Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Traffic Patterns Lesson Plan

Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) • ACS Area III, Task C

The Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Traffic Patterns Lesson Plan covers the knowledge, risk management, and skills required by FAA-S-ACS-16.

Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Traffic Patterns Lesson Plan

Introduction

  • Attention Getter:

    • Present a realistic commercial helicopter operation in which the outcome depends on sound traffic patterns 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 traffic patterns.

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Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Traffic Patterns Lesson Plan

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:

Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Traffic Patterns Lesson Plan

Instructor Actions

  • State the ACS objective and establish the commercial operating context.
  • Knowledge Elements:
    • Explain, correlate, and assess the learner's understanding of Towered and nontowered airport/heliport/helipad/landing area operations and restrictions. (CH.III.C.K1)
    • Explain, correlate, and assess the learner's understanding of Traffic pattern for the current conditions. (CH.III.C.K2)
    • Explain, correlate, and assess the learner's understanding of Right-of-way rules. (CH.III.C.K3)
    • Explain, correlate, and assess the learner's understanding of Use of automated weather and airport/heliport information. (CH.III.C.K4)
  • Risk Management:
    • Use a commercial helicopter scenario to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with Collision hazards. (CH.III.C.R1)
    • Use a commercial helicopter scenario to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with Distractions, task prioritization, loss of situational awareness, or disorientation. (CH.III.C.R2)
    • Use a commercial helicopter scenario to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with Windshear and wake turbulence. (CH.III.C.R3)
  • Skill Development:
    • Demonstrate, coach, and assess the learner's ability to Identify and interpret airport/heliport/helipad/landing area runways, taxiways, markings, signs, and lighting. (CH.III.C.S1)
    • Demonstrate, coach, and assess the learner's ability to Comply with recommended helicopter traffic pattern procedures, as appropriate. (CH.III.C.S2)
    • Demonstrate, coach, and assess the learner's ability to Correct for wind drift to maintain the proper ground track. (CH.III.C.S3)
    • Demonstrate, coach, and assess the learner's ability to Maintain orientation with the runway/landing area in use, as applicable. (CH.III.C.S4)
    • Demonstrate, coach, and assess the learner's ability to Maintain traffic pattern altitude, ±100 feet, and the appropriate airspeed, ±10 knots. (CH.III.C.S5)
    • Demonstrate, coach, and assess the learner's ability to Maintain situational awareness and proper spacing from other traffic or avoid the flow of fixed-wing traffic, as appropriate. (CH.III.C.S6)
  • Syllabus Objective Coverage:
    • Explain towered and nontowered airport/heliport/helipad/landing area operations and restrictions.
    • Explain traffic pattern for the current conditions.
    • Explain right-of-way rules.
    • Apply converging-aircraft right-of-way rules without relying on them to prevent a collision.
    • Apply landing right-of-way rules without cutting in front of or overtaking another aircraft.
    • Use of automated weather and airport/heliport information.
    • Establish a reliable traffic picture before entering the pattern.
      • Explain how to establish the runway, pattern procedures, and traffic picture before entry.
      • Decide whether to enter when reported traffic and published procedures conflict.
    • Integrate with traffic without forcing spacing.
      • Explain how to manage entry and spacing when traffic positions or flight paths are uncertain.
      • Delay entry when departing aircraft create an uncertain conflict.
    • Discontinue an approach when traffic or runway occupancy makes landing unsafe.
      • Explain when traffic or runway occupancy requires a go-around.
      • Choose a timely go-around when runway availability is doubtful.
    • Reassess traffic and establish a conflict-free path during a go-around.
      • Explain why a go-around does not eliminate the need to sequence with other pattern traffic.
      • Select a go-around path that avoids known crosswind traffic.
    • Respond conservatively when other aircraft behave unexpectedly.
      • Explain how to respond to unsafe overtaking without creating another conflict.
      • Maintain predictability while managing an aircraft attempting an unsafe pass.
    • Identify and assess the hazards associated with collision hazards.
    • Select and justify effective controls for the risks associated with collision hazards.
    • Establish the runway, pattern procedures, and traffic picture before entry.
    • Select a predictable go-around and crosswind path that avoids established traffic.
    • 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.
    • Prioritize aircraft control, traffic scanning, and pattern position over nonessential cockpit tasks.
    • Recover situational awareness after a distraction before continuing a pattern maneuver.
    • Identify and assess the hazards associated with windshear and wake turbulence.
    • Select and justify effective controls for the risks associated with windshear and wake turbulence.
    • Recognize and respond to a windshear or microburst alert in the airport environment.
    • Select spacing and flight paths that avoid wake turbulence in the traffic pattern.
    • Account for wind when predicting wake-vortex movement near a runway.
    • Recognize when wake turbulence is strongest behind a departing aircraft.
    • Recognize wake-turbulence exposure behind an arriving aircraft.
    • Demonstrate identify and interpret airport/heliport/helipad/landing area runways, taxiways, markings, signs, and lighting.
    • Comply with recommended helicopter traffic pattern procedures, as appropriate.
    • Demonstrate the ability to correct for wind drift to maintain the proper ground track.
    • Maintain orientation with the runway/landing area in use, as applicable.
    • Demonstrate the ability to maintain traffic pattern altitude, ±100 feet, and the appropriate airspeed, ±10 knots.
    • Maintain situational awareness and proper spacing from other traffic or avoid the flow of fixed-wing traffic, as appropriate.
  • Require the learner to use the RFM, checklist, limitations, and current operational information, then document deficiencies and retraining.
Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Traffic Patterns Lesson Plan

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 Collision hazards.
  • Require the learner to brief, perform, or explain how to Identify and interpret airport/heliport/helipad/landing area runways, taxiways, markings, signs, and lighting.
  • 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.
Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Traffic Patterns Lesson Plan

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.
Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Traffic Patterns Lesson Plan

Airman Certification Standards

Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Traffic Patterns Airman Certification Standards

  • Objective: To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with traffic patterns.
  • References: 14 CFR part 91; AIM; FAA-H-8083-2, FAA-H-8083-21, FAA-H-8083-25
Knowledge 4 ACS Elements
  • CH.III.C.K1:
    Towered and nontowered airport/heliport/helipad/landing area operations and restrictions.
  • CH.III.C.K2:
    Traffic pattern for the current conditions.
  • CH.III.C.K3:
    Right-of-way rules.
  • CH.III.C.K4:
    Use of automated weather and airport/heliport information.
Risk Management 3 ACS Elements
  • CH.III.C.R1:
    Collision hazards.
  • CH.III.C.R2:
    Distractions, task prioritization, loss of situational awareness, or disorientation.
  • CH.III.C.R3:
    Windshear and wake turbulence.
Skills 6 ACS Elements
  • CH.III.C.S1:
    Identify and interpret airport/heliport/helipad/landing area runways, taxiways, markings, signs, and lighting.
  • CH.III.C.S3:
    Correct for wind drift to maintain the proper ground track.
  • CH.III.C.S4:
    Maintain orientation with the runway/landing area in use, as applicable.
  • CH.III.C.S5:
    Maintain traffic pattern altitude, ±100 feet, and the appropriate airspeed, ±10 knots.
  • CH.III.C.S6:
    Maintain situational awareness and proper spacing from other traffic or avoid the flow of fixed-wing traffic, as appropriate.
Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Traffic Patterns Lesson Plan

Conclusion

  • Re-Motivation:

    • Commercial-level traffic patterns 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.