Flight Instructor (Airplane) Performance and Limitations Lesson Plan

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

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

Flight Instructor (Airplane) Performance and Limitations 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 performance and Limitations.
    • Ask the instructor applicant to identify the first instructional decision that will shape the learner's outcome.

  • Motivator:

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

Help Us Grow

Enjoy CFI Notebook? A one-time donation helps us create more high-quality lessons, quizzes, scenarios, graphics, and interactive tools.

One-Time Donation
Flight Instructor (Airplane) Performance and Limitations Lesson Plan

Materials

Flight Instructor (Airplane) Performance and Limitations 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 F, and the Airman Certification Standards.
    • State the lesson objective: To determine the applicant understands aircraft performance and limitations, can apply that knowledge, manage associated risks, demonstrate appropriate skills, and provide effective instruction.
  • Part 2, Instructional Knowledge:
    • Present a concrete example, then require the learner to explain and apply a disciplined method for selecting and using current POH/AFM charts, tables, interpolation, notes, conditions, and limitations to determine takeoff, climb, cruise, descent, landing, range, endurance, and obstacle-clearance performance. (AI.II.F.K1)
    • Explain and apply the factors that cause actual performance to differ from a baseline calculation, including: (AI.II.F.K2)
      • Pressure altitude, density altitude, temperature, wind, humidity when relevant, precipitation, icing, and turbulence. (AI.II.F.K2a)
      • Airspeed control, configuration timing, braking, power application, leaning, and adherence to the technique assumed by the performance data. (AI.II.F.K2b)
      • Flaps, landing gear, propeller, cowl flaps, anti-icing or deicing equipment, external loads, and any inoperative or modified equipment. (AI.II.F.K2c)
      • Runway length, slope, surface, contamination, obstacles, elevation, displaced thresholds, braking action, and available takeoff or landing distance. (AI.II.F.K2d)
      • Gross weight, center-of-gravity location, load distribution, fuel burn, and changes during the flight. (AI.II.F.K2e)
    • Ask the learner to define and relate to operational decisions and relate basic empty weight, maximum weights, useful load, datum, arm, moment, center of gravity, center-of-gravity limits, loading stations, and the effects of fuel and baggage changes throughout flight. (AI.II.F.K3)
    • Demonstrate computational, chart, table, loading-graph, and electronic methods for determining center of gravity, and require independent reasonableness checks against the airplane's approved data. (AI.II.F.K4)
    • Relate lift, drag, thrust, weight, angle of attack, load factor, induced and parasite drag, ground effect, stability, stall speed, and center-of-gravity position to the performance calculations and limitations being taught. (AI.II.F.K5)
  • Part 3, Risk Management Instruction:
    • Require verification that the correct chart, units, configuration, weight, environmental conditions, interpolation, notes, and limiting case were used before accepting a performance result. (AI.II.F.R1)
    • Identify the structural, powerplant, speed, weight, balance, environmental, and operating limitations applicable to the scenario and reject any plan that depends on exceeding them. (AI.II.F.R2)
    • Add conservative margins for pilot technique, runway condition, aircraft condition, forecast uncertainty, obstacles, and performance-chart assumptions, and establish an abort or go-around point when actual performance differs from calculated performance. (AI.II.F.R3)
    • Explain how excess weight degrades takeoff, climb, ceiling, range, landing, structural margin, and controllability, then require removal or redistribution of load rather than rationalizing an overweight operation. (AI.II.F.R4)
    • Explain the stability, controllability, stall, flare, spin-recovery, and structural consequences of forward or aft center-of-gravity exceedance and require correction before flight. (AI.II.F.R5)
    • Recalculate weight and center of gravity after passengers, baggage, cargo, ballast, or fuel are added, removed, shifted, or consumed, and confirm that every phase remains within limits. (AI.II.F.R6)
    • Require the instructor applicant to model risk controls, intervention points, and discontinue criteria while teaching.
  • Part 4, Skill Demonstration and Teaching:
    • Have the learner select and correctly use the appropriate approved charts, tables, and data to calculate the performance required by an assigned flight, explain every input and correction, and evaluate the result against available margins. (AI.II.F.S1)
    • Have the learner compute takeoff, landing, and zero-fuel weight and center of gravity as applicable; correct any out-of-limit loading; and demonstrate that weight and balance remain within limits as fuel, passengers, or cargo change during every phase. (AI.II.F.S2)
    • 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) Performance and Limitations Lesson Plan

Guided Scenario(s)

  • Assign a flight near limiting runway, obstacle, density-altitude, loading, and fuel conditions and require the instructor applicant to teach the applicable performance data, aerodynamic relationships, limitations, and weight-and-balance methods. (AI.II.F.K1–K5)
  • Have the learner calculate takeoff, climb, cruise, fuel, and landing performance and complete the weight-and-balance analysis for every relevant phase, correcting any out-of-limit condition. (AI.II.F.S1–S2)
  • Change a passenger, baggage, runway, wind, temperature, or fuel assumption and require recalculation, comparison with actual capability, application of a conservative margin, and a justified load, route, delay, or no-go decision. (AI.II.F.R1–R6)
  • Introduce a realistic learner error, such as using the wrong chart, omitting a note, mixing units, assuming book-perfect technique, or checking center of gravity only at takeoff, 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) Performance and Limitations 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.
  • Complete or review AOPA's Essential Aerodynamics Online Course.
  • Use effective questions, check learner understanding, conduct a learner-centered assessment, and perform an instructor self-assessment.
Flight Instructor (Airplane) Performance and Limitations Lesson Plan

Airman Certification Standards

Flight Instructor (Airplane) Performance and Limitations 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 F: Performance and Limitations.
  • Objective: To determine the applicant understands aircraft performance and limitations, can apply that knowledge, manage associated risks, demonstrate appropriate skills, and provide effective instruction.
  • References: FAA-H-8083-1, FAA-H-8083-2, FAA-H-8083-3, FAA-H-8083-9, FAA-H-8083-25; POH/AFM
Knowledge 5 ACS Elements
  • AI.II.F.K1:
    Elements related to performance and limitations by explaining the use of charts, tables, and data to determine performance.
  • AI.II.F.K2:
    Factors affecting performance, including:
    • AI.II.F.K2a:
      Atmospheric conditions
    • AI.II.F.K2b:
      Pilot technique
    • AI.II.F.K2c:
      Airplane configuration
    • AI.II.F.K2d:
      Airport environment
    • AI.II.F.K2e:
      Loading and weight and balance
  • AI.II.F.K3:
    Weight and balance terms, including: basic empty weight, maximum gross weight, arm, moment, reference datum, center of gravity (CG) and CG limits, and useful load.
  • AI.II.F.K4:
    Methods for computing CG.
  • AI.II.F.K5:
    Aerodynamics.
Risk Management 6 ACS Elements
  • AI.II.F.R1:
    Use of performance charts, tables, and data.
  • AI.II.F.R2:
    Airplane limitations.
  • AI.II.F.R3:
    Possible differences between calculated performance and actual performance.
  • AI.II.F.R4:
    Exceeding weight limits.
  • AI.II.F.R5:
    Operating outside of CG limits.
  • AI.II.F.R6:
    Shifting, adding, and removing weight.
Skills 2 ACS Elements
  • AI.II.F.S1:
    Use the appropriate airplane performance charts, tables, and data.
  • AI.II.F.S2:
    Compute the weight and balance, correct out-of-center of gravity loading errors and determine if the weight and balance remains within limits during all phases of flight.
Flight Instructor (Airplane) Performance and Limitations Lesson Plan

Conclusion

  • Re-Motivation:

    • Effective instruction in performance and Limitations 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.