Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Recovery from Unusual Flight Attitudes Lesson Plan

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

The Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Recovery from Unusual Flight Attitudes Lesson Plan covers the knowledge, risk management, and skills required by FAA-S-ACS-16.

Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Recovery from Unusual Flight Attitudes Lesson Plan

Introduction

  • Attention Getter:

    • Present a realistic commercial helicopter operation in which the outcome depends on sound recovery from unusual flight attitudes 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 attitude instrument flying while recovering from unusual attitudes solely by reference to instruments.

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Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Recovery from Unusual Flight Attitudes 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:

    • FAA-S-ACS-16.
    • Helicopter Flying Handbook.
    • Task references: AIM; FAA-H-8083-2, FAA-H-8083-15, FAA-H-8083-21, FAA-H-8083-25; POH/RFM
    • ACS note: See Appendix 3: Aircraft, Equipment, and Operational Requirements & Limitations for information related to this Task.
Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Recovery from Unusual Flight Attitudes 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 Prevention of unusual attitudes, including flight causal, physiological, and environmental factors, and system and equipment failures. (CH.VIII.M.K1)
    • Explain, correlate, and assess the learner's understanding of Procedures for recovery from unusual attitudes in flight. (CH.VIII.M.K2)
    • Explain, correlate, and assess the learner's understanding of Procedures available to safely regain visual meteorological conditions (VMC) after flight into inadvertent instrument meteorological conditions or unintended instrument meteorological conditions (IIMC)/(UIMC). (CH.VIII.M.K3)
    • Explain, correlate, and assess the learner's understanding of Appropriate use of automation, if applicable. (CH.VIII.M.K4)
  • Risk Management:
    • Use a commercial helicopter scenario to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with Situations that could lead to loss of control in-flight (LOC-I) or unusual attitudes in-flight (e.g., stress, task saturation, inadequate instrument scan distractions, and spatial disorientation). (CH.VIII.M.R1)
    • Use a commercial helicopter scenario to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with Assessment of the unusual attitude. (CH.VIII.M.R2)
    • Use a commercial helicopter scenario to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with Control input errors, inducing undesired aircraft attitudes. (CH.VIII.M.R3)
    • Use a commercial helicopter scenario to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with Collision hazards. (CH.VIII.M.R4)
    • Use a commercial helicopter scenario to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with Distractions, task prioritization, loss of situational awareness, or disorientation. (CH.VIII.M.R5)
    • Use a commercial helicopter scenario to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with Interpreting flight instruments. (CH.VIII.M.R6)
    • Use a commercial helicopter scenario to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with Control application solely by reference to instruments. (CH.VIII.M.R7)
    • Use a commercial helicopter scenario to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with Operating envelope considerations. (CH.VIII.M.R8)
  • Skill Development:
    • Demonstrate, coach, and assess the learner's ability to Use proper instrument cross-check and interpretation to identify an unusual attitude (including both nose-high and nose-low), and apply the appropriate pitch, bank, and power corrections, in the correct sequence, to return to a stabilized level flight attitude. (CH.VIII.M.S1)
    • Demonstrate, coach, and assess the learner's ability to Use single-pilot resource management (SRM) or crew resource management (CRM), as appropriate. (CH.VIII.M.S2)
  • Syllabus Objective Coverage:
    • Explain prevention of unusual attitudes, including flight causal, physiological, and environmental factors, and system and equipment failures.
    • Apply prevention of unusual attitudes, including flight causal, physiological, and environmental factors, and system and equipment failures to the aircraft, conditions, or flight scenario presented.
    • Explain procedures for recovery from unusual attitudes in flight.
    • Apply procedures for recovery from unusual attitudes in flight to the aircraft, conditions, or flight scenario presented.
    • Explain procedures available to safely regain visual meteorological conditions (VMC) after flight into inadvertent instrument meteorological conditions or unintended instrument meteorological conditions (IIMC)/(UIMC).
    • Apply procedures available to safely regain visual meteorological conditions (VMC) after flight into inadvertent instrument meteorological conditions or unintended instrument meteorological conditions (IIMC)/(UIMC) to the aircraft, conditions, or flight scenario presented.
    • Explain appropriate use of automation, if applicable.
    • Identify and assess the hazards associated with situations that could lead to loss of control in-flight (LOC-I) or unusual attitudes in-flight (e.g., stress, task saturation, inadequate instrument scan distractions, and spatial disorientation).
    • Select and justify effective controls for the risks associated with situations that could lead to loss of control in-flight (LOC-I) or unusual attitudes in-flight (e.g., stress, task saturation, inadequate instrument scan distractions, and spatial disorientation).
    • Identify and assess the hazards associated with assessment of the unusual attitude.
    • Select and justify effective controls for the risks associated with assessment of the unusual attitude.
    • Identify and assess the hazards associated with control input errors, inducing undesired aircraft attitudes.
    • Select and justify effective controls for the risks associated with control input errors, inducing undesired aircraft attitudes.
    • Identify and assess the hazards associated with collision hazards.
    • Select and justify effective controls for the risks associated with collision hazards.
    • 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.
    • Identify and assess the hazards associated with interpreting flight instruments.
    • Select and justify effective controls for the risks associated with interpreting flight instruments.
    • Identify and assess the hazards associated with control application solely by reference to instruments.
    • Select and justify effective controls for the risks associated with control application solely by reference to instruments.
    • Identify and assess the hazards associated with operating envelope considerations.
    • Select and justify effective controls for the risks associated with operating envelope considerations.
    • Use proper instrument cross-check and interpretation to identify an unusual attitude (including both nose-high and nose-low), and apply the appropriate pitch, bank, and power corrections, in the correct sequence, to return to a stabilized level flight attitude.
    • Apply appropriate single-pilot resource management (SRM) or crew resource management (CRM) during unusual-attitude recognition and recovery.
  • Require the learner to use the RFM, checklist, limitations, and current operational information, then document deficiencies and retraining.
Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Recovery from Unusual Flight Attitudes 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 could lead to loss of control in-flight (LOC-I) or unusual attitudes in-flight (e.g., stress, task saturation, inadequate instrument scan distractions, and spatial disorientation).
  • Require the learner to brief, perform, or explain how to Use proper instrument cross-check and interpretation to identify an unusual attitude (including both nose-high and nose-low), and apply the appropriate pitch, bank, and power corrections, in the correct sequence, to return to a stabilized level flight attitude.
  • 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) Recovery from Unusual Flight Attitudes 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) Recovery from Unusual Flight Attitudes Lesson Plan

Airman Certification Standards

Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Recovery from Unusual Flight Attitudes Airman Certification Standards

  • Objective: To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with attitude instrument flying while recovering from unusual attitudes solely by reference to instruments.
  • References: AIM; FAA-H-8083-2, FAA-H-8083-15, FAA-H-8083-21, FAA-H-8083-25; POH/RFM
  • Note: See Appendix 3: Aircraft, Equipment, and Operational Requirements & Limitations for information related to this Task.
Knowledge 4 ACS Elements
  • CH.VIII.M.K1:
    Prevention of unusual attitudes, including flight causal, physiological, and environmental factors, and system and equipment failures.
  • CH.VIII.M.K2:
    Procedures for recovery from unusual attitudes in flight.
  • CH.VIII.M.K3:
    Procedures available to safely regain visual meteorological conditions (VMC) after flight into inadvertent instrument meteorological conditions or unintended instrument meteorological conditions (IIMC)/(UIMC).
  • CH.VIII.M.K4:
    Appropriate use of automation, if applicable.
Risk Management 8 ACS Elements
  • CH.VIII.M.R1:
    Situations that could lead to loss of control in-flight (LOC-I) or unusual attitudes in-flight (e.g., stress, task saturation, inadequate instrument scan distractions, and spatial disorientation).
  • CH.VIII.M.R2:
    Assessment of the unusual attitude.
  • CH.VIII.M.R3:
    Control input errors, inducing undesired aircraft attitudes.
  • CH.VIII.M.R4:
    Collision hazards.
  • CH.VIII.M.R5:
    Distractions, task prioritization, loss of situational awareness, or disorientation.
  • CH.VIII.M.R6:
    Interpreting flight instruments.
  • CH.VIII.M.R7:
    Control application solely by reference to instruments.
  • CH.VIII.M.R8:
    Operating envelope considerations.
Skills 2 ACS Elements
  • CH.VIII.M.S1:
    Use proper instrument cross-check and interpretation to identify an unusual attitude (including both nose-high and nose-low), and apply the appropriate pitch, bank, and power corrections, in the correct sequence, to return to a stabilized level flight attitude.
  • CH.VIII.M.S2:
    Use single-pilot resource management (SRM) or crew resource management (CRM), as appropriate.
Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Recovery from Unusual Flight Attitudes Lesson Plan

Conclusion

  • Re-Motivation:

    • Commercial-level recovery from unusual flight attitudes 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.