Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) After Landing, Parking, and Securing Lesson Plan

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

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

Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) After Landing, Parking, and Securing Lesson Plan

Introduction

  • Attention Getter:

    • Present a realistic commercial helicopter operation in which the outcome depends on sound after landing, parking, and securing 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 after landing, parking, and securing procedures.

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) After Landing, Parking, and Securing 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) After Landing, Parking, and Securing 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 Helicopter shutdown, securing, and postflight inspection. (CH.X.A.K1)
    • Explain, correlate, and assess the learner's understanding of Documenting in-flight/postflight discrepancies. (CH.X.A.K2)
  • Risk Management:
    • Use a commercial helicopter scenario to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with Activities and distractions. (CH.X.A.R1)
    • Use a commercial helicopter scenario to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with Parking the helicopter in a congested area. (CH.X.A.R2)
    • Use a commercial helicopter scenario to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with Airport specific security procedures. (CH.X.A.R3)
    • Use a commercial helicopter scenario to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with Disembarking passengers safely on the ramp and monitoring passenger movement while on the ramp. (CH.X.A.R4)
  • Skill Development:
    • Demonstrate, coach, and assess the learner's ability to Minimize the hazardous effects of rotor downwash during hovering. (CH.X.A.S1)
    • Demonstrate, coach, and assess the learner's ability to Park in an appropriate area, considering the safety of nearby persons and property. (CH.X.A.S2)
    • Demonstrate, coach, and assess the learner's ability to Complete the appropriate checklist(s). (CH.X.A.S3)
    • Demonstrate, coach, and assess the learner's ability to Conduct a postflight inspection and document discrepancies and servicing requirements, if any. (CH.X.A.S4)
    • Demonstrate, coach, and assess the learner's ability to Secure the helicopter. (CH.X.A.S5)
  • Syllabus Objective Coverage:
    • Explain helicopter shutdown, securing, and postflight inspection.
    • Explain documenting in-flight/postflight discrepancies.
    • Identify and assess the hazards associated with activities and distractions.
    • Select and justify effective controls for the risks associated with activities and distractions.
    • Assess and manage parking the helicopter in a congested area.
    • Identify and assess the hazards associated with airport specific security procedures.
    • Select and justify effective controls for the risks associated with airport specific security procedures.
    • Identify and assess the hazards associated with disembarking passengers safely on the ramp and monitoring passenger movement while on the ramp.
    • Select and justify effective controls for the risks associated with disembarking passengers safely on the ramp and monitoring passenger movement while on the ramp.
    • Demonstrate minimize the hazardous effects of rotor downwash during hovering.
    • Demonstrate the ability to park in an appropriate area, considering the safety of nearby persons and property.
    • Demonstrate the ability to complete the appropriate checklist(s).
    • Demonstrate the ability to conduct a postflight inspection and document discrepancies and servicing requirements, if any.
    • Demonstrate secure the helicopter.
  • Require the learner to use the RFM, checklist, limitations, and current operational information, then document deficiencies and retraining.
Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) After Landing, Parking, and Securing 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 Minimize the hazardous effects of rotor downwash during hovering.
  • 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) After Landing, Parking, and Securing 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) After Landing, Parking, and Securing Lesson Plan

Airman Certification Standards

Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) After Landing, Parking, and Securing Airman Certification Standards

  • Objective: To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with after landing, parking, and securing procedures.
  • References: FAA-H-8083-2, FAA-H-8083-21, FAA-H-8083-25; POH/RFM
Knowledge 2 ACS Elements
  • CH.X.A.K1:
    Helicopter shutdown, securing, and postflight inspection.
  • CH.X.A.K2:
    Documenting in-flight/postflight discrepancies.
Risk Management 4 ACS Elements
  • CH.X.A.R1:
    Activities and distractions.
  • CH.X.A.R2:
    Parking the helicopter in a congested area.
  • CH.X.A.R3:
    Airport specific security procedures.
  • CH.X.A.R4:
    Disembarking passengers safely on the ramp and monitoring passenger movement while on the ramp.
Skills 5 ACS Elements
  • CH.X.A.S1:
    Minimize the hazardous effects of rotor downwash during hovering.
  • CH.X.A.S2:
    Park in an appropriate area, considering the safety of nearby persons and property.
  • CH.X.A.S3:
    Complete the appropriate checklist(s).
  • CH.X.A.S4:
    Conduct a postflight inspection and document discrepancies and servicing requirements, if any.
  • CH.X.A.S5:
    Secure the helicopter.
Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) After Landing, Parking, and Securing Lesson Plan

Conclusion

  • Re-Motivation:

    • Commercial-level after landing, parking, and securing 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.