Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Vertical Takeoff and Landing Lesson Plan
Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) • ACS Area IV, Task A
The Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Vertical Takeoff and Landing Lesson Plan covers the knowledge, risk management, and skills required by FAA-S-ACS-16.
Introduction
Attention Getter:
- Present a realistic commercial helicopter operation in which the outcome depends on sound vertical takeoff and landing 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 vertical takeoff and landing from a hover.
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: 14 CFR part 91; AC 90-95; FAA-H-8083-2, FAA-H-8083-21, FAA-H-8083-25; POH/RFM
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 a vertical takeoff to a hover and landing from a hover. (CH.IV.A.K1)
- Explain, correlate, and assess the learner's understanding of Effect of wind on flight control inputs. (CH.IV.A.K2)
- Explain, correlate, and assess the learner's understanding of Effect of weight and balance and various centers of gravity. (CH.IV.A.K3)
- Explain, correlate, and assess the learner's understanding of Ground effect. (CH.IV.A.K4)
- Risk Management:
- Use a commercial helicopter scenario to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with Loss of tail rotor effectiveness (LTE). (CH.IV.A.R1)
- Use a commercial helicopter scenario to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with Dynamic rollover. (CH.IV.A.R2)
- Use a commercial helicopter scenario to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with Ground resonance. (CH.IV.A.R3)
- Use a commercial helicopter scenario to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with Powerplant failure during hover. (CH.IV.A.R4)
- Skill Development:
- Demonstrate, coach, and assess the learner's ability to Complete the appropriate checklist(s). (CH.IV.A.S1)
- Demonstrate, coach, and assess the learner's ability to Comply with air traffic control (ATC) or evaluator instructions and make radio calls as appropriate. (CH.IV.A.S2)
- Demonstrate, coach, and assess the learner's ability to Maintain powerplant and main rotor (Nr) speed within normal limits. (CH.IV.A.S3)
- Demonstrate, coach, and assess the learner's ability to Ascend to and maintain recommended hovering altitude, and descend from recommended hovering altitude in headwind, crosswind, and tailwind conditions, without drift. (CH.IV.A.S4)
- Demonstrate, coach, and assess the learner's ability to Maintain recommended hovering altitude, ±1/2 of that altitude within 10 feet of the surface, if above 10 feet, ±5 feet. (CH.IV.A.S5)
- Demonstrate, coach, and assess the learner's ability to Maintain position within 2 feet of a designated point with no aft movement. (CH.IV.A.S6)
- Demonstrate, coach, and assess the learner's ability to Descend vertically to within 2 feet of the designated touchdown point. (CH.IV.A.S7)
- Demonstrate, coach, and assess the learner's ability to Maintain specified heading, ± 10°. (CH.IV.A.S8)
- Syllabus Objective Coverage:
- Explain elements related to a vertical takeoff to a hover and landing from a hover.
- Explain effect of wind on flight control inputs.
- Explain effect of weight and balance and various centers of gravity.
- Explain ground effect.
- Assess and manage loss of tail rotor effectiveness (LTE).
- Assess and manage dynamic rollover.
- Assess and manage ground resonance.
- Assess and manage powerplant failure during hover.
- Demonstrate the ability to complete the appropriate checklist(s).
- Comply with air traffic control (ATC) or evaluator instructions and make radio calls as appropriate.
- Maintain powerplant and main rotor (Nr) speed within normal limits.
- Demonstrate ascend to and maintain recommended hovering altitude, and descend from recommended hovering altitude in headwind, crosswind, and tailwind conditions, without drift.
- Maintain recommended hovering altitude, ±1/2 of that altitude within 10 feet of the surface, if above 10 feet, ±5 feet.
- Maintain position within 2 feet of a designated point with no aft movement.
- Descend vertically to within 2 feet of the designated touchdown point.
- Maintain specified heading, ± 10°.
- Require the learner to use the RFM, checklist, limitations, and current operational information, then document deficiencies and retraining.
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 Loss of tail rotor effectiveness (LTE).
- 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.
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.
Airman Certification Standards
Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Vertical Takeoff and Landing Airman Certification Standards
- Objective: To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with vertical takeoff and landing from a hover.
- References: 14 CFR part 91; AC 90-95; FAA-H-8083-2, FAA-H-8083-21, FAA-H-8083-25; POH/RFM
Knowledge 4 ACS Elements
-
CH.IV.A.K2: Effect of wind on flight control inputs. -
CH.IV.A.K3: Effect of weight and balance and various centers of gravity. -
CH.IV.A.K4: Ground effect.
Risk Management 4 ACS Elements
-
CH.IV.A.R1: Loss of tail rotor effectiveness (LTE). -
CH.IV.A.R2: Dynamic rollover. -
CH.IV.A.R3: Ground resonance. -
CH.IV.A.R4: Powerplant failure during hover.
Skills 8 ACS Elements
-
CH.IV.A.S1: Complete the appropriate checklist(s). -
CH.IV.A.S2: Comply with air traffic control (ATC) or evaluator instructions and make radio calls as appropriate. -
CH.IV.A.S3: Maintain powerplant and main rotor (Nr) speed within normal limits. -
CH.IV.A.S4: Ascend to and maintain recommended hovering altitude, and descend from recommended hovering altitude in headwind, crosswind, and tailwind conditions, without drift. -
CH.IV.A.S5: Maintain recommended hovering altitude, ±1/2 of that altitude within 10 feet of the surface, if above 10 feet, ±5 feet. -
CH.IV.A.S6: Maintain position within 2 feet of a designated point with no aft movement. -
CH.IV.A.S7: Descend vertically to within 2 feet of the designated touchdown point. -
CH.IV.A.S8: Maintain specified heading, ± 10°.
Conclusion
Re-Motivation:
- Commercial-level vertical takeoff and landing 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.