Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Preflight Assessment Lesson Plan

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

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

Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Preflight Assessment Lesson Plan

Introduction

  • Attention Getter:

    • Present a realistic commercial helicopter operation in which the outcome depends on sound preflight assessment 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 preparation for safe flight.

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Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Preflight Assessment 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) Preflight Assessment 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 Pilot self-assessment. (CH.II.A.K1)
    • Explain, correlate, and assess the learner's understanding of Determining that the helicopter to be used is in an airworthy condition. (CH.II.A.K2)
    • Explain, correlate, and assess the learner's understanding of Helicopter preflight inspection, including: (CH.II.A.K3)
      • Which items should be inspected (CH.II.A.K3a)
      • The reasons for checking each item (CH.II.A.K3b)
      • How to detect possible defects (CH.II.A.K3c)
      • The associated regulations (CH.II.A.K3d)
    • Explain, correlate, and assess the learner's understanding of Environmental factors, including weather, terrain, route selection, and obstructions. (CH.II.A.K4)
  • Risk Management:
    • Use a commercial helicopter scenario to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with Pilot. (CH.II.A.R1)
    • Use a commercial helicopter scenario to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with Aircraft. (CH.II.A.R2)
    • Use a commercial helicopter scenario to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with Environment (e.g., weather, icing, airports/heliports/helipads/landing areas, airspace, terrain, obstacles). (CH.II.A.R3)
    • Use a commercial helicopter scenario to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with External pressures. (CH.II.A.R4)
    • Use a commercial helicopter scenario to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with Aviation security concerns. (CH.II.A.R5)
  • Skill Development:
    • Demonstrate, coach, and assess the learner's ability to Inspect the helicopter with reference to an appropriate checklist. (CH.II.A.S1)
    • Demonstrate, coach, and assess the learner's ability to Verify the helicopter is in condition for safe flight and conforms to its type design. (CH.II.A.S2)
    • Demonstrate, coach, and assess the learner's ability to Perform self-assessment. (CH.II.A.S3)
    • Demonstrate, coach, and assess the learner's ability to Continue to assess the environment for safe flight. (CH.II.A.S4)
  • Syllabus Objective Coverage:
    • Explain and apply pilot self-assessment before and during flight.
    • Explain pilot self-assessment.
    • Explain determining that the helicopter to be used is in an airworthy condition.
    • Explain helicopter preflight inspection.
    • Explain which items should be inspected.
    • Explain the reasons for checking each item.
    • Explain how to detect possible defects.
    • Explain the associated regulations.
    • Explain how weather affects the safety of the planned flight.
    • Explain how terrain affects the safety of the planned flight.
    • Explain how to select a route appropriate for the planned flight.
    • Explain how obstructions affect the safety of the planned flight.
    • Explain obstruction avoidance principles as part of flight planning.
    • Explain terrain avoidance principles as part of flight planning.
    • Identify and assess the hazards associated with pilot.
    • Select and justify effective controls for the risks associated with pilot.
    • Assess the difference between legal currency and readiness for the planned flight.
    • Select delay, cancellation, or a changed plan when fatigue or distraction makes the pilot unready.
    • Reassess pilot readiness when condition or circumstances change.
    • Identify and assess the hazards associated with aircraft.
    • Select and justify effective controls for the risks associated with aircraft.
    • Reject departure with a leaking brake line and soft pedal until the discrepancy is resolved.
    • Assess and manage environment (e.g., weather, icing, airports/heliports/helipads/landing areas, airspace, terrain, obstacles).
    • Identify and assess the hazards associated with external pressures.
    • Select and justify effective controls for the risks associated with external pressures.
    • Select delay, cancellation, or a changed plan rather than lower personal minimums under passenger pressure.
    • Identify and assess the hazards associated with aviation security concerns.
    • Select and justify effective controls for the risks associated with aviation security concerns.
    • Select controls for suspected unauthorized aircraft access or tampering discovered during preflight.
    • Demonstrate inspect the helicopter with reference to an appropriate checklist.
    • Demonstrate verify the helicopter is in condition for safe flight and conforms to its type design.
    • Demonstrate the ability to perform self-assessment.
    • Demonstrate the ability to continue to assess the environment for safe flight.
  • Require the learner to use the RFM, checklist, limitations, and current operational information, then document deficiencies and retraining.
Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Preflight Assessment 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 Inspect the helicopter with reference to an appropriate checklist.
  • 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) Preflight Assessment 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) Preflight Assessment Lesson Plan

Airman Certification Standards

Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Preflight Assessment Airman Certification Standards

  • Objective: To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with preparation for safe flight.
  • References: AC 91-32; FAA-H-8083-2, FAA-H-8083-21, FAA-H-8083-25; POH/RFM
Knowledge 4 ACS Elements
  • CH.II.A.K1:
    Pilot self-assessment.
  • CH.II.A.K2:
    Determining that the helicopter to be used is in an airworthy condition.
  • CH.II.A.K3:
    Helicopter preflight inspection, including:
    • CH.II.A.K3a:
      Which items should be inspected
    • CH.II.A.K3b:
      The reasons for checking each item
    • CH.II.A.K3c:
      How to detect possible defects
    • CH.II.A.K3d:
      The associated regulations
  • CH.II.A.K4:
    Environmental factors, including weather, terrain, route selection, and obstructions.
Risk Management 5 ACS Elements
  • CH.II.A.R1:
    Pilot.
  • CH.II.A.R2:
    Aircraft.
  • CH.II.A.R3:
    Environment (e.g., weather, icing, airports/heliports/helipads/landing areas, airspace, terrain, obstacles).
  • CH.II.A.R4:
    External pressures.
  • CH.II.A.R5:
    Aviation security concerns.
Skills 4 ACS Elements
  • CH.II.A.S1:
    Inspect the helicopter with reference to an appropriate checklist.
  • CH.II.A.S2:
    Verify the helicopter is in condition for safe flight and conforms to its type design.
  • CH.II.A.S3:
    Perform self-assessment.
  • CH.II.A.S4:
    Continue to assess the environment for safe flight.
Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Preflight Assessment Lesson Plan

Conclusion

  • Re-Motivation:

    • Commercial-level preflight assessment 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.