Flight Instructor (Airplane) Navigation and Cross-Country Flight Planning Lesson Plan

Flight Instructor (Airplane) • ACS Area II, Task I

The Flight Instructor (Airplane) Navigation and Cross-Country Flight Planning Lesson Plan covers the instructional knowledge, risk management, and skills required by FAA-S-ACS-25.

Flight Instructor (Airplane) Navigation and Cross-Country Flight Planning 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 navigation and Cross-Country Flight Planning.
    • Ask the instructor applicant to identify the first instructional decision that will shape the learner's outcome.

  • Motivator:

    • To determine the applicant understands navigation and cross-country flight planning, can apply that knowledge, manage associated risks, demonstrate appropriate skills, and provide effective instruction.

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Flight Instructor (Airplane) Navigation and Cross-Country Flight Planning 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) Navigation and Cross-Country Flight Planning 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 II, Task I, and the Airman Certification Standards.
    • State the lesson objective: To determine the applicant understands navigation and cross-country flight planning, 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.II.I.K1: Route planning, including consideration of different classes and special use airspace (SUA) and selection of appropriate and available navigation/communication systems and facilities.
    • Explain, teach, and assess learner understanding of AI.II.I.K2: Altitude selection accounting for terrain and obstacles, glide distance of airplane, visual flight rules (VFR) cruising altitudes, and effect of wind.
    • Explain, teach, and assess learner understanding of AI.II.I.K3: Plotting a course.
    • Explain, teach, and assess learner understanding of AI.II.I.K4: Power setting selection.
    • Explain, teach, and assess learner understanding of AI.II.I.K5: Calculating:
      • AI.II.I.K5a: a. Time, climb and descent rates, course, distance, heading, true airspeed, and groundspeed
      • AI.II.I.K5b: b. Estimated time of arrival, including conversion to universal coordinated time (UTC)
      • AI.II.I.K5c: c. Fuel requirements, including reserve
    • Explain, teach, and assess learner understanding of AI.II.I.K6: Elements of a VFR flight plan.
    • Explain, teach, and assess learner understanding of AI.II.I.K7: Correlate weather information to make a go/no-go decision.
    • Explain, teach, and assess learner understanding of AI.II.I.K8: Procedures for activating and closing a VFR flight plan.
    • Explain, teach, and assess learner understanding of AI.II.I.K9: Magnetic compass errors.
    • Explain, teach, and assess learner understanding of AI.II.I.K10: Pilotage and dead reckoning.
    • Explain, teach, and assess learner understanding of AI.II.I.K11: Planned calculations versus actual results and required corrections.
    • Explain, teach, and assess learner understanding of AI.II.I.K12: Diversion and lost procedures.
    • Explain, teach, and assess learner understanding of AI.II.I.K13: Inflight intercept procedures.
    • Explain, teach, and assess learner understanding of AI.II.I.K14: Use of an electronic flight bag (EFB), if used.
    • Explain, teach, and assess learner understanding of AI.II.I.K15: Chart symbols.
  • Part 3, Risk Management Instruction:
    • Teach the learner to identify, assess, and mitigate AI.II.I.R1: Pilot.
    • Teach the learner to identify, assess, and mitigate AI.II.I.R2: Aircraft.
    • Teach the learner to identify, assess, and mitigate AI.II.I.R3: Environment (e.g., weather, airports, airspace, terrain, obstacles).
    • Teach the learner to identify, assess, and mitigate AI.II.I.R4: External pressures.
    • Teach the learner to identify, assess, and mitigate AI.II.I.R5: Limitations of air traffic control (ATC) services.
    • Teach the learner to identify, assess, and mitigate AI.II.I.R6: Fuel planning.
    • 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.II.I.S1: Prepare, present, and explain a cross-country flight plan assigned by the evaluator, including a risk analysis to the first fuel stop.
    • Demonstrate and provide instruction on AI.II.I.S2: Apply pertinent information from appropriate and current aeronautical charts, Chart Supplements; Notices to Air Missions (NOTAMs) relative to airport, runway and taxiway closures; and other flight publications.
    • Demonstrate and provide instruction on AI.II.I.S3: Create a navigation plan and simulate filing a VFR flight plan.
    • Demonstrate and provide instruction on AI.II.I.S4: Recalculate fuel reserves based on a scenario provided by the evaluator.
    • 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) Navigation and Cross-Country Flight Planning Lesson Plan

Guided Scenario(s)

  • The instructor applicant must teach a learner a lesson involving navigation and Cross-Country Flight Planning while maintaining an organized lesson flow and an appropriate level of learner participation.
  • Ask the instructor applicant to identify hazards, including AI.II.I.R1: Pilot, and teach how each risk will be controlled.
  • Require the instructor applicant to explain, demonstrate, or coach the learner through AI.II.I.S1: Prepare, present, and explain a cross-country flight plan assigned by the evaluator, including a risk analysis to the first fuel stop, 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) Navigation and Cross-Country Flight Planning 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) Navigation and Cross-Country Flight Planning Lesson Plan

Airman Certification Standards

Flight Instructor (Airplane) Navigation and Cross-Country Flight Planning Airman Certification Standards

  • Note: The evaluator must select Tasks C, K, and at least one other Task from this Area of Operation. The evaluator must also select Task P for multiengine applicants.
  • Task I: Navigation and Cross-Country Flight Planning.
  • Note: Preparation, presentation, and explanation of a computer-generated flight plan is an acceptable option.
  • Objective: To determine the applicant understands navigation and cross-country flight planning, can apply that knowledge, manage associated risks, demonstrate appropriate skills, and provide effective instruction.
  • References: 14 CFR part 91; AIM; Chart Supplements; FAA-H-8083-2, FAA-H-8083-3, FAA-H-8083-9, FAA-H-8083-25, NOTAMs; VFR Navigation Charts
Knowledge 15 ACS Elements
  • AI.II.I.K1:
    Route planning, including consideration of different classes and special use airspace (SUA) and selection of appropriate and available navigation/communication systems and facilities.
  • AI.II.I.K2:
    Altitude selection accounting for terrain and obstacles, glide distance of airplane, visual flight rules (VFR) cruising altitudes, and effect of wind.
  • AI.II.I.K3:
    Plotting a course.
  • AI.II.I.K4:
    Power setting selection.
  • AI.II.I.K5:
    Calculating:
    • AI.II.I.K5a:
      a. Time, climb and descent rates, course, distance, heading, true airspeed, and groundspeed
    • AI.II.I.K5b:
      b. Estimated time of arrival, including conversion to universal coordinated time (UTC)
    • AI.II.I.K5c:
      c. Fuel requirements, including reserve
  • AI.II.I.K6:
    Elements of a VFR flight plan.
  • AI.II.I.K7:
    Correlate weather information to make a go/no-go decision.
  • AI.II.I.K8:
    Procedures for activating and closing a VFR flight plan.
  • AI.II.I.K9:
    Magnetic compass errors.
  • AI.II.I.K10:
    Pilotage and dead reckoning.
  • AI.II.I.K11:
    Planned calculations versus actual results and required corrections.
  • AI.II.I.K12:
    Diversion and lost procedures.
  • AI.II.I.K13:
    Inflight intercept procedures.
  • AI.II.I.K14:
    Use of an electronic flight bag (EFB), if used.
  • AI.II.I.K15:
    Chart symbols.
Risk Management 6 ACS Elements
  • AI.II.I.R1:
    Pilot.
  • AI.II.I.R2:
    Aircraft.
  • AI.II.I.R3:
    Environment (e.g., weather, airports, airspace, terrain, obstacles).
  • AI.II.I.R4:
    External pressures.
  • AI.II.I.R5:
    Limitations of air traffic control (ATC) services.
  • AI.II.I.R6:
    Fuel planning.
Skills 4 ACS Elements
  • AI.II.I.S1:
    Prepare, present, and explain a cross-country flight plan assigned by the evaluator, including a risk analysis to the first fuel stop.
  • AI.II.I.S2:
    Apply pertinent information from appropriate and current aeronautical charts, Chart Supplements; Notices to Air Missions (NOTAMs) relative to airport, runway and taxiway closures; and other flight publications.
  • AI.II.I.S3:
    Create a navigation plan and simulate filing a VFR flight plan.
  • AI.II.I.S4:
    Recalculate fuel reserves based on a scenario provided by the evaluator.
Flight Instructor (Airplane) Navigation and Cross-Country Flight Planning Lesson Plan

Conclusion

  • Re-Motivation:

    • Effective instruction in navigation and Cross-Country Flight Planning 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.