Flight Instructor (Airplane) Taxiing and Sailing (ASES, AMES) Lesson Plan

Flight Instructor (Airplane) • ACS Area V, Task E

The Flight Instructor (Airplane) Taxiing and Sailing (ASES, AMES) Lesson Plan covers the instructional knowledge, risk management, and skills required by FAA-S-ACS-25.

Flight Instructor (Airplane) Taxiing and Sailing (ASES, AMES) Lesson Plan

Introduction

  • Schedule

    Topic:
    Time:
    Attention/Motivator:
    0:05
    Part 1, Lesson Introduction:
    0:05
    Part 2, Instructional Knowledge:
    0:25
    Part 3, Risk Management Instruction:
    0:15
    Part 4, Skill Demonstration and Teaching:
    0:30
    Part 5, Guided Teaching Scenario:
    0:20
    Part 6, Lesson Conclusion:
    0:05
    Remotivation/Closure:
    0:05
    Total Ground Time:
    0:00

  • Attention Getter:

    • Present a teaching scenario in which learner safety or understanding depends on effective instruction in taxiing and Sailing (ASES, AMES).
    • Ask the instructor applicant to identify the first instructional decision that will shape the learner's outcome.

  • Motivator:

    • To determine the applicant understands taxiing and sailing, can apply that knowledge, manage associated risks, demonstrate appropriate skills, and provide effective instruction.

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Flight Instructor (Airplane) Taxiing and Sailing (ASES, AMES) Lesson Plan

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, NOTAMs, and electronic flight bag, as applicable.
    • Airplane, cockpit procedures trainer, approved training device, or classroom teaching aids, as appropriate.

  • Reference Materials:

Flight Instructor (Airplane) Taxiing and Sailing (ASES, AMES) Lesson Plan

Instructor Actions

  • 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 V, Task E, and the Airman Certification Standards.
    • State the lesson objective: To determine the applicant understands taxiing and sailing, can apply that knowledge, manage associated risks, demonstrate appropriate skills, and provide effective instruction.
  • Part 2, Instructional Knowledge:
    • Explain, teach, and assess learner understanding of AI.V.E.K1: Procedures for various types of taxiing and sailing.
    • Explain, teach, and assess learner understanding of AI.V.E.K2: Current airport aeronautical references and information resources such as the Chart Supplement, airport diagram, and Notices to Air Missions (NOTAMs).
    • Explain, teach, and assess learner understanding of AI.V.E.K3: Taxi instructions/clearances.
    • Explain, teach, and assess learner understanding of AI.V.E.K4: Airport/seaplane base markings, signs, and lights.
    • Explain, teach, and assess learner understanding of AI.V.E.K5: Visual indicators for wind.
    • Explain, teach, and assess learner understanding of AI.V.E.K6: Airplane lighting.
    • Explain, teach, and assess learner understanding of AI.V.E.K7: Procedures for:
      • AI.V.E.K7a: a. Appropriate flight deck activities during taxiing or sailing
      • AI.V.E.K7b: b. Radio communications at towered and nontowered seaplane bases
  • Part 3, Risk Management Instruction:
    • Teach the learner to identify, assess, and mitigate AI.V.E.R1: Activities and distractions.
    • Teach the learner to identify, assess, and mitigate AI.V.E.R2: Porpoising and skipping.
    • Teach the learner to identify, assess, and mitigate AI.V.E.R3: Low visibility taxi and sailing operations.
    • Teach the learner to identify, assess, and mitigate AI.V.E.R4: Other aircraft, vessels, and hazards.
    • Teach the learner to identify, assess, and mitigate AI.V.E.R5: Confirmation or expectation bias as related to taxi instructions.
    • Require the instructor applicant to model risk controls, intervention points, and discontinue criteria while teaching.
  • Part 4, Skill Demonstration and Teaching:
    • Demonstrate and provide instruction on AI.V.E.S1: Receive and correctly read back clearances/instructions, if applicable.
    • Demonstrate and provide instruction on AI.V.E.S2: Use an appropriate airport diagram or taxi chart, if published.
    • Demonstrate and provide instruction on AI.V.E.S3: Comply with seaplane base/airport/taxiway markings, signals, and signs.
    • Demonstrate and provide instruction on AI.V.E.S4: Depart the dock/mooring buoy or beach/ramp in a safe manner, considering wind, current, traffic, and hazards.
    • Demonstrate and provide instruction on AI.V.E.S5: Complete the appropriate checklist(s).
    • Demonstrate and provide instruction on AI.V.E.S6: Position the flight controls, flaps, doors, water rudders, and power correctly for the existing conditions to follow the desired course while sailing and to prevent or correct for porpoising and skipping during step taxi.
    • Demonstrate and provide instruction on AI.V.E.S7: Exhibit procedures for steering and maneuvering while maintaining proper situational awareness and desired orientation, path, and position while taxiing using idle, plow, or step taxi technique, as appropriate.
    • Demonstrate and provide instruction on AI.V.E.S8: Plan and follow the most favorable taxi or sailing course for current conditions.
    • Demonstrate and provide instruction on AI.V.E.S9: Abide by right-of-way rules, maintain positive airplane control, proper speed, and separation between other aircraft, vessels, and persons.
    • Demonstrate and provide instruction on AI.V.E.S10: Comply with applicable taxi elements in Task D if the practical test is conducted in an amphibious airplane.
    • 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.
Flight Instructor (Airplane) Taxiing and Sailing (ASES, AMES) Lesson Plan

Guided Scenario(s)

  • The instructor applicant must teach a learner a lesson involving taxiing and Sailing (ASES, AMES) while maintaining an organized lesson flow and an appropriate level of learner participation.
  • Ask the instructor applicant to identify hazards, including AI.V.E.R1: Activities and distractions, and teach how each risk will be controlled.
  • Require the instructor applicant to explain, demonstrate, or coach the learner through AI.V.E.S1: Receive and correctly read back clearances/instructions, if applicable, as appropriate to the task and training environment.
  • 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.
Flight Instructor (Airplane) Taxiing and Sailing (ASES, AMES) Lesson Plan

Student Actions

  • 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.
Flight Instructor (Airplane) Taxiing and Sailing (ASES, AMES) Lesson Plan

Airman Certification Standards

Flight Instructor (Airplane) Taxiing and Sailing (ASES, AMES) Airman Certification Standards

  • Note: The evaluator must select at least one Task from this Area of Operation.
  • Task E: Taxiing and Sailing (ASES, AMES).
  • Objective: To determine the applicant understands taxiing and sailing, can apply that knowledge, manage associated risks, demonstrate appropriate skills, and provide effective instruction.
  • References: AC 91-73; AIM; Chart Supplements; FAA-H-8083-2, FAA-H-8083-9, FAA-H-8083-23, FAA-H-8083-25; POH/AFM; USCG Navigation Rules
Knowledge 7 ACS Elements
  • AI.V.E.K1:
    Procedures for various types of taxiing and sailing.
  • AI.V.E.K2:
    Current airport aeronautical references and information resources such as the Chart Supplement, airport diagram, and Notices to Air Missions (NOTAMs).
  • AI.V.E.K3:
    Taxi instructions/clearances.
  • AI.V.E.K4:
    Airport/seaplane base markings, signs, and lights.
  • AI.V.E.K5:
    Visual indicators for wind.
  • AI.V.E.K6:
    Airplane lighting.
  • AI.V.E.K7:
    Procedures for:
    • AI.V.E.K7a:
      a. Appropriate flight deck activities during taxiing or sailing
    • AI.V.E.K7b:
      b. Radio communications at towered and nontowered seaplane bases
Risk Management 5 ACS Elements
  • AI.V.E.R1:
    Activities and distractions.
  • AI.V.E.R2:
    Porpoising and skipping.
  • AI.V.E.R3:
    Low visibility taxi and sailing operations.
  • AI.V.E.R4:
    Other aircraft, vessels, and hazards.
  • AI.V.E.R5:
    Confirmation or expectation bias as related to taxi instructions.
Skills 10 ACS Elements
  • AI.V.E.S1:
    Receive and correctly read back clearances/instructions, if applicable.
  • AI.V.E.S2:
    Use an appropriate airport diagram or taxi chart, if published.
  • AI.V.E.S3:
    Comply with seaplane base/airport/taxiway markings, signals, and signs.
  • AI.V.E.S4:
    Depart the dock/mooring buoy or beach/ramp in a safe manner, considering wind, current, traffic, and hazards.
  • AI.V.E.S5:
    Complete the appropriate checklist(s).
  • AI.V.E.S6:
    Position the flight controls, flaps, doors, water rudders, and power correctly for the existing conditions to follow the desired course while sailing and to prevent or correct for porpoising and skipping during step taxi.
  • AI.V.E.S7:
    Exhibit procedures for steering and maneuvering while maintaining proper situational awareness and desired orientation, path, and position while taxiing using idle, plow, or step taxi technique, as appropriate.
  • AI.V.E.S8:
    Plan and follow the most favorable taxi or sailing course for current conditions.
  • AI.V.E.S9:
    Abide by right-of-way rules, maintain positive airplane control, proper speed, and separation between other aircraft, vessels, and persons.
  • AI.V.E.S10:
    Comply with applicable taxi elements in Task D if the practical test is conducted in an amphibious airplane.
Flight Instructor (Airplane) Taxiing and Sailing (ASES, AMES) Lesson Plan

Conclusion

  • Re-Motivation:

    • Effective instruction in taxiing and Sailing (ASES, AMES) 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.