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:
    0:40
    Part 3, Risk Management Instruction:
    0:15
    Part 4, Skill Demonstration and Teaching:
    0:20
    Part 5, Guided Teaching Scenario:
    0:15
    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, 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:

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:
    • Have the learner develop and compare routes that account for airspace classes, special-use airspace, airports, terrain, obstacles, weather, fuel stops, and the capabilities and availability of navigation, communication, and air traffic control facilities. (AI.II.I.K1)
    • Require selection of an altitude that accounts for terrain and obstacle clearance, available emergency landing areas, airplane glide distance, VFR cruising-altitude rules, winds, weather, airspace, and aircraft performance. (AI.II.I.K2)
    • Demonstrate plotting a true course between checkpoints and converting it to a usable heading by applying variation, deviation, and forecast wind correction. (AI.II.I.K3)
    • Use the POH/AFM performance data to select a power setting that balances cruise performance, fuel consumption, engine limitations, altitude, temperature, and the lesson scenario's operational priorities. (AI.II.I.K4)
    • Teach and verify the calculations needed to produce a coherent navigation log, including: (AI.II.I.K5)
      • Time, climb and descent rates and distances, true and magnetic course, wind-corrected heading, true airspeed, and groundspeed. (AI.II.I.K5a)
      • Estimated times en route and arrival, including correct conversion to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). (AI.II.I.K5b)
      • Taxi, climb, cruise, descent, contingency, destination, and regulatory reserve fuel requirements. (AI.II.I.K5c)
    • Complete each element of a VFR flight plan and explain how the information supports search-and-rescue services and differs from an air traffic control clearance. (AI.II.I.K6)
    • Correlate current and forecast weather with the proposed route, altitude, timing, aircraft capability, alternates, and personal minimums to make and defend a go, delay, modify, or no-go decision. (AI.II.I.K7)
    • Demonstrate the procedures, responsibilities, and practical methods for activating, amending when necessary, and closing a VFR flight plan, including overdue-flight consequences. (AI.II.I.K8)
    • Explain magnetic-compass variation, deviation, oscillation, acceleration and turning errors, and northerly turning error, then apply the appropriate corrections during planning and flight. (AI.II.I.K9)
    • Present a concrete example, then require the learner to explain and apply pilotage and dead reckoning as mutually supporting methods, including checkpoint selection, position verification, heading and time control, and recognition of an off-course trend. (AI.II.I.K10)
    • Compare planned heading, groundspeed, time, and fuel with actual results at each checkpoint, identify the cause of any discrepancy, and calculate the correction before the error compounds. (AI.II.I.K11)
    • Practice a timely diversion and lost procedure that maintains aircraft control, determines position using available resources, conserves fuel, communicates appropriately, and selects a safe course of action. (AI.II.I.K12)
    • Use an aircraft- or scenario-specific example, then have the learner explain and simulate lawful response to an in-flight interception, including recognition of intercepting-aircraft signals, required visual responses, radio procedures, transponder use, and compliance without abrupt or hazardous maneuvering. (AI.II.I.K13)
    • Use an electronic flight bag, when applicable, to support—not replace—route planning, chart currency, weather review, performance calculations, position awareness, power and battery planning, data verification, and an independent backup. (AI.II.I.K14)
    • Interpret current chart symbols, legends, airspace boundaries, terrain and obstruction data, airport information, frequencies, and special-use information needed for the planned route. (AI.II.I.K15)
  • Part 3, Risk Management Instruction:
    • Assess pilot fitness, proficiency, recency, experience, workload capacity, and personal minimums for the proposed flight, and define conditions that require delay, additional training, or cancellation. (AI.II.I.R1)
    • Assess aircraft airworthiness, performance, limitations, equipment, fuel capacity, loading, and suitability for the route, weather, airports, and expected contingencies. (AI.II.I.R2)
    • Assess weather, airports, airspace, terrain, obstacles, runway conditions, daylight, alternates, and emergency landing options along the entire route rather than only at departure and destination. (AI.II.I.R3)
    • Have the learner identify schedule, passenger, financial, completion, and social pressures; establish decision points and alternatives before departure; and prevent the plan from becoming a commitment to continue. (AI.II.I.R4)
    • Use an aircraft- or scenario-specific example, then have the learner explain that air traffic control services do not relieve the pilot of weather avoidance, terrain and obstacle clearance under VFR, fuel management, regulatory compliance, or final operational authority, and plan accordingly. (AI.II.I.R5)
    • Build fuel margins that account for forecast and actual winds, routing changes, climb and descent, delays, diversion options, unusable fuel, and a conservative reserve; define the minimum fuel state that triggers landing. (AI.II.I.R6)
    • Require the instructor applicant to model risk controls, intervention points, and discontinue criteria while teaching.
  • Part 4, Skill Demonstration and Teaching:
    • Have the instructor applicant prepare, present, and teach an assigned cross-country flight plan through the first fuel stop, integrating route, altitude, weather, performance, fuel, alternates, publications, and a documented risk analysis. (AI.II.I.S1)
    • Require application of pertinent information from current aeronautical charts, Chart Supplements, Notices to Airmen affecting airports, runways, and taxiways, and other applicable flight publications. (AI.II.I.S2)
    • Have the learner create a complete navigation plan and accurately simulate filing the associated VFR flight plan. (AI.II.I.S3)
    • Change the wind, route, delay, or fuel-stop assumptions and require the learner to recalculate fuel remaining and reserve, identify any unacceptable margin, and select an appropriate corrective action. (AI.II.I.S4)
    • 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)

  • Assign a cross-country flight through the first fuel stop with mixed airspace, terrain, changing weather, and realistic performance constraints; require the instructor applicant to teach and defend the complete route, altitude, navigation, publication, and calculation process. (AI.II.I.K1–K15; AI.II.I.S1–S3)
  • Require a structured assessment of the pilot, aircraft, environment, external pressures, air traffic control service limitations, and fuel plan, with specific controls and predetermined diversion or landing triggers. (AI.II.I.R1–R6)
  • After departure, change the wind, route, delay, or destination conditions and require comparison of planned and actual results, recalculation of fuel reserve, and a justified continuation, diversion, or landing decision. (AI.II.I.K11–K12; AI.II.I.S4)
  • Introduce a realistic learner error, such as an expired chart, incorrect wind correction, missed checkpoint, optimistic fuel assumption, or overreliance on an electronic flight bag, and require timely instructor intervention and correction.
  • 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:
      Time, climb and descent rates, course, distance, heading, true airspeed, and groundspeed
    • AI.II.I.K5b:
      Estimated time of arrival, including conversion to universal coordinated time (UTC)
    • AI.II.I.K5c:
      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 Airmen (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.