with airport/heliport/helipad signs, markings, and lighting encountered, as applicable to the helicopter provided for the practical test.
- Introduce a meaningful change in wind, power available, landing area, traffic, system status, fuel, or external pressure and require a new decision.
- Conclude with a self-critique tied to every applicable ACS element and the commercial standard of care.
Student Actions
- Complete assigned readings and review the model-specific RFM and checklist.
- Explain each applicable knowledge element in operational context.
- Identify, assess, and mitigate each applicable risk.
- Demonstrate or explain each applicable skill within ACS standards and helicopter limitations.
- Perform a self-assessment and make appropriate go/no-go, continue/divert, or discontinue decisions.
Airman Certification Standards
Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Runway/Taxiway/Heliport/Helipad Signs, Markings, and Lighting Airman Certification Standards
- Objective: To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with runway/taxiway/heliport/helipad signs, markings and lighting.
- References: 14 CFR part 91; AIM; FAA-H-8083-2, FAA-H-8083-21, FAA-H-8083-25
Knowledge 2 ACS Elements
-
CH.III.A.K1: Airport runway, heliport, helipad, taxiway signs, markings, and lighting. -
CH.III.A.K2: Airport movement area.
Risk Management 5 ACS Elements
-
CH.III.A.R1: Interpretation of signs, markings, or lighting. -
CH.III.A.R2: Landing site dimensions and limitations. -
CH.III.A.R3: Conflict with aircraft, vehicles, and persons. -
CH.III.A.R4: Distractions, task prioritization, loss of situational awareness, or disorientation. -
CH.III.A.R5: Runway incursion.
Skills 1 ACS Element
-
CH.III.A.S1: Comply with airport/heliport/helipad signs, markings, and lighting encountered, as applicable to the helicopter provided for the practical test.
Conclusion
Re-Motivation:
- Commercial-level runway/taxiway/heliport/helipad signs, markings, and lighting proficiency protects passengers, the aircraft, and the operator's safety margin.
Closure:
- Review the objective, identified risks, performance strengths, and items requiring additional training.
- Record the learner's progress and assign the next applicable lesson.