Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Flight Solely by Reference to Instruments Lesson Plan

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

The Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Flight Solely by Reference to Instruments Lesson Plan covers the knowledge, risk management, and skills required by FAA-S-ACS-16.

Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Flight Solely by Reference to Instruments Lesson Plan

Introduction

  • Attention Getter:

    • Present a realistic commercial helicopter operation in which the outcome depends on sound flight solely by reference to instruments 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 flying solely by reference to instruments.

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Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Flight Solely by Reference to Instruments 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) Flight Solely by Reference to Instruments 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 Elements related to attitude instrument flying during straight-and-level flight, climbs, turns, and descents. (CH.VIII.L.K1)
    • Explain, correlate, and assess the learner's understanding of Interpretation, operation, and limitations of pitch, bank, and power instruments. (CH.VIII.L.K2)
    • Explain, correlate, and assess the learner's understanding of Normal and abnormal instrument indications and operations. (CH.VIII.L.K3)
  • Risk Management:
    • Use a commercial helicopter scenario to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with Situations that can affect physiology and degrade instrument cross-check. (CH.VIII.L.R1)
    • Use a commercial helicopter scenario to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with Spatial disorientation and optical illusions. (CH.VIII.L.R2)
    • Use a commercial helicopter scenario to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with Flying an unfamiliar aircraft, or operating with unfamiliar flight display systems and avionics. (CH.VIII.L.R3)
  • Skill Development:
    • Demonstrate, coach, and assess the learner's ability to Maintain straight and level flight, altitude ±200 feet, heading ±20°, and airspeed ±10 knots. (CH.VIII.L.S1)
    • Demonstrate, coach, and assess the learner's ability to Make a constant airspeed climb, airspeed ±10 knots, in straight flight and turns to a heading ±20°, and level off and maintain assigned altitude ±200 feet. (CH.VIII.L.S2)
    • Demonstrate, coach, and assess the learner's ability to Make a constant airspeed descent, airspeed ±10 knots, in straight flight and turns to a heading ±20°, and level off and maintain assigned altitude ±200 feet. (CH.VIII.L.S3)
    • Demonstrate, coach, and assess the learner's ability to Use proper instrument cross-check and interpretation, and apply the appropriate pitch, bank, power, maintain coordinated flight throughout the maneuver. (CH.VIII.L.S4)
    • Demonstrate, coach, and assess the learner's ability to Demonstrate SRM/CRM. (CH.VIII.L.S5)
  • Syllabus Objective Coverage:
    • Explain elements related to attitude instrument flying during straight-and-level flight, climbs, turns, and descents in a commercial helicopter operating context.
    • Explain interpretation, operation, and limitations of pitch, bank, and power instruments in a commercial helicopter operating context.
    • Explain normal and abnormal instrument indications and operations in a commercial helicopter operating context.
    • Identify, assess, and select effective controls for risks associated with situations that can affect physiology and degrade instrument cross-check.
    • Identify, assess, and select effective controls for risks associated with spatial disorientation and optical illusions.
    • Identify, assess, and select effective controls for risks associated with flying an unfamiliar aircraft, or operating with unfamiliar flight display systems and avionics.
    • Maintain straight and level flight, altitude ±200 feet, heading ±20°, and airspeed ±10 knots.
    • Make a constant airspeed climb, airspeed ±10 knots, in straight flight and turns to a heading ±20°, and level off and maintain assigned altitude ±200 feet.
    • Make a constant airspeed descent, airspeed ±10 knots, in straight flight and turns to a heading ±20°, and level off and maintain assigned altitude ±200 feet.
    • Use a disciplined instrument cross-check and interpretation, apply appropriate pitch, bank, and power inputs, and maintain coordinated flight throughout the maneuver.
    • Apply appropriate single-pilot resource management (SRM) or crew resource management (CRM) while flying solely by reference to instruments.
  • Require the learner to use the RFM, checklist, limitations, and current operational information, then document deficiencies and retraining.
Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Flight Solely by Reference to Instruments 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 Situations that can affect physiology and degrade instrument cross-check.
  • Require the learner to brief, perform, or explain how to Maintain straight and level flight, altitude ±200 feet, heading ±20°, and airspeed ±10 knots.
  • 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) Flight Solely by Reference to Instruments 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) Flight Solely by Reference to Instruments Lesson Plan

Airman Certification Standards

Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Flight Solely by Reference to Instruments Airman Certification Standards

  • Objective: To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with flying solely by reference to instruments.
  • References: 14 CFR part 61; FAA-H-8083-2, FAA-H-8083-15, FAA-H-8083-21, FAA-H-8083-25
Knowledge 3 ACS Elements
  • CH.VIII.L.K2:
    Interpretation, operation, and limitations of pitch, bank, and power instruments.
  • CH.VIII.L.K3:
    Normal and abnormal instrument indications and operations.
Risk Management 3 ACS Elements
  • CH.VIII.L.R1:
    Situations that can affect physiology and degrade instrument cross-check.
  • CH.VIII.L.R2:
    Spatial disorientation and optical illusions.
  • CH.VIII.L.R3:
    Flying an unfamiliar aircraft, or operating with unfamiliar flight display systems and avionics.
Skills 5 ACS Elements
  • CH.VIII.L.S1:
    Maintain straight and level flight, altitude ±200 feet, heading ±20°, and airspeed ±10 knots.
  • CH.VIII.L.S2:
    Make a constant airspeed climb, airspeed ±10 knots, in straight flight and turns to a heading ±20°, and level off and maintain assigned altitude ±200 feet.
  • CH.VIII.L.S3:
    Make a constant airspeed descent, airspeed ±10 knots, in straight flight and turns to a heading ±20°, and level off and maintain assigned altitude ±200 feet.
  • CH.VIII.L.S4:
    Use proper instrument cross-check and interpretation, and apply the appropriate pitch, bank, power, maintain coordinated flight throughout the maneuver.
  • CH.VIII.L.S5:
    Demonstrate SRM/CRM.
Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Flight Solely by Reference to Instruments Lesson Plan

Conclusion

  • Re-Motivation:

    • Commercial-level flight solely by reference to instruments 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.