Flight Instructor (Airplane) Emergency Approach and Landing (Simulated) (ASEL, ASES) Lesson Plan
Flight Instructor (Airplane) • ACS Area XII, Task B
The Flight Instructor (Airplane) Emergency Approach and Landing (Simulated) (ASEL, ASES) Lesson Plan covers the instructional knowledge, risk management, and skills required by FAA-S-ACS-25.
Introduction
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Schedule
Topic:Time:Attention/Motivator:0:05Part 1, Lesson Introduction:0:05Part 2, Instructional Knowledge:0:25Part 3, Risk Management Instruction:0:15Part 4, Skill Demonstration and Teaching:0:30Part 5, Guided Teaching Scenario:0:20Part 6, Lesson Conclusion:0:05Remotivation/Closure:0:05Total Ground Time:0:00
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Attention Getter:
- Present a teaching scenario in which learner safety or understanding depends on effective instruction in emergency Approach and Landing (Simulated) (ASEL (Airplane Single-Engine Land), ASES (Airplane Single-Engine Sea)).
- Ask the instructor applicant to identify the first instructional decision that will shape the learner's outcome.
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Motivator:
- To determine the applicant understands power failure at altitude and associated emergency approach and landing procedures, can apply that knowledge, manage associated risks, demonstrate appropriate skills, and provide effective instruction.
Materials
Required Materials:
- Writing instrument and instructional surface.
- FAA-S-ACS-25, Flight Instructor for Airplane Category Airman Certification Standards.
- Lesson plan, student training record, and applicable instructor records.
Optional Materials:
- Model-specific Pilot's Operating Handbook or Airplane Flight Manual (POH/AFM).
- Manufacturer-approved checklist and performance data.
- Current charts, Chart Supplement, Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs), and electronic flight bag, as applicable.
- Airplane, cockpit procedures trainer, approved training device, or classroom teaching aids, as appropriate.
Reference Materials:
- Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Airman Certification Standards (ACS).
- Aviation Instructor's Handbook.
- Airplane Flying Handbook.
- Risk Management Handbook.
- Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge.
- Task references: FAA-H-8083-2, FAA-H-8083-3, FAA-H-8083-9, FAA-H-8083-23, FAA-H-8083-25; POH/AFM
Instructor Actions
- Review the maneuver's common errors and assess the learner's understanding of their mitigations.
- Review Emergency Approach and Landing common errors and mitigations.
- Use the guidance appropriate to the aircraft and visual or instrument flight conditions.
- Before the lesson, review the reference materials, applicable airplane limitations, and the instructor applicant's prior lesson preparation.
- Part 1, Lesson Introduction:
- Present the attention getter and motivator.
- Review Area of Operation XII, Task B, and the Airman Certification Standards.
- State the lesson objective: To determine the applicant understands power failure at altitude and associated emergency approach and landing procedures, can apply that knowledge, manage associated risks, demonstrate appropriate skills, and provide effective instruction.
- Part 2, Instructional Knowledge:
- Teach and assess immediate aircraft-control actions, the aircraft-specific emergency procedure, restart considerations, communication, and preparation for an off-airport landing. (AI.XII.B.K1)
- Teach the airspeed concepts governing an emergency glide, including: (AI.XII.B.K2)
- Best-glide speed and its relationship to glide distance. (AI.XII.B.K2a)
- The difference between best-glide and minimum-sink speeds and when each is useful. (AI.XII.B.K2b)
- The effects of headwind, tailwind, and crosswind on glide distance and landing-area accessibility. (AI.XII.B.K2c)
- Have the learner use a concrete example to explain how wind, turbulence, density altitude, visibility, precipitation, and surface conditions affect landing-area selection, glide planning, and touchdown survivability. (AI.XII.B.K3)
- Present a concrete example, then require the learner to explain and apply a stabilized emergency approach using energy management, aim-point control, configuration timing, wind correction, and an achievable touchdown zone. (AI.XII.B.K4)
- Present a concrete example, then require the learner to explain and apply the operation, limitations, and appropriate use of Emergency Locator Transmitters and other emergency-locating devices before and after landing. (AI.XII.B.K5)
- Have the learner use a concrete example to explain how ATC can assist an aircraft in distress with traffic, airport, terrain, weather, radar, communications, and emergency-response coordination. (AI.XII.B.K6)
- Teach the learner to recognize, prevent, and correct common errors in airspeed control, landing-area selection, flightpath planning, configuration, checklist use, and task prioritization. (AI.XII.B.K7)
- Part 3, Risk Management Instruction:
- Require the learner to evaluate altitude, wind, terrain, obstructions, glide capability, surface suitability, and available landing distance before selecting a landing area. (AI.XII.B.R1)
- Present a concrete example, then require the learner to explain and apply continuous evaluation of the planned flightpath and specific criteria for changing the plan while sufficient altitude and energy remain. (AI.XII.B.R2)
- Present a concrete example, then require the learner to explain and apply clearing, traffic awareness, communication, and flightpath selection that reduce collision risk throughout the emergency descent. (AI.XII.B.R3)
- Present a concrete example, then require the learner to explain and apply configuration timing that preserves glide performance and controllability until landing is assured, then supports the selected surface and touchdown plan. (AI.XII.B.R4)
- Establish intervention criteria that prevent low-altitude maneuvering from progressing toward loss of control, stall or spin, or controlled flight into terrain. (AI.XII.B.R5)
- Require the learner to manage startle and distractions, prioritize aircraft control and landing, maintain situational awareness and orientation, and defer nonessential tasks. (AI.XII.B.R6)
- Require the instructor applicant to model risk controls, intervention points, and discontinue criteria while teaching.
- Part 4, Skill Demonstration and Teaching:
- Demonstrate, teach, and assess establishing and maintaining the recommended best-glide airspeed within ±10 knots. (AI.XII.B.S1)
- Demonstrate, teach, and assess configuring the airplane in accordance with the POH/AFM and existing conditions. (AI.XII.B.S2)
- Demonstrate, teach, and assess selection of a suitable landing area considering altitude, wind, terrain, obstructions, surface, landing distance, and available glide range. (AI.XII.B.S3)
- Demonstrate, teach, and assess planning and flying a controllable flightpath to the selected landing area while accounting for altitude, wind, terrain, and obstructions. (AI.XII.B.S4)
- Demonstrate, teach, and assess preparation for landing as specified by the evaluator, including occupants, systems, communication, and aircraft configuration. (AI.XII.B.S5)
- Demonstrate, teach, and assess timely completion of the appropriate checklist or checklists without compromising aircraft control or the landing plan. (AI.XII.B.S6)
- Have the instructor applicant analyze and correct common errors while preserving positive control, glide performance, and a stabilized approach. (AI.XII.B.S7)
- Coach simultaneous explanation, demonstration, observation, error correction, and, when airborne, positive aircraft control.
- Part 5, Guided Teaching Scenario:
- Lead the guided scenario.
- Evaluate instructional organization, technical accuracy, risk management, learner engagement, and every applicable ACS element.
- Part 6, Lesson Conclusion:
- Review the lesson objective, instructional strengths, risk-management decisions, and items requiring additional practice.
- Present the re-motivation and closure.
- Update instructor records and the instructor applicant's training record, as required.
Guided Scenario(s)
- The instructor applicant must teach a simulated emergency-approach-and-landing lesson appropriate to an ASEL or ASES while maintaining an organized lesson flow and meaningful learner participation.
- Assign realistic altitude, wind, terrain, obstruction, surface, glide-range, and landing-distance conditions and require the instructor applicant to teach and defend the landing-area selection. (AI.XII.B.R1)
- Require the instructor applicant to coach prompt establishment and maintenance of the recommended best-glide airspeed within ±10 knots. (AI.XII.B.S1)
- Introduce a realistic learner error, misconception, change in operating conditions, or external pressure and require the instructor applicant to adapt the lesson.
- Conclude with a learner-centered assessment and instructor self-critique tied to the ACS knowledge, risk management, and skill elements.
Student Actions
- Review the maneuver's common errors and explain how to prevent and correct each applicable error.
- Review Emergency Approach and Landing common errors and mitigations.
- Use the guidance appropriate to the aircraft and visual or instrument flight conditions.
- Complete assigned readings and prepare a lesson plan with objective, content sequence, teaching aids, assessment, and completion standards.
- Teach the applicable knowledge elements accurately and in learner-appropriate language rather than relying on rote recitation.
- Identify, assess, mitigate, and teach the risks associated with the task.
- Demonstrate or explain each applicable skill while maintaining positive control, observing the learner, and correcting errors appropriately.
- Use effective questions, check learner understanding, conduct a learner-centered assessment, and perform an instructor self-assessment.
Airman Certification Standards
Flight Instructor (Airplane) Emergency Approach and Landing (Simulated) (ASEL, ASES) Airman Certification Standards
- Note: For ASEL or ASES, the evaluator must select at least Tasks B and C. For AMEL or AMES, the evaluator must select Tasks E or F; Task G; and at least one other Task.
- Task B: Emergency Approach and Landing (Simulated) (ASEL, ASES).
- Note: See Appendix 2: Safety of Flight and Appendix 3: Aircraft, Equipment, and Operational Requirements & Limitations for information related to this Task.
- Objective: To determine the applicant understands power failure at altitude and associated emergency approach and landing procedures, can apply that knowledge, manage associated risks, demonstrate appropriate skills, and provide effective instruction.
- References: FAA-H-8083-2, FAA-H-8083-3, FAA-H-8083-9, FAA-H-8083-23, FAA-H-8083-25; POH/AFM
Knowledge 7 ACS Elements
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AI.XII.B.K1: Immediate action items and emergency procedures. -
AI.XII.B.K2: Airspeed, including:-
AI.XII.B.K2a: Importance of best glide speed and its relationship to distance -
AI.XII.B.K2b: Difference between best glide speed and minimum sink speed -
AI.XII.B.K2c: Effects of wind on glide distance
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AI.XII.B.K3: Effects of atmospheric conditions on emergency approach and landing. -
AI.XII.B.K4: A stabilized approach, including energy management concepts. -
AI.XII.B.K5: Emergency Locator Transmitters (ELTs) and other emergency locating devices. -
AI.XII.B.K6: Air traffic control (ATC) services to aircraft in distress. -
AI.XII.B.K7: Common errors related to this Task.
Risk Management 6 ACS Elements
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AI.XII.B.R1: Altitude, wind, terrain, obstructions, gliding distance, and available landing distance considerations. -
AI.XII.B.R2: Following or changing the planned flightpath to the selected landing area. -
AI.XII.B.R3: Collision hazards. -
AI.XII.B.R4: Configuring the airplane. -
AI.XII.B.R5: Low altitude maneuvering, including stall, spin, or controlled flight into terrain (CFIT). -
AI.XII.B.R6: Distractions, task prioritization, loss of situational awareness, or disorientation.
Skills 7 ACS Elements
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AI.XII.B.S1: Establish and maintain the recommended best glide airspeed, ±10 knots. -
AI.XII.B.S2: Configure the airplane in accordance with the Pilot's Operating Handbook (POH)\Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) and existing conditions. -
AI.XII.B.S3: Select a suitable landing area considering altitude, wind, terrain, obstructions, and available glide distance. -
AI.XII.B.S4: Plan and follow a flightpath to the selected landing area considering altitude, wind, terrain, and obstructions. -
AI.XII.B.S5: Prepare for landing as specified by the evaluator. -
AI.XII.B.S6: Complete the appropriate checklist(s). -
AI.XII.B.S7: Analyze and correct common errors related to this Task.
Conclusion
Re-Motivation:
- Effective instruction in emergency Approach and Landing (Simulated) (ASEL, ASES) helps learners build sound judgment, technical competence, and safe operating habits.
Closure:
- Advise students that this lesson will be used as a starting point for the next lesson.
- Assign study materials for the next lesson.