Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Emergency Equipment and Survival Gear Lesson Plan

Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) • ACS Area VIII, Task K

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

Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Emergency Equipment and Survival Gear Lesson Plan

Introduction

  • Attention Getter:

    • Present a realistic commercial helicopter operation in which the outcome depends on sound emergency equipment and survival gear 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 emergency equipment, and survival gear appropriate to the helicopter and environment encountered during flight.

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Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Emergency Equipment and Survival Gear 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) Emergency Equipment and Survival Gear 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 Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) operations, limitations, and testing requirements. (CH.VIII.K.K1)
    • Explain, correlate, and assess the learner's understanding of Fire extinguisher operations and limitations. (CH.VIII.K.K2)
    • Explain, correlate, and assess the learner's understanding of Emergency equipment and survival gear needed for: (CH.VIII.K.K3)
      • Climate extremes (hot/cold) (CH.VIII.K.K3a)
      • Mountainous terrain (CH.VIII.K.K3b)
      • Overwater operations (CH.VIII.K.K3c)
  • Risk Management:
    • Use a commercial helicopter scenario to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with Survival gear (water, clothing, shelter) for 48 to 72 hours. (CH.VIII.K.R1)
  • Skill Development:
    • Demonstrate, coach, and assess the learner's ability to Identify appropriate equipment and personal gear. (CH.VIII.K.S1)
    • Demonstrate, coach, and assess the learner's ability to Brief passengers on proper use of on-board emergency equipment and survival gear. (CH.VIII.K.S2)
  • Syllabus Objective Coverage:
    • Explain emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) operations, limitations, and testing requirements.
    • Apply emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) operations, limitations, and testing requirements to the aircraft, conditions, or flight scenario presented.
    • Explain fire extinguisher operations and limitations.
    • Apply fire extinguisher operations and limitations to the aircraft, conditions, or flight scenario presented.
    • Explain emergency equipment and survival gear needed for.
    • Apply emergency equipment and survival gear needed for to the aircraft, conditions, or flight scenario presented.
    • Explain climate extremes (hot/cold).
    • Explain mountainous terrain.
    • Explain overwater operations.
    • Identify and assess the hazards associated with survival gear (water, clothing, shelter) for 48 to 72 hours.
    • Select and justify effective controls for the risks associated with survival gear (water, clothing, shelter) for 48 to 72 hours.
    • Demonstrate the ability to identify appropriate equipment and personal gear.
    • Demonstrate the ability to brief passengers on proper use of on-board emergency equipment and survival gear.
  • Require the learner to use the RFM, checklist, limitations, and current operational information, then document deficiencies and retraining.
Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Emergency Equipment and Survival Gear 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 Survival gear (water, clothing, shelter) for 48 to 72 hours.
  • Require the learner to brief, perform, or explain how to Identify appropriate equipment and personal gear.
  • 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) Emergency Equipment and Survival Gear 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) Emergency Equipment and Survival Gear Lesson Plan

Airman Certification Standards

Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Emergency Equipment and Survival Gear Airman Certification Standards

  • Objective: To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with emergency equipment, and survival gear appropriate to the helicopter and environment encountered during flight.
  • References: FAA-H-8083-2, FAA-H-8083-21, FAA-H-8083-25; POH/RFM
Knowledge 3 ACS Elements
  • CH.VIII.K.K1:
    Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) operations, limitations, and testing requirements.
  • CH.VIII.K.K2:
    Fire extinguisher operations and limitations.
  • CH.VIII.K.K3:
    Emergency equipment and survival gear needed for:
    • CH.VIII.K.K3a:
      Climate extremes (hot/cold)
    • CH.VIII.K.K3b:
      Mountainous terrain
    • CH.VIII.K.K3c:
      Overwater operations
Risk Management 1 ACS Element
  • CH.VIII.K.R1:
    Survival gear (water, clothing, shelter) for 48 to 72 hours.
Skills 2 ACS Elements
  • CH.VIII.K.S1:
    Identify appropriate equipment and personal gear.
  • CH.VIII.K.S2:
    Brief passengers on proper use of on-board emergency equipment and survival gear.
Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Emergency Equipment and Survival Gear Lesson Plan

Conclusion

  • Re-Motivation:

    • Commercial-level emergency equipment and survival gear 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.