Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Flight Deck Management Lesson Plan

Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) • ACS Area II, Task B

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

Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Flight Deck Management Lesson Plan

Introduction

  • Attention Getter:

    • Present a realistic commercial helicopter operation in which the outcome depends on sound flight deck management 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 flight deck management practices.

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Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Flight Deck Management 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) Flight Deck Management 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 Passenger briefing requirements, including operation and required use of safety restraint systems. (CH.II.B.K1)
    • Explain, correlate, and assess the learner's understanding of Use of appropriate checklists. (CH.II.B.K2)
    • Explain, correlate, and assess the learner's understanding of Requirements for current and appropriate navigation data. (CH.II.B.K3)
    • Explain, correlate, and assess the learner's understanding of Securing items and cargo. (CH.II.B.K4)
  • Risk Management:
    • Use a commercial helicopter scenario to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with Use of systems or equipment, including automation and portable electronic devices. (CH.II.B.R1)
    • Use a commercial helicopter scenario to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with Inoperative equipment. (CH.II.B.R2)
    • Use a commercial helicopter scenario to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with Passenger distractions. (CH.II.B.R3)
  • Skill Development:
    • Demonstrate, coach, and assess the learner's ability to Secure all items in the aircraft. (CH.II.B.S1)
    • Demonstrate, coach, and assess the learner's ability to Conduct an appropriate passenger briefing, including identifying the pilot-in-command (PIC), use of safety belts, shoulder harnesses, doors, passenger conduct, rotor blade avoidance, and emergency procedures. (CH.II.B.S2)
    • Demonstrate, coach, and assess the learner's ability to Properly program and manage helicopter automation, as applicable. (CH.II.B.S3)
    • Demonstrate, coach, and assess the learner's ability to Appropriately manage risks by utilizing ADM, including SRM/CRM. (CH.II.B.S4)
  • Syllabus Objective Coverage:
    • Determine when ground strobe use creates a hazard.
    • Explain passenger briefing requirements, including operation and required use of safety restraint systems.
    • Apply passenger briefing requirements, including operation and required use of safety restraint systems to the aircraft, conditions, or flight scenario presented.
    • Identify the § 91.107(a)(1) briefing on operating safety belts and installed shoulder harnesses.
    • Identify when § 91.107(a)(2) requires restraint-use notification.
    • Explain use of appropriate checklists.
    • Explain the verification role of a written checklist after a memorized flow.
    • Explain requirements for current and appropriate navigation data.
    • Apply requirements for current and appropriate navigation data to the aircraft, conditions, or flight scenario presented.
    • Identify current navigation and airport information that must be available for a night flight.
    • Explain securing items and cargo.
    • Explain how loose articles and restricted controls can compromise stall/spin recovery.
    • Identify and assess the hazards associated with use of systems or equipment, including automation and portable electronic devices.
    • Select and justify effective controls for the risks associated with use of systems or equipment, including automation and portable electronic devices.
    • Select controls for EFB currency, power, placement, visibility, and failure risk.
    • Identify and assess the hazards associated with inoperative equipment.
    • Select and justify effective controls for the risks associated with inoperative equipment.
    • Select the fault procedure rather than repeatedly resetting a breaker that trips again.
    • Identify and assess the hazards associated with passenger distractions.
    • Select and justify effective controls for the risks associated with passenger distractions.
    • Use the passenger briefing to control distraction without suppressing urgent safety information.
    • Demonstrate the ability to secure all items in the aircraft.
    • Conduct an appropriate passenger briefing, including identifying the pilot-in-command (PIC), use of safety belts, shoulder harnesses, doors, passenger conduct, rotor blade avoidance, and emergency procedures.
    • Demonstrate properly program and manage helicopter automation, as applicable.
    • Demonstrate the ability to appropriately manage risks by utilizing ADM, including SRM/CRM.
  • Require the learner to use the RFM, checklist, limitations, and current operational information, then document deficiencies and retraining.
Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Flight Deck Management 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 Use of systems or equipment, including automation and portable electronic devices.
  • Require the learner to brief, perform, or explain how to Secure all items in the aircraft.
  • 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) Flight Deck Management 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) Flight Deck Management Lesson Plan

Airman Certification Standards

Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Flight Deck Management Airman Certification Standards

  • Objective: To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with flight deck management practices.
  • References: 14 CFR part 91; AC 120-71; FAA-H-8083-2, FAA-H-8083-21, FAA-H-8083-25; POH/RFM
  • Note: See Appendix 2: Safety of Flight.
Knowledge 4 ACS Elements
  • CH.II.B.K1:
    Passenger briefing requirements, including operation and required use of safety restraint systems.
  • CH.II.B.K2:
    Use of appropriate checklists.
  • CH.II.B.K3:
    Requirements for current and appropriate navigation data.
  • CH.II.B.K4:
    Securing items and cargo.
Risk Management 3 ACS Elements
  • CH.II.B.R1:
    Use of systems or equipment, including automation and portable electronic devices.
  • CH.II.B.R2:
    Inoperative equipment.
  • CH.II.B.R3:
    Passenger distractions.
Skills 4 ACS Elements
  • CH.II.B.S1:
    Secure all items in the aircraft.
  • CH.II.B.S2:
    Conduct an appropriate passenger briefing, including identifying the pilot-in-command (PIC), use of safety belts, shoulder harnesses, doors, passenger conduct, rotor blade avoidance, and emergency procedures.
  • CH.II.B.S3:
    Properly program and manage helicopter automation, as applicable.
  • CH.II.B.S4:
    Appropriately manage risks by utilizing ADM, including SRM/CRM.
Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Flight Deck Management Lesson Plan

Conclusion

  • Re-Motivation:

    • Commercial-level flight deck management 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.