Flight Instructor (Airplane) Water and Seaplane Characteristics, Seaplane Bases, Maritime Rules, and Aids to Marine Navigation (ASES, AMES) Lesson Plan

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

The Flight Instructor (Airplane) Water and Seaplane Characteristics, Seaplane Bases, Maritime Rules, and Aids to Marine Navigation (ASES, AMES) Lesson Plan covers the instructional knowledge, risk management, and skills required by FAA-S-ACS-25.

Flight Instructor (Airplane) Water and Seaplane Characteristics, Seaplane Bases, Maritime Rules, and Aids to Marine Navigation (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 water and Seaplane Characteristics, Seaplane Bases, Maritime Rules, and Aids to Marine Navigation (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 water and seaplane characteristics, seaplane bases, maritime rules, and aids to marine navigation, can apply that knowledge, manage associated risks, demonstrate appropriate skills, and provide effective instruction.

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Flight Instructor (Airplane) Water and Seaplane Characteristics, Seaplane Bases, Maritime Rules, and Aids to Marine Navigation (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) Water and Seaplane Characteristics, Seaplane Bases, Maritime Rules, and Aids to Marine Navigation (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 II, Task L, and the Airman Certification Standards.
    • State the lesson objective: To determine the applicant understands water and seaplane characteristics, seaplane bases, maritime rules, and aids to marine navigation, 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.L.K1: Characteristics of a water surface as affected by features, such as:
      • AI.II.L.K1a: a. Size and location
      • AI.II.L.K1b: b. Protected and unprotected areas
      • AI.II.L.K1c: c. Surface wind
      • AI.II.L.K1d: d. Direction and strength of water current
      • AI.II.L.K1e: e. Floating and partially submerged debris
      • AI.II.L.K1f: f. Sandbars, islands, and shoals
      • AI.II.L.K1g: g. Vessel traffic and wakes
      • AI.II.L.K1h: h. Direction and height of waves
      • AI.II.L.K1i: i. Other characteristics specific to the area
    • Explain, teach, and assess learner understanding of AI.II.L.K2: Float and hull construction, and its effect on seaplane performance.
    • Explain, teach, and assess learner understanding of AI.II.L.K3: Causes of porpoising and skipping, and the pilot action needed to prevent or correct these occurrences.
    • Explain, teach, and assess learner understanding of AI.II.L.K4: How to locate and identify seaplane bases on charts or in directories.
    • Explain, teach, and assess learner understanding of AI.II.L.K5: Operating restrictions at various bases.
    • Explain, teach, and assess learner understanding of AI.II.L.K6: Right-of-way, steering, and sailing rules pertinent to seaplane operation.
    • Explain, teach, and assess learner understanding of AI.II.L.K7: Marine navigation aids, such as buoys, beacons, lights, sound signals, and range markers.
    • Explain, teach, and assess learner understanding of AI.II.L.K8: Naval vessel protection zones.
    • Explain, teach, and assess learner understanding of AI.II.L.K9: No wake zones.
  • Part 3, Risk Management Instruction:
    • Teach the learner to identify, assess, and mitigate AI.II.L.R1: Local conditions.
    • Teach the learner to identify, assess, and mitigate AI.II.L.R2: Impact of marine traffic.
    • Teach the learner to identify, assess, and mitigate AI.II.L.R3: Right-of-way and sailing rules pertinent to seaplane operations.
    • Teach the learner to identify, assess, and mitigate AI.II.L.R4: Limited services and assistance available at seaplane bases.
    • 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.L.S1: Explain how float and hull construction can affect seaplane performance.
    • Demonstrate and provide instruction on AI.II.L.S2: Describe how to correct for porpoising and skipping.
    • Demonstrate and provide instruction on AI.II.L.S3: Identify marine navigation aids.
    • Demonstrate and provide instruction on AI.II.L.S4: Describe correct right-of-way, steering, and sailing operations.
    • Demonstrate and provide instruction on AI.II.L.S5: Assess the water surface characteristics for the proposed flight.
    • Demonstrate and provide instruction on AI.II.L.S6: Identify restrictions at local seaplane bases.
    • 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) Water and Seaplane Characteristics, Seaplane Bases, Maritime Rules, and Aids to Marine Navigation (ASES, AMES) Lesson Plan

Guided Scenario(s)

  • The instructor applicant must teach a learner a lesson involving water and Seaplane Characteristics, Seaplane Bases, Maritime Rules, and Aids to Marine Navigation (ASES, AMES) while maintaining an organized lesson flow and an appropriate level of learner participation.
  • Ask the instructor applicant to identify hazards, including AI.II.L.R1: Local conditions, and teach how each risk will be controlled.
  • Require the instructor applicant to explain, demonstrate, or coach the learner through AI.II.L.S1: Explain how float and hull construction can affect seaplane performance, 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) Water and Seaplane Characteristics, Seaplane Bases, Maritime Rules, and Aids to Marine Navigation (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) Water and Seaplane Characteristics, Seaplane Bases, Maritime Rules, and Aids to Marine Navigation (ASES, AMES) Lesson Plan

Airman Certification Standards

Flight Instructor (Airplane) Water and Seaplane Characteristics, Seaplane Bases, Maritime Rules, and Aids to Marine Navigation (ASES, AMES) 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 L: Water and Seaplane Characteristics, Seaplane Bases, Maritime Rules, and Aids to Marine Navigation (ASES, AMES).
  • Objective: To determine the applicant understands water and seaplane characteristics, seaplane bases, maritime rules, and aids to marine navigation, can apply that knowledge, manage associated risks, demonstrate appropriate skills, and provide effective instruction.
  • References: 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 9 ACS Elements
  • AI.II.L.K1:
    Characteristics of a water surface as affected by features, such as:
    • AI.II.L.K1a:
      a. Size and location
    • AI.II.L.K1b:
      b. Protected and unprotected areas
    • AI.II.L.K1c:
      c. Surface wind
    • AI.II.L.K1d:
      d. Direction and strength of water current
    • AI.II.L.K1e:
      e. Floating and partially submerged debris
    • AI.II.L.K1f:
      f. Sandbars, islands, and shoals
    • AI.II.L.K1g:
      g. Vessel traffic and wakes
    • AI.II.L.K1h:
      h. Direction and height of waves
    • AI.II.L.K1i:
      i. Other characteristics specific to the area
  • AI.II.L.K2:
    Float and hull construction, and its effect on seaplane performance.
  • AI.II.L.K3:
    Causes of porpoising and skipping, and the pilot action needed to prevent or correct these occurrences.
  • AI.II.L.K4:
    How to locate and identify seaplane bases on charts or in directories.
  • AI.II.L.K5:
    Operating restrictions at various bases.
  • AI.II.L.K6:
    Right-of-way, steering, and sailing rules pertinent to seaplane operation.
  • AI.II.L.K7:
    Marine navigation aids, such as buoys, beacons, lights, sound signals, and range markers.
  • AI.II.L.K8:
    Naval vessel protection zones.
  • AI.II.L.K9:
    No wake zones.
Risk Management 4 ACS Elements
  • AI.II.L.R1:
    Local conditions.
  • AI.II.L.R2:
    Impact of marine traffic.
  • AI.II.L.R3:
    Right-of-way and sailing rules pertinent to seaplane operations.
  • AI.II.L.R4:
    Limited services and assistance available at seaplane bases.
Skills 6 ACS Elements
  • AI.II.L.S1:
    Explain how float and hull construction can affect seaplane performance.
  • AI.II.L.S2:
    Describe how to correct for porpoising and skipping.
  • AI.II.L.S3:
    Identify marine navigation aids.
  • AI.II.L.S4:
    Describe correct right-of-way, steering, and sailing operations.
  • AI.II.L.S5:
    Assess the water surface characteristics for the proposed flight.
  • AI.II.L.S6:
    Identify restrictions at local seaplane bases.
Flight Instructor (Airplane) Water and Seaplane Characteristics, Seaplane Bases, Maritime Rules, and Aids to Marine Navigation (ASES, AMES) Lesson Plan

Conclusion

  • Re-Motivation:

    • Effective instruction in water and Seaplane Characteristics, Seaplane Bases, Maritime Rules, and Aids to Marine Navigation (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.