Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Taxiing with Wheel-Type Landing Gear Lesson Plan

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

The Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Taxiing with Wheel-Type Landing Gear Lesson Plan covers the knowledge, risk management, and skills required by FAA-S-ACS-16.

Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Taxiing with Wheel-Type Landing Gear Lesson Plan

Introduction

  • Attention Getter:

    • Present a realistic commercial helicopter operation in which the outcome depends on sound taxiing with wheel-type landing 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 ground taxi operations, in a wheel-type aircraft, including runway incursion avoidance.

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Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Taxiing with Wheel-Type Landing 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) Taxiing with Wheel-Type Landing 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 Current airport aeronautical references and information resources such as the Chart Supplement, airport diagram, and Notices to Air Missions (NOTAMs). (CH.IV.D.K1)
    • Explain, correlate, and assess the learner's understanding of Taxi instructions/clearances. (CH.IV.D.K2)
    • Explain, correlate, and assess the learner's understanding of Airport/heliport/helipad/landing area, signs, markings, and lighting. (CH.IV.D.K3)
    • Explain, correlate, and assess the learner's understanding of Visual indicators for wind. (CH.IV.D.K4)
    • Explain, correlate, and assess the learner's understanding of Aircraft lighting, as appropriate. (CH.IV.D.K5)
    • Explain, correlate, and assess the learner's understanding of Procedures for: (CH.IV.D.K6)
      • Appropriate flight deck activities prior to taxi, including route planning and identifying the location of Hot Spots (CH.IV.D.K6a)
      • Safe taxi at towered and nontowered airports (CH.IV.D.K6b)
      • Entering or crossing runways (CH.IV.D.K6c)
  • Risk Management:
    • Use a commercial helicopter scenario to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with Activities and distractions. (CH.IV.D.R1)
    • Use a commercial helicopter scenario to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with Confirmation or expectation bias as related to taxi instructions. (CH.IV.D.R2)
    • Use a commercial helicopter scenario to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with Runway incursion. (CH.IV.D.R3)
    • Use a commercial helicopter scenario to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with Speed during taxi and turns. (CH.IV.D.R4)
    • Use a commercial helicopter scenario to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with Appropriate thrust vector and brake use. (CH.IV.D.R5)
    • Use a commercial helicopter scenario to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with Airframe and rotor clearances during taxi. (CH.IV.D.R6)
  • Skill Development:
    • Demonstrate, coach, and assess the learner's ability to Complete the appropriate checklist(s). (CH.IV.D.S1)
    • Demonstrate, coach, and assess the learner's ability to Use an appropriate airport/heliport diagram or taxi chart, if published. (CH.IV.D.S2)
    • Demonstrate, coach, and assess the learner's ability to Properly position nosewheel/tailwheel, if applicable, locked or unlocked. (CH.IV.D.S3)
    • Demonstrate, coach, and assess the learner's ability to Position the flight controls properly for the existing wind conditions, with the landing gear in contact with the surface, avoiding conditions that might lead to loss of directional control. (CH.IV.D.S4)
    • Demonstrate, coach, and assess the learner's ability to Properly use cyclic, collective, and brakes as applicable to control speed while taxiing. (CH.IV.D.S5)
    • Demonstrate, coach, and assess the learner's ability to Maintain powerplant and main rotor (Nr) speed within normal limits. (CH.IV.D.S6)
    • Demonstrate, coach, and assess the learner's ability to Maintain specified track within 2 feet. (CH.IV.D.S7)
    • Demonstrate, coach, and assess the learner's ability to Position the helicopter relative to hold lines or a specified point. (CH.IV.D.S8)
    • Demonstrate, coach, and assess the learner's ability to Receive and comply with ATC clearances/instructions, if applicable. (CH.IV.D.S9)
    • Demonstrate, coach, and assess the learner's ability to Comply with airport/heliport taxiway markings, lights, and signals. (CH.IV.D.S10)
  • 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.
    • Explain taxi instructions/clearances.
    • 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 appropriate flight deck activities prior to taxi, including route planning and identifying the location of Hot Spots.
    • Explain safe taxi at towered and nontowered airports.
    • Explain entering or crossing runways.
    • Identify and assess the hazards associated with activities and distractions.
    • Select and justify effective controls for the risks associated with activities and distractions.
    • 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.
    • Identify and assess the hazards associated with runway incursion.
    • Select and justify effective controls for the risks associated with runway incursion.
    • Assess and manage speed during taxi and turns.
    • Assess and manage appropriate thrust vector and brake use.
    • Assess and manage airframe and rotor clearances during taxi.
    • Demonstrate the ability to complete the appropriate checklist(s).
    • Use an appropriate airport/heliport diagram or taxi chart, if published.
    • Position the nosewheel or tailwheel, as applicable, and verify the required locked or unlocked condition.
    • Demonstrate position the flight controls properly for the existing wind conditions, with the landing gear in contact with the surface, avoiding conditions that might lead to loss of directional control.
    • Demonstrate properly use cyclic, collective, and brakes as applicable to control speed while taxiing.
    • Maintain powerplant and main rotor (Nr) speed within normal limits.
    • Maintain specified track within 2 feet.
    • Demonstrate position the helicopter relative to hold lines or a specified point.
    • Demonstrate receive and comply with ATC clearances/instructions, if applicable.
    • Comply with airport/heliport taxiway markings, lights, and signals.
  • Require the learner to use the RFM, checklist, limitations, and current operational information, then document deficiencies and retraining.
Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Taxiing with Wheel-Type Landing 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 Activities and distractions.
  • 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) Taxiing with Wheel-Type Landing 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) Taxiing with Wheel-Type Landing Gear Lesson Plan

Airman Certification Standards

Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Taxiing with Wheel-Type Landing Gear Airman Certification Standards

  • Objective: To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with ground taxi operations, in a wheel-type aircraft, including runway incursion avoidance.
  • References: AC 91-73; AIM; Chart Supplements; FAA-H-8083-2, FAA-H-8083-21, FAA-H-8083-25; POH/RFM
Knowledge 6 ACS Elements
  • CH.IV.D.K1:
    Current airport aeronautical references and information resources such as the Chart Supplement, airport diagram, and Notices to Air Missions (NOTAMs).
  • CH.IV.D.K2:
    Taxi instructions/clearances.
  • CH.IV.D.K3:
    Airport/heliport/helipad/landing area, signs, markings, and lighting.
  • CH.IV.D.K4:
    Visual indicators for wind.
  • CH.IV.D.K5:
    Aircraft lighting, as appropriate.
  • CH.IV.D.K6:
    Procedures for:
    • CH.IV.D.K6a:
      Appropriate flight deck activities prior to taxi, including route planning and identifying the location of Hot Spots
    • CH.IV.D.K6b:
      Safe taxi at towered and nontowered airports
    • CH.IV.D.K6c:
      Entering or crossing runways
Risk Management 6 ACS Elements
  • CH.IV.D.R1:
    Activities and distractions.
  • CH.IV.D.R3:
    Runway incursion.
  • CH.IV.D.R4:
    Speed during taxi and turns.
  • CH.IV.D.R5:
    Appropriate thrust vector and brake use.
  • CH.IV.D.R6:
    Airframe and rotor clearances during taxi.
Skills 10 ACS Elements
  • CH.IV.D.S1:
    Complete the appropriate checklist(s).
  • CH.IV.D.S2:
    Use an appropriate airport/heliport diagram or taxi chart, if published.
  • CH.IV.D.S3:
    Properly position nosewheel/tailwheel, if applicable, locked or unlocked.
  • CH.IV.D.S4:
    Position the flight controls properly for the existing wind conditions, with the landing gear in contact with the surface, avoiding conditions that might lead to loss of directional control.
  • CH.IV.D.S5:
    Properly use cyclic, collective, and brakes as applicable to control speed while taxiing.
  • CH.IV.D.S6:
    Maintain powerplant and main rotor (Nr) speed within normal limits.
  • CH.IV.D.S7:
    Maintain specified track within 2 feet.
  • CH.IV.D.S8:
    Position the helicopter relative to hold lines or a specified point.
  • CH.IV.D.S9:
    Receive and comply with ATC clearances/instructions, if applicable.
  • CH.IV.D.S10:
    Comply with airport/heliport taxiway markings, lights, and signals.
Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Taxiing with Wheel-Type Landing Gear Lesson Plan

Conclusion

  • Re-Motivation:

    • Commercial-level taxiing with wheel-type landing 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.