Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Cross-Country Flight Planning Lesson Plan

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

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

Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Cross-Country Flight Planning Lesson Plan

Introduction

  • Attention Getter:

    • Present a realistic commercial helicopter operation in which the outcome depends on sound cross-country flight planning 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 cross-country flights and VFR flight planning.

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Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Cross-Country Flight Planning 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:

    • FAA-S-ACS-16.
    • Helicopter Flying Handbook.
    • Task references: 14 CFR part 91; AC 91.21-1; AIM; Chart Supplements; FAA-H-8083-2, FAA-H-8083-21, FAA-H-8083-25; Helicopter Route Charts; NOTAMs; VFR Navigation Charts
    • ACS note: Preparation, presentation, and explanation of a computer-generated flight plan is an acceptable option.
Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Cross-Country Flight Planning 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 Route planning, including consideration of different classes and special use airspace (SUA) and selection of appropriate and available navigation/communication systems and facilities. (CH.I.D.K1)
      • Use of an electronic flight bag (EFB), if used (CH.I.D.K1a)
    • Explain, correlate, and assess the learner's understanding of Altitude selection accounting for terrain and obstacles, autorotation requirements of the helicopter, VFR cruising altitudes, and the effect of wind. (CH.I.D.K2)
    • Explain, correlate, and assess the learner's understanding of Calculating: (CH.I.D.K3)
      • Time, climb and descent rates, course, distance, heading, true airspeed, and groundspeed (CH.I.D.K3a)
      • Estimated time of arrival, including conversion to universal coordinated time (UTC) (CH.I.D.K3b)
      • Fuel requirements, including reserve (CH.I.D.K3c)
    • Explain, correlate, and assess the learner's understanding of Elements of a VFR flight plan. (CH.I.D.K4)
    • Explain, correlate, and assess the learner's understanding of Procedures for filing, activating, and closing a VFR flight plan. (CH.I.D.K5)
    • Explain, correlate, and assess the learner's understanding of Inflight intercept procedures. (CH.I.D.K6)
  • Risk Management:
    • Use a commercial helicopter scenario to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with Pilot. (CH.I.D.R1)
    • Use a commercial helicopter scenario to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with Aircraft. (CH.I.D.R2)
    • Use a commercial helicopter scenario to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with Environment (e.g., weather, airports, airspace, terrain, obstacles, including wire strike hazards). (CH.I.D.R3)
    • Use a commercial helicopter scenario to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with External pressures. (CH.I.D.R4)
    • Use a commercial helicopter scenario to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with Limitations of air traffic control (ATC) services. (CH.I.D.R5)
    • Use a commercial helicopter scenario to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with Fuel planning. (CH.I.D.R6)
    • Use a commercial helicopter scenario to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with Use of an electronic flight bag (EFB), if used. (CH.I.D.R7)
  • Skill Development:
    • Demonstrate, coach, and assess the learner's ability to Prepare, present, and explain a cross-country flight plan assigned by the evaluator, including a risk analysis based on real-time weather, to the first fuel stop. (CH.I.D.S1)
    • Demonstrate, coach, and assess the learner's ability to Apply pertinent information from appropriate and current aeronautical charts, Chart Supplements; Notices to Air Missions (NOTAMs) relative to airport/heliport/helipad/landing area, runway and taxiway closures; and other flight publications. (CH.I.D.S2)
    • Demonstrate, coach, and assess the learner's ability to Create a navigation log and prepare a VFR flight plan. (CH.I.D.S3)
    • Demonstrate, coach, and assess the learner's ability to Recalculate fuel reserves based on a scenario provided by the evaluator. (CH.I.D.S4)
    • Demonstrate, coach, and assess the learner's ability to Use an electronic flight bag (EFB), if applicable. (CH.I.D.S5)
  • Syllabus Objective Coverage:
    • Explain route planning, including consideration of different classes and special use airspace (SUA) and selection of appropriate and available navigation/communication systems and facilities.
    • Apply route planning, including consideration of different classes and special use airspace (SUA) and selection of appropriate and available navigation/communication systems and facilities to the aircraft, conditions, or flight scenario presented.
    • Identify and assess the hazards associated with use of an electronic flight bag (EFB), if used.
    • Select and justify effective controls for the risks associated with use of an electronic flight bag (EFB), if used.
    • Explain altitude selection accounting for terrain and obstacles, autorotation requirements of the helicopter, VFR cruising altitudes, and the effect of wind.
    • Explain calculating.
    • Explain time, climb and descent rates, course, distance, heading, true airspeed, and groundspeed.
    • Explain estimated time of arrival, including conversion to universal coordinated time (UTC).
    • Explain fuel requirements, including reserve.
    • Explain elements of a VFR flight plan.
    • Reject remarks as vfr flight plan closure.
    • Explain procedures for filing, activating, and closing a VFR flight plan.
    • Apply procedures for filing, activating, and closing a VFR flight plan to the aircraft, conditions, or flight scenario presented.
    • Explain inflight intercept procedures.
    • Apply inflight intercept procedures to the aircraft, conditions, or flight scenario presented.
    • Identify and assess pilot-related hazards, including qualification, proficiency, fitness, workload, hazardous attitudes, and external pressures.
    • Select and justify controls for pilot-related hazards, including training, rest, workload reduction, personal minimums, assistance, delay, or cancellation.
    • Identify and assess the hazards associated with aircraft.
    • Select and justify effective controls for the risks associated with aircraft.
    • Assess and manage environment (e.g., weather, airports, airspace, terrain, obstacles, including wire strike hazards).
    • Identify and assess the hazards associated with external pressures.
    • Select and justify effective controls for the risks associated with external pressures.
    • Identify and assess the hazards associated with limitations of air traffic control (ATC) services.
    • Select and justify effective controls for the risks associated with limitations of air traffic control (ATC) services.
    • Identify and assess the hazards associated with fuel planning.
    • Select and justify effective controls for the risks associated with fuel planning.
    • Identify and assess the hazards associated with use of an electronic flight bag (EFB), if used.
    • Select and justify effective controls for the risks associated with use of an electronic flight bag (EFB), if used.
    • Demonstrate the ability to prepare, present, and explain a cross-country flight plan assigned by the evaluator, including a risk analysis based on real-time weather, to the first fuel stop.
    • Apply pertinent information from appropriate and current aeronautical charts, Chart Supplements; Notices to Air Missions (NOTAMs) relative to airport/heliport/helipad/landing area, runway and taxiway closures; and other flight publications.
    • Prepare a complete navigation log and VFR flight plan for the proposed commercial helicopter flight.
    • Demonstrate the ability to recalculate fuel reserves based on a scenario provided by the evaluator.
    • Demonstrate the ability to use an electronic flight bag (EFB), if applicable.
  • Require the learner to use the RFM, checklist, limitations, and current operational information, then document deficiencies and retraining.
Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Cross-Country Flight Planning 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 Pilot.
  • Require the learner to brief, perform, or explain how to Prepare, present, and explain a cross-country flight plan assigned by the evaluator, including a risk analysis based on real-time weather, to the first fuel stop.
  • 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) Cross-Country Flight Planning 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) Cross-Country Flight Planning Lesson Plan

Airman Certification Standards

Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Cross-Country Flight Planning Airman Certification Standards

  • Objective: To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with cross-country flights and VFR flight planning.
  • References: 14 CFR part 91; AC 91.21-1; AIM; Chart Supplements; FAA-H-8083-2, FAA-H-8083-21, FAA-H-8083-25; Helicopter Route Charts; NOTAMs; VFR Navigation Charts
  • Note: Preparation, presentation, and explanation of a computer-generated flight plan is an acceptable option.
Knowledge 6 ACS Elements
  • CH.I.D.K1:
    Route planning, including consideration of different classes and special use airspace (SUA) and selection of appropriate and available navigation/communication systems and facilities.
    • CH.I.D.K1a:
      Use of an electronic flight bag (EFB), if used
  • CH.I.D.K2:
    Altitude selection accounting for terrain and obstacles, autorotation requirements of the helicopter, VFR cruising altitudes, and the effect of wind.
  • CH.I.D.K3:
    Calculating:
    • CH.I.D.K3a:
      Time, climb and descent rates, course, distance, heading, true airspeed, and groundspeed
    • CH.I.D.K3b:
      Estimated time of arrival, including conversion to universal coordinated time (UTC)
    • CH.I.D.K3c:
      Fuel requirements, including reserve
  • CH.I.D.K4:
    Elements of a VFR flight plan.
  • CH.I.D.K5:
    Procedures for filing, activating, and closing a VFR flight plan.
  • CH.I.D.K6:
    Inflight intercept procedures.
Risk Management 7 ACS Elements
  • CH.I.D.R1:
    Pilot.
  • CH.I.D.R2:
    Aircraft.
  • CH.I.D.R3:
    Environment (e.g., weather, airports, airspace, terrain, obstacles, including wire strike hazards).
  • CH.I.D.R4:
    External pressures.
  • CH.I.D.R5:
    Limitations of air traffic control (ATC) services.
  • CH.I.D.R6:
    Fuel planning.
  • CH.I.D.R7:
    Use of an electronic flight bag (EFB), if used.
Skills 5 ACS Elements
  • CH.I.D.S1:
    Prepare, present, and explain a cross-country flight plan assigned by the evaluator, including a risk analysis based on real-time weather, to the first fuel stop.
  • CH.I.D.S2:
    Apply pertinent information from appropriate and current aeronautical charts, Chart Supplements; Notices to Air Missions (NOTAMs) relative to airport/heliport/helipad/landing area, runway and taxiway closures; and other flight publications.
  • CH.I.D.S3:
    Create a navigation log and prepare a VFR flight plan.
  • CH.I.D.S4:
    Recalculate fuel reserves based on a scenario provided by the evaluator.
  • CH.I.D.S5:
    Use an electronic flight bag (EFB), if applicable.
Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Cross-Country Flight Planning Lesson Plan

Conclusion

  • Re-Motivation:

    • Commercial-level cross-country flight planning 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.