Flight Instructor (Airplane) Principles of Flight Lesson Plan

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

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

Flight Instructor (Airplane) Principles of Flight 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 principles of Flight.
    • Ask the instructor applicant to identify the first instructional decision that will shape the learner's outcome.

  • Motivator:

    • To determine the applicant understands aerodynamics appropriate to the desired instructor certificate, 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) Principles of Flight Lesson Plan

Materials

Flight Instructor (Airplane) Principles of Flight 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 D, and the Airman Certification Standards.
    • State the lesson objective: To determine the applicant understands aerodynamics appropriate to the desired instructor certificate, can apply that knowledge, manage associated risks, demonstrate appropriate skills, and provide effective instruction.
  • Part 2, Instructional Knowledge:
    • Relate airfoil shape, camber, thickness, chord, angle of incidence, angle of attack, pressure distribution, boundary-layer behavior, lift, drag, and stall progression to the airplane's operating characteristics. (AI.II.D.K1)
    • Compare longitudinal, lateral, and directional stability with maneuverability and controllability; explain the contributions of center of gravity, wing geometry, dihedral, sweep, empennage, and control effectiveness across the operating envelope. (AI.II.D.K2)
    • Use an aircraft- or scenario-specific example, then have the learner explain torque reaction, asymmetric propeller loading, spiraling slipstream, and gyroscopic precession, including when each tendency is strongest and the coordinated-control inputs required to counter it. (AI.II.D.K3)
    • Use free-body diagrams and flight examples to relate lift, weight, thrust, and drag during steady, accelerating, climbing, descending, turning, and gliding flight without implying that lift always equals weight or thrust always equals drag. (AI.II.D.K4)
    • Use an aircraft- or scenario-specific example, then have the learner explain positive and negative load factor, maneuvering and gust loads, their effect on stall speed, structural categories and limits, maneuvering speed, weight, turbulence penetration, and abrupt control use. (AI.II.D.K5)
    • Use an aircraft- or scenario-specific example, then have the learner explain how lift produces wingtip vortices, when they are strongest, how they move and persist with wind and terrain, and the appropriate takeoff, landing, taxi, spacing, and avoidance precautions for preceding aircraft. (AI.II.D.K6)
  • Part 3, Risk Management Instruction:
    • Present operational decisions involving angle of attack, airspeed, bank, load factor, center of gravity, control effectiveness, turning tendencies, turbulence, and wake vortices; require the learner to predict the aerodynamic consequence, maintain adequate margins, and select a safer technique or flight path. (AI.II.D.R1)
    • 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 teach at least three assigned principles from K1 through K6 using accurate diagrams, models, demonstrations, or flight examples; require learner prediction, application to an operational decision, correction of a common misconception, and an assessment of understanding. (AI.II.D.S1)
    • 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) Principles of Flight Lesson Plan

Guided Scenario(s)

  • Assign at least three principles from airfoil design, stability and control, turning tendencies, forces, load factor, and wake vortices; require the instructor applicant to teach them with suitable visual aids and operational examples. (AI.II.D.K1–K6; AI.II.D.S1)
  • Require the learner to predict how a change in angle of attack, bank, airspeed, load, center of gravity, power, turbulence, or preceding-aircraft position changes aircraft behavior and safety margins, then select the appropriate control or avoidance strategy. (AI.II.D.R1)
  • Introduce a realistic misconception, such as lift always equaling weight, maneuvering speed protecting against every control input, or wake vortices remaining only on the runway centerline, and require the instructor applicant to diagnose and correct it.
  • Conclude with a learner-centered assessment and instructor self-critique tied to the ACS knowledge, risk management, and skill elements.
Flight Instructor (Airplane) Principles of Flight 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) Principles of Flight Lesson Plan

Airman Certification Standards

Flight Instructor (Airplane) Principles of Flight 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 D: Principles of Flight.
  • Objective: To determine the applicant understands aerodynamics appropriate to the desired instructor certificate, 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 6 ACS Elements
  • AI.II.D.K1:
    Airfoil design characteristics.
  • AI.II.D.K2:
    Airplane stability, maneuverability and controllability.
  • AI.II.D.K3:
    Turning tendency (e.g., torque, p-factor, spiraling slipstream, and gyroscopic precession).
  • AI.II.D.K4:
    Forces acting on an airplane.
  • AI.II.D.K5:
    Load factors in airplane design.
  • AI.II.D.K6:
    Wingtip vortices and appropriate precautions.
Risk Management 1 ACS Element
  • AI.II.D.R1:
    The basic aerodynamic principles of flight.
Skills 1 ACS Element
  • AI.II.D.S1:
    Deliver instruction on principles of flight, including at least three of the elements listed in K1 through K6.
Flight Instructor (Airplane) Principles of Flight Lesson Plan

Conclusion

  • Re-Motivation:

    • Effective instruction in principles of Flight 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.