Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Operation of Systems Lesson Plan

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

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

Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Operation of Systems Lesson Plan

Introduction

  • Attention Getter:

    • Present a realistic commercial helicopter operation in which the outcome depends on sound operation of systems 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 safe operation of systems on the helicopter provided for the flight test.

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) Operation of Systems 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: FAA-H-8083-2, FAA-H-8083-21, FAA-H-8083-25; POH/RFM
    • ACS note: If K1 is selected, the evaluator must assess the applicant's knowledge of at least three sub-elements.
Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Operation of Systems 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 systems, including: (CH.I.G.K1)
      • Flight controls, trim, and if installed, stability control (CH.I.G.K1a)
      • Powerplant(s) (CH.I.G.K1b)
      • Main rotor and antitorque systems (CH.I.G.K1c)
      • Transmission and associated drive shafts (CH.I.G.K1d)
      • Fuel, oil, and hydraulic (CH.I.G.K1e)
      • Avionics (CH.I.G.K1f)
      • Landing gear, brakes, steering, skids, or floats, as applicable (CH.I.G.K1g)
      • Electrical (CH.I.G.K1h)
      • Pitot-static, vacuum/pressure, and associated flight instruments (CH.I.G.K1i)
      • Environmental (CH.I.G.K1j)
      • Anti-icing and deicing, including carburetor heat, if applicable (CH.I.G.K1k)
    • Explain, correlate, and assess the learner's understanding of Indications of and procedures for managing system abnormalities or failures. (CH.I.G.K2)
  • Risk Management:
    • Use a commercial helicopter scenario to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with Detection of system malfunctions or failures. (CH.I.G.R1)
    • Use a commercial helicopter scenario to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with Management of a system failure. (CH.I.G.R2)
    • Use a commercial helicopter scenario to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with Monitoring and management of automated systems. (CH.I.G.R3)
  • Skill Development:
    • Demonstrate, coach, and assess the learner's ability to Operate at least three of the helicopter’s systems listed in K1a through K1k. (CH.I.G.S1)
    • Demonstrate, coach, and assess the learner's ability to Complete the appropriate checklist(s). (CH.I.G.S2)
  • Syllabus Objective Coverage:
    • Explain helicopter systems.
    • Explain flight controls, trim, and if installed, stability control.
    • Explain powerplant(s).
      • Identify the installed helicopter powerplant type, major components, controls, and indications.
      • Explain normal starting, warm-up, operation, cooling, and shutdown considerations for the installed powerplant.
      • Explain powerplant operating limitations and the effects of atmospheric conditions and demand on power available.
      • Recognize abnormal powerplant indications, malfunctions, and limit exceedances and select the appropriate checklist response.
    • Explain main rotor and antitorque systems.
    • Explain transmission and associated drive shafts.
    • Explain fuel, oil, and hydraulic.
      • Explain the helicopter fuel system, controls, indications, limitations, contamination hazards, and fuel-management procedures.
      • Explain the engine and transmission oil systems, indications, limitations, and signs of inadequate lubrication.
      • Explain the hydraulic system, powered controls, indications, limitations, and effects of lost hydraulic assistance.
      • Recognize fuel, oil, or hydraulic anomalies and apply the aircraft-specific checklist and landing decision.
    • Explain avionics.
      • Identify the functions of installed communication, navigation, surveillance, and flight-display avionics.
      • Explain aircraft-specific avionics controls, displays, power sources, databases, limitations, and approved uses.
      • Configure and verify avionics before use and retain an appropriate independent backup.
      • Recognize avionics failure flags, anomalies, and the possibility that one failed source can affect multiple indications.
      • Resolve conflicting electronic indications using confirmed reliable and independent references.
      • Apply aircraft-specific reversionary or display-backup procedures.
      • Manage avionics workload and heads-down time while maintaining aircraft control, traffic awareness, and an outside scan.
    • Explain landing gear, brakes, steering, skids, or floats, as applicable.
    • Explain electrical.
      • Identify electrical power sources, storage, distribution, protection, controls, and indications in the helicopter.
      • Explain normal electrical-system operation and the effect of high-demand or essential loads.
      • Recognize electrical anomalies and malfunctions using indications, alerts, and equipment behavior.
      • Apply aircraft-specific load-shedding, reset, backup-power, and landing procedures without compounding the failure.
    • Explain pitot-static, vacuum/pressure, and associated flight instruments.
    • Explain environmental.
      • Identify installed heating, ventilation, defogging, cooling, pressurization, or oxygen-system controls, power sources, and limitations.
      • Explain environmental-system fire, carbon-monoxide, visibility, and occupant-comfort hazards.
      • Recognize environmental-system anomalies and apply aircraft-specific corrective, shutdown, ventilation, or landing procedures.
    • Explain anti-icing and deicing, including carburetor heat, if applicable.
    • Explain indications of and procedures for managing system abnormalities or failures.
    • Apply indications of and procedures for managing system abnormalities or failures to the aircraft, conditions, or flight scenario presented.
    • Distinguish primary indications of a system failure from secondary effects on other equipment.
    • Use the AFM or POH abnormal or emergency checklist after completing any required immediate actions.
    • Recognize indications that the charging source may no longer be supporting the electrical system.
    • Use shared power sources to distinguish a distribution failure from unrelated component failures.
    • Identify and assess the hazards associated with detection of system malfunctions or failures.
    • Select and justify effective controls for the risks associated with detection of system malfunctions or failures.
    • Avoid fixation on troubleshooting at the expense of aircraft control and flight-path awareness.
    • Verify that standby equipment is independent before relying on it after a failure.
    • Identify and assess the hazards associated with management of a system failure.
    • Select and justify effective controls for the risks associated with management of a system failure.
    • Choose a timely landing rather than prolonged airborne troubleshooting when failure consequences are uncertain.
    • Avoid repeatedly resetting a circuit breaker after a fault.
    • Prioritize isolation and landing over extended troubleshooting when electrical smoke or fire is suspected.
    • Avoid indiscriminately restoring electrical power after smoke stops.
    • Retain essential electrical loads while shedding nonessential loads after a charging failure.
    • Identify and assess the hazards associated with monitoring and management of automated systems.
    • Select and justify effective controls for the risks associated with monitoring and management of automated systems.
    • Demonstrate operate at least three of the helicopter's systems listed in K1a through K1k.
    • Demonstrate the ability to complete the appropriate checklist(s).
  • Require the learner to use the RFM, checklist, limitations, and current operational information, then document deficiencies and retraining.
Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Operation of Systems 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 Detection of system malfunctions or failures.
  • Require the learner to brief, perform, or explain how to Operate at least three of the helicopter’s systems listed in K1a through K1k.
  • 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) Operation of Systems 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) Operation of Systems Lesson Plan

Airman Certification Standards

Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Operation of Systems Airman Certification Standards

  • Objective: To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with safe operation of systems on the helicopter provided for the flight test.
  • References: FAA-H-8083-2, FAA-H-8083-21, FAA-H-8083-25; POH/RFM
  • Note: If K1 is selected, the evaluator must assess the applicant's knowledge of at least three sub-elements.
Knowledge 2 ACS Elements
  • CH.I.G.K1:
    Helicopter systems, including:
    • CH.I.G.K1a:
      Flight controls, trim, and if installed, stability control
    • CH.I.G.K1b:
      Powerplant(s)
    • CH.I.G.K1c:
      Main rotor and antitorque systems
    • CH.I.G.K1d:
      Transmission and associated drive shafts
    • CH.I.G.K1e:
      Fuel, oil, and hydraulic
    • CH.I.G.K1f:
      Avionics
    • CH.I.G.K1g:
      Landing gear, brakes, steering, skids, or floats, as applicable
    • CH.I.G.K1h:
      Electrical
    • CH.I.G.K1i:
      Pitot-static, vacuum/pressure, and associated flight instruments
    • CH.I.G.K1j:
      Environmental
    • CH.I.G.K1k:
      Anti-icing and deicing, including carburetor heat, if applicable
  • CH.I.G.K2:
    Indications of and procedures for managing system abnormalities or failures.
Risk Management 3 ACS Elements
  • CH.I.G.R1:
    Detection of system malfunctions or failures.
  • CH.I.G.R2:
    Management of a system failure.
  • CH.I.G.R3:
    Monitoring and management of automated systems.
Skills 2 ACS Elements
  • CH.I.G.S1:
    Operate at least three of the helicopter’s systems listed in K1a through K1k.
  • CH.I.G.S2:
    Complete the appropriate checklist(s).
Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Operation of Systems Lesson Plan

Conclusion

  • Re-Motivation:

    • Commercial-level operation of systems 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.