Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Lost Procedures Lesson Plan

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

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

Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Lost Procedures Lesson Plan

Introduction

  • Attention Getter:

    • Present a realistic commercial helicopter operation in which the outcome depends on sound lost procedures 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 lost procedures and can take appropriate steps to achieve a satisfactory outcome if lost.

Help Us Grow

Enjoy CFI Notebook? A one-time donation helps us create more high-quality lessons, quizzes, scenarios, graphics, and interactive tools.

One-Time Donation
Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Lost Procedures 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) Lost Procedures 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 Methods to determine position. (CH.VII.D.K1)
    • Explain, correlate, and assess the learner's understanding of Assistance available if lost (e.g., radar services, communication procedures). (CH.VII.D.K2)
    • Explain, correlate, and assess the learner's understanding of Rapidly deteriorating weather or impending fuel exhaustion. (CH.VII.D.K3)
  • Risk Management:
    • Use a commercial helicopter scenario to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with Collision hazards. (CH.VII.D.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.D.R2)
    • Use a commercial helicopter scenario to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with Recording times over waypoints. (CH.VII.D.R3)
    • Use a commercial helicopter scenario to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with When to seek assistance or declare an emergency in a deteriorating situation. (CH.VII.D.R4)
  • Skill Development:
    • Demonstrate, coach, and assess the learner's ability to Select an appropriate course of action. (CH.VII.D.S1)
    • Demonstrate, coach, and assess the learner's ability to Use an appropriate method to determine position. (CH.VII.D.S2)
    • Demonstrate, coach, and assess the learner's ability to Maintain an appropriate heading and climb as necessary. (CH.VII.D.S3)
    • Demonstrate, coach, and assess the learner's ability to Identify prominent landmarks. (CH.VII.D.S4)
    • Demonstrate, coach, and assess the learner's ability to Use navigation systems/facilities or contact an ATC facility for assistance. (CH.VII.D.S5)
  • Syllabus Objective Coverage:
    • Explain methods to determine position.
    • Explain assistance available if lost (e.g., radar services, communication procedures).
    • Apply assistance available if lost (e.g., radar services, communication procedures) to the aircraft, conditions, or flight scenario presented.
    • Explain rapidly deteriorating weather or impending fuel exhaustion.
    • 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 recording times over waypoints.
    • Select and justify effective controls for the risks associated with recording times over waypoints.
    • Identify and assess the hazards associated with when to seek assistance or declare an emergency in a deteriorating situation.
    • Select and justify effective controls for the risks associated with when to seek assistance or declare an emergency in a deteriorating situation.
    • Request timely assistance and communicate actual capabilities.
    • Demonstrate the ability to select an appropriate course of action.
    • Demonstrate the ability to use an appropriate method to determine position.
    • Demonstrate the ability to maintain an appropriate heading and climb as necessary.
    • Demonstrate the ability to identify prominent landmarks.
    • Demonstrate the ability to use navigation systems/facilities or contact an ATC facility for assistance.
  • Require the learner to use the RFM, checklist, limitations, and current operational information, then document deficiencies and retraining.
Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Lost Procedures 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 Collision hazards.
  • Require the learner to brief, perform, or explain how to Select an appropriate course of action.
  • 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) Lost Procedures 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) Lost Procedures Lesson Plan

Airman Certification Standards

Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Lost Procedures Airman Certification Standards

  • Objective: To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with lost procedures and can take appropriate steps to achieve a satisfactory outcome if lost.
  • References: AIM; FAA-H-8083-2, FAA-H-8083-21, FAA-H-8083-25; Helicopter Route Charts, VFR Navigation Charts
Knowledge 3 ACS Elements
  • CH.VII.D.K1:
    Methods to determine position.
  • CH.VII.D.K2:
    Assistance available if lost (e.g., radar services, communication procedures).
  • CH.VII.D.K3:
    Rapidly deteriorating weather or impending fuel exhaustion.
Risk Management 4 ACS Elements
  • CH.VII.D.R1:
    Collision hazards.
  • CH.VII.D.R2:
    Distractions, task prioritization, loss of situational awareness, or disorientation.
  • CH.VII.D.R3:
    Recording times over waypoints.
  • CH.VII.D.R4:
    When to seek assistance or declare an emergency in a deteriorating situation.
Skills 5 ACS Elements
  • CH.VII.D.S1:
    Select an appropriate course of action.
  • CH.VII.D.S2:
    Use an appropriate method to determine position.
  • CH.VII.D.S3:
    Maintain an appropriate heading and climb as necessary.
  • CH.VII.D.S4:
    Identify prominent landmarks.
  • CH.VII.D.S5:
    Use navigation systems/facilities or contact an ATC facility for assistance.
Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Lost Procedures Lesson Plan

Conclusion

  • Re-Motivation:

    • Commercial-level lost procedures 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.