Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Air Taxi Lesson Plan

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

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

Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Air Taxi Lesson Plan

Introduction

  • Attention Getter:

    • Present a realistic commercial helicopter operation in which the outcome depends on sound air taxi 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 air taxi operations.

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Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Air Taxi 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) Air Taxi 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 Current airport aeronautical references and information resources such as the Chart Supplement, airport diagram, and Notices to Air Missions (NOTAMs). (CH.IV.C.K1)
    • Explain, correlate, and assess the learner's understanding of Air taxi instructions, clearances, and limitations. (CH.IV.C.K2)
    • Explain, correlate, and assess the learner's understanding of Airport/heliport/helipad/landing area, signs, markings, and lighting. (CH.IV.C.K3)
    • Explain, correlate, and assess the learner's understanding of Visual indicators for wind. (CH.IV.C.K4)
    • Explain, correlate, and assess the learner's understanding of Aircraft lighting, as appropriate. (CH.IV.C.K5)
    • Explain, correlate, and assess the learner's understanding of Procedures for: (CH.IV.C.K6)
      • Pilot activities during taxiing (CH.IV.C.K6a)
      • Safe air taxi at towered and nontowered airports (CH.IV.C.K6b)
      • Overflying of runways (CH.IV.C.K6c)
    • Explain, correlate, and assess the learner's understanding of Height/Velocity (H/V) considerations. (CH.IV.C.K7)
  • Risk Management:
    • Use a commercial helicopter scenario to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with Distractions, task prioritization, loss of situational awareness, or disorientation. (CH.IV.C.R1)
    • Use a commercial helicopter scenario to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with Reduced visibility or night taxi operations. (CH.IV.C.R2)
    • Use a commercial helicopter scenario to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with Runway incursion. (CH.IV.C.R3)
    • Use a commercial helicopter scenario to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with Main rotor, tail rotor, and tail strike hazards. (CH.IV.C.R4)
    • Use a commercial helicopter scenario to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with H/V diagram performance in case of powerplant failure. (CH.IV.C.R5)
    • Use a commercial helicopter scenario to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with Confirmation or expectation bias as related to taxi instructions. (CH.IV.C.R6)
  • Skill Development:
    • Demonstrate, coach, and assess the learner's ability to Complete the appropriate checklist(s). (CH.IV.C.S1)
    • Demonstrate, coach, and assess the learner's ability to Use an airport diagram or taxi chart during taxi, if published, and maintain situational awareness. (CH.IV.C.S2)
    • Demonstrate, coach, and assess the learner's ability to Select a safe airspeed and altitude. (CH.IV.C.S3)
    • Demonstrate, coach, and assess the learner's ability to Maintain desired track and groundspeed in headwind and crosswind conditions, avoiding conditions that might lead to loss of tail rotor/antitorque effectiveness. (CH.IV.C.S4)
    • Demonstrate, coach, and assess the learner's ability to Maintain powerplant and main rotor (Nr) speed within normal limits. (CH.IV.C.S5)
    • Demonstrate, coach, and assess the learner's ability to Comply with airport/heliport/helipad/landing area markings, lights, signs, and ATC instructions. (CH.IV.C.S6)
    • Demonstrate, coach, and assess the learner's ability to Maintain specified altitude, ±10 feet. (CH.IV.C.S7)
  • Syllabus Objective Coverage:
    • Explain current airport aeronautical references and information resources such as the Chart Supplement, airport diagram, and Notices to Air Missions (NOTAMs).
    • Locate current airport diagrams.
    • Locate airport entries in chart supplement.
    • Use current NOTAMs to identify taxi-route and surface limitations.
    • Explain air taxi instructions, clearances, and limitations.
    • Explain airport/heliport/helipad/landing area, signs, markings, and lighting.
    • Explain visual indicators for wind.
    • Distinguish wind-direction indicators from a tetrahedron landing-direction indicator.
    • Explain aircraft lighting, as appropriate.
    • Select night taxi lighting use consistent with visibility, glare avoidance, and aircraft limitations.
    • Explain procedures for.
    • Apply procedures for to the aircraft, conditions, or flight scenario presented.
    • Explain pilot activities during taxiing.
    • Explain safe air taxi at towered and nontowered airports.
    • Explain overflying of runways.
    • Explain height/Velocity (H/V) considerations.
    • 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.
    • Assess and manage reduced visibility or night taxi operations.
    • Identify and assess the hazards associated with runway incursion.
    • Select and justify effective controls for the risks associated with runway incursion.
    • Assess and manage main rotor, tail rotor, and tail strike hazards.
    • Assess and manage h/V diagram performance in case of powerplant failure.
    • Identify and assess the hazards associated with confirmation or expectation bias as related to taxi instructions.
    • Select and justify effective controls for the risks associated with confirmation or expectation bias as related to taxi instructions.
    • Stop and resolve taxi-position uncertainty instead of following an expected route despite conflicting signs.
    • Select verification actions that counter expectation bias in taxi instructions.
    • Demonstrate the ability to complete the appropriate checklist(s).
    • Demonstrate the ability to use an airport diagram or taxi chart during taxi, if published, and maintain situational awareness.
    • Select a safe airspeed and altitude.
    • Maintain desired track and groundspeed in headwind and crosswind conditions, avoiding conditions that might lead to loss of tail rotor/antitorque effectiveness.
    • Maintain powerplant and main rotor (Nr) speed within normal limits.
    • Comply with airport/heliport/helipad/landing area markings, lights, signs, and ATC instructions.
    • Maintain specified altitude, ±10 feet.
  • Require the learner to use the RFM, checklist, limitations, and current operational information, then document deficiencies and retraining.
Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Air Taxi 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 Distractions, task prioritization, loss of situational awareness, or disorientation.
  • Require the learner to brief, perform, or explain how to Complete the appropriate checklist(s).
  • 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) Air Taxi 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) Air Taxi Lesson Plan

Airman Certification Standards

Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Air Taxi Airman Certification Standards

  • Objective: To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with air taxi operations.
  • References: AC 91-73; AIM; Chart Supplements; FAA-H-8083-2, FAA-H-8083-21, FAA-H-8083-25; POH/RFM
Knowledge 7 ACS Elements
  • CH.IV.C.K1:
    Current airport aeronautical references and information resources such as the Chart Supplement, airport diagram, and Notices to Air Missions (NOTAMs).
  • CH.IV.C.K2:
    Air taxi instructions, clearances, and limitations.
  • CH.IV.C.K3:
    Airport/heliport/helipad/landing area, signs, markings, and lighting.
  • CH.IV.C.K4:
    Visual indicators for wind.
  • CH.IV.C.K5:
    Aircraft lighting, as appropriate.
  • CH.IV.C.K6:
    Procedures for:
    • CH.IV.C.K6a:
      Pilot activities during taxiing
    • CH.IV.C.K6b:
      Safe air taxi at towered and nontowered airports
    • CH.IV.C.K6c:
      Overflying of runways
  • CH.IV.C.K7:
    Height/Velocity (H/V) considerations.
Risk Management 6 ACS Elements
  • CH.IV.C.R1:
    Distractions, task prioritization, loss of situational awareness, or disorientation.
  • CH.IV.C.R2:
    Reduced visibility or night taxi operations.
  • CH.IV.C.R3:
    Runway incursion.
  • CH.IV.C.R4:
    Main rotor, tail rotor, and tail strike hazards.
  • CH.IV.C.R5:
    H/V diagram performance in case of powerplant failure.
Skills 7 ACS Elements
  • CH.IV.C.S1:
    Complete the appropriate checklist(s).
  • CH.IV.C.S2:
    Use an airport diagram or taxi chart during taxi, if published, and maintain situational awareness.
  • CH.IV.C.S3:
    Select a safe airspeed and altitude.
  • CH.IV.C.S4:
    Maintain desired track and groundspeed in headwind and crosswind conditions, avoiding conditions that might lead to loss of tail rotor/antitorque effectiveness.
  • CH.IV.C.S5:
    Maintain powerplant and main rotor (Nr) speed within normal limits.
  • CH.IV.C.S6:
    Comply with airport/heliport/helipad/landing area markings, lights, signs, and ATC instructions.
  • CH.IV.C.S7:
    Maintain specified altitude, ±10 feet.
Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Air Taxi Lesson Plan

Conclusion

  • Re-Motivation:

    • Commercial-level air taxi 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.