Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Night Operations Lesson Plan

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

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

Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Night Operations Lesson Plan

Introduction

  • Attention Getter:

    • Present a realistic commercial helicopter operation in which the outcome depends on sound night operations 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 and risk management associated with night operations.

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Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Night Operations 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) Night Operations 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 Physiological aspects of vision related to night flying. (CH.I.I.K1)
    • Explain, correlate, and assess the learner's understanding of Personal equipment essential for night flight. (CH.I.I.K2)
    • Explain, correlate, and assess the learner's understanding of Helicopter equipment and lighting requirements for night operations. (CH.I.I.K3)
    • Explain, correlate, and assess the learner's understanding of Lighting systems identifying airports/heliports/helipads/landing areas, runways, taxiways and obstructions, as well as pilot controlled lighting. (CH.I.I.K4)
    • Explain, correlate, and assess the learner's understanding of Night orientation, navigation, chart reading techniques and methods for maintaining night vision effectiveness. (CH.I.I.K5)
    • Explain, correlate, and assess the learner's understanding of Night taxi operations. (CH.I.I.K6)
    • Explain, correlate, and assess the learner's understanding of Interpretation of traffic position and direction based solely on position lights. (CH.I.I.K7)
    • Explain, correlate, and assess the learner's understanding of Visual illusions at night. (CH.I.I.K8)
    • Explain, correlate, and assess the learner's understanding of Appropriate use of automation, if applicable. (CH.I.I.K9)
  • Risk Management:
    • Use a commercial helicopter scenario to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with Collision hazards. (CH.I.I.R1)
    • Use a commercial helicopter scenario to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with Runway incursion. (CH.I.I.R2)
    • Use a commercial helicopter scenario to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with Distractions, task prioritization, loss of situational awareness, or disorientation. (CH.I.I.R3)
    • Use a commercial helicopter scenario to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with Effect of visual illusions and night adaptation during all phases of night flying. (CH.I.I.R4)
    • Use a commercial helicopter scenario to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with Night currency versus proficiency. (CH.I.I.R5)
    • Use a commercial helicopter scenario to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with Weather considerations specific to night operations. (CH.I.I.R6)
    • Use a commercial helicopter scenario to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with Inoperative equipment. (CH.I.I.R7)
  • Skill Development:
    • No separately testable element is specified for this category.
  • Syllabus Objective Coverage:
    • Explain physiological aspects of vision related to night flying.
    • Explain personal equipment essential for night flight.
    • Apply personal equipment essential for night flight to the aircraft, conditions, or flight scenario presented.
    • Explain helicopter equipment and lighting requirements for night operations.
    • Explain lighting systems identifying airports/heliports/helipads/landing areas, runways, taxiways and obstructions, as well as pilot controlled lighting.
    • Explain night orientation, navigation, chart reading techniques and methods for maintaining night vision effectiveness.
    • Explain FAA night-flying guidance for using supplemental oxygen above 5,000 feet MSL.
    • Explain night taxi operations.
    • Explain interpretation of traffic position and direction based solely on position lights.
    • Explain visual illusions at night.
    • Explain appropriate use of automation, if applicable.
    • Use suitable automation with verified modes and reliable inputs.
    • 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 runway incursion.
    • Select and justify effective controls for the risks associated with runway incursion.
    • 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 effect of visual illusions and night adaptation during all phases of night flying.
    • Select and justify effective controls for the risks associated with effect of visual illusions and night adaptation during all phases of night flying.
    • Identify and assess the hazards associated with night currency versus proficiency.
    • Select and justify effective controls for the risks associated with night currency versus proficiency.
    • Identify and assess the hazards associated with weather considerations specific to night operations.
    • Select and justify effective controls for the risks associated with weather considerations specific to night operations.
    • Identify and assess the hazards associated with inoperative equipment.
    • Select and justify effective controls for the risks associated with inoperative equipment.
    • The FAA intentionally specifies no separate skill element for this task; complete its applicable knowledge and risk-management objectives.
  • Require the learner to use the RFM, checklist, limitations, and current operational information, then document deficiencies and retraining.
Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Night Operations 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 the appropriate response and decision-making process
  • 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) Night Operations 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) Night Operations Lesson Plan

Airman Certification Standards

Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Night Operations Airman Certification Standards

  • Objective: To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge and risk management associated with night operations.
  • References: 14 CFR part 91; AIM; FAA-H-8083-2, FAA-H-8083-21, FAA-H-8083-25; POH/RFM
Knowledge 9 ACS Elements
  • CH.I.I.K2:
    Personal equipment essential for night flight.
  • CH.I.I.K3:
    Helicopter equipment and lighting requirements for night operations.
  • CH.I.I.K4:
    Lighting systems identifying airports/heliports/helipads/landing areas, runways, taxiways and obstructions, as well as pilot controlled lighting.
  • CH.I.I.K5:
    Night orientation, navigation, chart reading techniques and methods for maintaining night vision effectiveness.
  • CH.I.I.K6:
    Night taxi operations.
  • CH.I.I.K7:
    Interpretation of traffic position and direction based solely on position lights.
  • CH.I.I.K8:
    Visual illusions at night.
  • CH.I.I.K9:
    Appropriate use of automation, if applicable.
Risk Management 7 ACS Elements
  • CH.I.I.R1:
    Collision hazards.
  • CH.I.I.R2:
    Runway incursion.
  • CH.I.I.R3:
    Distractions, task prioritization, loss of situational awareness, or disorientation.
  • CH.I.I.R4:
    Effect of visual illusions and night adaptation during all phases of night flying.
  • CH.I.I.R5:
    Night currency versus proficiency.
  • CH.I.I.R6:
    Weather considerations specific to night operations.
  • CH.I.I.R7:
    Inoperative equipment.
Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Night Operations Lesson Plan

Conclusion

  • Re-Motivation:

    • Commercial-level night operations 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.