Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Diversion Lesson Plan
Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) • ACS Area VII, Task C
The Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Diversion 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 diversion 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 diversion.
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-8083-21, FAA-H-8083-25; Helicopter Route Charts, VFR Navigation Charts
Instructor Actions
- State the ACS objective and establish the commercial operating context.
- Knowledge Elements:
- Explain, correlate, and assess the learner's understanding of Selecting an alternate destination. (CH.VII.C.K1)
- Explain, correlate, and assess the learner's understanding of Situations that require deviations from flight plan or air traffic control (ATC) instructions. (CH.VII.C.K2)
- Risk Management:
- Use a commercial helicopter scenario to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with Collision hazards. (CH.VII.C.R1)
- Use a commercial helicopter scenario to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with Distractions, task prioritization, loss of situational awareness, or disorientation. (CH.VII.C.R2)
- Use a commercial helicopter scenario to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with Circumstances that would make diversion prudent. (CH.VII.C.R3)
- Use a commercial helicopter scenario to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with Selecting an airport/heliport/helipad, as applicable. (CH.VII.C.R4)
- Use a commercial helicopter scenario to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with Using available resources (e.g., automation, ATC, and flight deck planning aids). (CH.VII.C.R5)
- Skill Development:
- Demonstrate, coach, and assess the learner's ability to Select a suitable airport/heliport/helipad, as applicable, and route for diversion. (CH.VII.C.S1)
- Demonstrate, coach, and assess the learner's ability to Make a reasonable estimate of heading, groundspeed, arrival time, and fuel required to the “divert to” destination. (CH.VII.C.S2)
- Demonstrate, coach, and assess the learner's ability to Promptly divert toward the airport/heliport/helipad. (CH.VII.C.S3)
- Demonstrate, coach, and assess the learner's ability to Maintain the selected altitude, ±100 feet and heading, ±10°. (CH.VII.C.S4)
- Demonstrate, coach, and assess the learner's ability to Update/interpret weather in flight. (CH.VII.C.S5)
- Demonstrate, coach, and assess the learner's ability to Use displays of digital weather and aeronautical information, as applicable to maintain situational awareness. (CH.VII.C.S6)
- Syllabus Objective Coverage:
- Explain selecting an alternate destination.
- Explain situations that require deviations from flight plan or air traffic control (ATC) instructions.
- 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 circumstances that would make diversion prudent.
- Select and justify effective controls for the risks associated with circumstances that would make diversion prudent.
- Assess and manage selecting an airport/heliport/helipad, as applicable.
- Identify and assess the hazards associated with using available resources (e.g., automation, ATC, and flight deck planning aids).
- Select and justify effective controls for the risks associated with using available resources (e.g., automation, ATC, and flight deck planning aids).
- Use suitable automation with verified modes and reliable inputs.
- Select a suitable airport/heliport/helipad, as applicable, and route for diversion.
- Demonstrate the ability to make a reasonable estimate of heading, groundspeed, arrival time, and fuel required to the “divert to” destination.
- Demonstrate promptly divert toward the airport/heliport/helipad.
- Maintain the selected altitude, ±100 feet and heading, ±10°.
- Demonstrate the ability to update/interpret weather in flight.
- Demonstrate the ability to use displays of digital weather and aeronautical information, as applicable to maintain situational awareness.
- 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 Collision hazards.
- Require the learner to brief, perform, or explain how to Select a suitable airport/heliport/helipad, as applicable, and route for diversion.
- 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) Diversion Airman Certification Standards
- Objective: To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with diversion.
- References: AIM; FAA-H-8083-2, FAA-H-8083-21, FAA-H-8083-25; Helicopter Route Charts, VFR Navigation Charts
Knowledge 2 ACS Elements
-
CH.VII.C.K1: Selecting an alternate destination. -
CH.VII.C.K2: Situations that require deviations from flight plan or air traffic control (ATC) instructions.
Risk Management 5 ACS Elements
-
CH.VII.C.R1: Collision hazards. -
CH.VII.C.R2: Distractions, task prioritization, loss of situational awareness, or disorientation. -
CH.VII.C.R3: Circumstances that would make diversion prudent. -
CH.VII.C.R4: Selecting an airport/heliport/helipad, as applicable. -
CH.VII.C.R5: Using available resources (e.g., automation, ATC, and flight deck planning aids).
Skills 6 ACS Elements
-
CH.VII.C.S1: Select a suitable airport/heliport/helipad, as applicable, and route for diversion. -
CH.VII.C.S2: Make a reasonable estimate of heading, groundspeed, arrival time, and fuel required to the “divert to” destination. -
CH.VII.C.S3: Promptly divert toward the airport/heliport/helipad. -
CH.VII.C.S4: Maintain the selected altitude, ±100 feet and heading, ±10°. -
CH.VII.C.S5: Update/interpret weather in flight. -
CH.VII.C.S6: Use displays of digital weather and aeronautical information, as applicable to maintain situational awareness.
Conclusion
Re-Motivation:
- Commercial-level diversion 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.