Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Pilotage and Dead Reckoning Lesson Plan

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

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

Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Pilotage and Dead Reckoning Lesson Plan

Introduction

  • Attention Getter:

    • Present a realistic commercial helicopter operation in which the outcome depends on sound pilotage and dead reckoning 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 pilotage and dead reckoning.

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Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Pilotage and Dead Reckoning 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) Pilotage and Dead Reckoning 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 Pilotage and dead reckoning. (CH.VII.A.K1)
    • Explain, correlate, and assess the learner's understanding of Magnetic compass errors. (CH.VII.A.K2)
    • Explain, correlate, and assess the learner's understanding of Topography. (CH.VII.A.K3)
    • Explain, correlate, and assess the learner's understanding of Selection of appropriate: (CH.VII.A.K4)
      • Route (CH.VII.A.K4a)
      • Altitude(s) (CH.VII.A.K4b)
      • Checkpoints (CH.VII.A.K4c)
    • Explain, correlate, and assess the learner's understanding of Plotting a course, including: (CH.VII.A.K5)
      • Determining heading, speed, and course (CH.VII.A.K5a)
      • Wind correction angle (CH.VII.A.K5b)
      • Estimating time, speed, and distance (CH.VII.A.K5c)
      • True airspeed and density altitude (CH.VII.A.K5d)
    • Explain, correlate, and assess the learner's understanding of Power setting selection. (CH.VII.A.K6)
    • Explain, correlate, and assess the learner's understanding of Planned calculations versus actual results and required corrections. (CH.VII.A.K7)
  • Risk Management:
    • Use a commercial helicopter scenario to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with Collision hazards. (CH.VII.A.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.A.R2)
    • Use a commercial helicopter scenario to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with Unplanned fuel/power consumption, if applicable. (CH.VII.A.R3)
  • Skill Development:
    • Demonstrate, coach, and assess the learner's ability to Prepare and use a flight log. (CH.VII.A.S1)
    • Demonstrate, coach, and assess the learner's ability to Navigate by pilotage. (CH.VII.A.S2)
    • Demonstrate, coach, and assess the learner's ability to Navigate by means of pre-computed headings, groundspeeds, elapsed time, and reference to landmarks or checkpoints. (CH.VII.A.S3)
    • Demonstrate, coach, and assess the learner's ability to Use the magnetic direction indicator in navigation, including turns to headings. (CH.VII.A.S4)
    • Demonstrate, coach, and assess the learner's ability to Verify position within three nautical miles of the flight-planned route. (CH.VII.A.S5)
    • Demonstrate, coach, and assess the learner's ability to Correct for and record the differences between preflight fuel, groundspeed, and heading calculations and those determined en route. (CH.VII.A.S6)
    • Demonstrate, coach, and assess the learner's ability to Arrive at the en route checkpoints within three minutes of the initial or revised estimated time of arrival (ETA) and provide a destination estimate. (CH.VII.A.S7)
    • Demonstrate, coach, and assess the learner's ability to Maintain the selected altitude, ±100 feet and heading, ±10°. (CH.VII.A.S8)
  • Syllabus Objective Coverage:
    • Explain pilotage and dead reckoning.
    • Explain magnetic compass errors.
    • Explain topography.
      • Interpret charted terrain, elevation, relief, contours, obstacles, and prominent topographic features.
      • Use topography to select a route and altitude that preserve terrain and obstacle clearance.
      • Anticipate terrain-driven wind, turbulence, visibility, communication, and navigation effects.
      • Maintain escape routes and suitable precautionary or emergency landing options in rising or confined terrain.
    • Explain selection of appropriate.
    • Explain route.
      • Select a VFR route using airspace, weather, terrain, obstacles, and helicopter performance considerations.
      • Select checkpoints and evaluate navigation, communication, and radar-service coverage along the route.
      • Evaluate fuel, reserve, and suitable precautionary or emergency landing options along the route.
      • Revise the route when weather, airspace, fuel, aircraft condition, or other operating conditions change.
    • Explain altitude(s).
    • Explain checkpoints.
      • Select prominent, unambiguous, suitably spaced checkpoints that can be identified from the planned route and altitude.
      • Use checkpoint timing, heading, groundspeed, and confirming features to verify position and flight-plan accuracy.
      • Select alternate checkpoints and revise the plan when visibility, terrain, or route changes make a checkpoint unusable.
    • Explain plotting a course.
    • Apply plotting a course to the aircraft, conditions, or flight scenario presented.
    • Explain determining heading, speed, and course.
    • Explain wind correction angle.
    • Explain estimating time, speed, and distance.
    • Explain true airspeed and density altitude.
    • Explain power setting selection.
    • Explain planned calculations versus actual results and required corrections.
    • 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 unplanned fuel/power consumption, if applicable.
    • Select and justify effective controls for the risks associated with unplanned fuel/power consumption, if applicable.
    • Demonstrate the ability to prepare and use a flight log.
    • Demonstrate the ability to navigate by pilotage.
    • Demonstrate the ability to navigate by means of pre-computed headings, groundspeeds, elapsed time, and reference to landmarks or checkpoints.
    • Demonstrate the ability to use the magnetic direction indicator in navigation, including turns to headings.
    • Demonstrate the ability to verify position within three nautical miles of the flight-planned route.
    • Demonstrate correct for and record the differences between preflight fuel, groundspeed, and heading calculations and those determined en route.
    • Arrive at the en route checkpoints within three minutes of the initial or revised estimated time of arrival (ETA) and provide a destination estimate.
    • Maintain the selected altitude, ±100 feet and heading, ±10°.
  • Require the learner to use the RFM, checklist, limitations, and current operational information, then document deficiencies and retraining.
Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Pilotage and Dead Reckoning 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 Prepare and use a flight log.
  • 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) Pilotage and Dead Reckoning 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) Pilotage and Dead Reckoning Lesson Plan

Airman Certification Standards

Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Pilotage and Dead Reckoning Airman Certification Standards

  • Objective: To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with pilotage and dead reckoning.
  • References: AIM; FAA-H-8083-2, FAA-H-8083-21, FAA-H-8083-25; Helicopter Route Charts, VFR Navigation Charts
Knowledge 7 ACS Elements
  • CH.VII.A.K1:
    Pilotage and dead reckoning.
  • CH.VII.A.K2:
    Magnetic compass errors.
  • CH.VII.A.K3:
    Topography.
  • CH.VII.A.K4:
    Selection of appropriate:
    • CH.VII.A.K4a:
      Route
    • CH.VII.A.K4b:
      Altitude(s)
    • CH.VII.A.K4c:
      Checkpoints
  • CH.VII.A.K5:
    Plotting a course, including:
    • CH.VII.A.K5a:
      Determining heading, speed, and course
    • CH.VII.A.K5b:
      Wind correction angle
    • CH.VII.A.K5c:
      Estimating time, speed, and distance
    • CH.VII.A.K5d:
      True airspeed and density altitude
  • CH.VII.A.K6:
    Power setting selection.
  • CH.VII.A.K7:
    Planned calculations versus actual results and required corrections.
Risk Management 3 ACS Elements
  • CH.VII.A.R1:
    Collision hazards.
  • CH.VII.A.R2:
    Distractions, task prioritization, loss of situational awareness, or disorientation.
  • CH.VII.A.R3:
    Unplanned fuel/power consumption, if applicable.
Skills 8 ACS Elements
  • CH.VII.A.S1:
    Prepare and use a flight log.
  • CH.VII.A.S2:
    Navigate by pilotage.
  • CH.VII.A.S3:
    Navigate by means of pre-computed headings, groundspeeds, elapsed time, and reference to landmarks or checkpoints.
  • CH.VII.A.S4:
    Use the magnetic direction indicator in navigation, including turns to headings.
  • CH.VII.A.S5:
    Verify position within three nautical miles of the flight-planned route.
  • CH.VII.A.S6:
    Correct for and record the differences between preflight fuel, groundspeed, and heading calculations and those determined en route.
  • CH.VII.A.S7:
    Arrive at the en route checkpoints within three minutes of the initial or revised estimated time of arrival (ETA) and provide a destination estimate.
  • CH.VII.A.S8:
    Maintain the selected altitude, ±100 feet and heading, ±10°.
Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Pilotage and Dead Reckoning Lesson Plan

Conclusion

  • Re-Motivation:

    • Commercial-level pilotage and dead reckoning 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.