Instrument Rating (Helicopter) Compliance with Air Traffic Control Clearances Lesson Plan

Instrument Rating (Helicopter) • ACS Area III, Task A

The Instrument Rating (Helicopter) Compliance with Air Traffic Control Clearances Lesson Plan covers the knowledge, risk management, and flight skills required by FAA-S-ACS-14.

Introduction

  • Attention Getter: Present an IFR helicopter operation in which small errors, changing weather, automation, or workload can rapidly erode terrain, obstacle, power, or control margins.
  • Objective: To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with ATC clearances and procedures while operating solely by reference to instruments.

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

Materials

  • FAA-S-ACS-14.
  • Model-specific Rotorcraft Flight Manual, approved checklist, IFR supplements, and installed-equipment guides.
  • Task references: 14 CFR parts 91; AIM; FAA-H-8083-2, FAA-H-8083-15, FAA-H-8083-16, FAA-H-8083-21, FAA-H-8083-25

Instructor Actions

  • Teach the task progressively in realistic helicopter IFR context and preserve aircraft control, obstacle clearance, power margin, and workload capacity.
  • Teach and assess the following knowledge elements:
    • Elements and procedures related to ATC clearances and pilot/controller responsibilities for departure, en route, and arrival phases of flight, including clearance void times. (IH.III.A.K1)
    • Pilot-in-Command (PIC) emergency authority. (IH.III.A.K2)
    • Lost communication procedures and procedures for flights outside of radar environments. (IH.III.A.K3)
  • Use realistic helicopter IFR scenarios to teach and assess the following risk-management elements:
    • Less than full understanding of an ATC clearance. (IH.III.A.R1)
    • Inappropriate, incomplete, or incorrect ATC clearances. (IH.III.A.R2)
    • ATC clearance inconsistent with helicopter performance or navigation capability. (IH.III.A.R3)
    • ATC clearance intended for other aircraft with similar call signs. (IH.III.A.R4)
  • Demonstrate, coach, and assess the following skills:
    • Correctly copy, read back, interpret, and comply with simulated or actual ATC clearances in a timely manner using standard phraseology as provided in the Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM). (IH.III.A.S1)
    • Correctly set communication frequencies, navigation systems (identifying when appropriate), and transponder codes in compliance with the ATC clearance. (IH.III.A.S2)
    • Use the current and appropriate paper or electronic navigation publications. (IH.III.A.S3)
    • Intercept all courses, radials, and bearings appropriate to the procedure, route, or clearance in a timely manner. (IH.III.A.S4)
    • Maintain the applicable airspeed ±10 knots, headings ±10°, altitude ±100 feet; track a course, radial, or bearing within ¾-scale deflection of the course deviation indicator (CDI). (IH.III.A.S5)
    • Use single-pilot resource management (SRM) or crew resource management (CRM), as appropriate. (IH.III.A.S6)
    • Perform the appropriate checklist items relative to the phase of flight. (IH.III.A.S7)
  • Syllabus Objective Coverage:
    • Explain elements and procedures related to ATC clearances and pilot/controller responsibilities for departure, en route, and arrival phases of flight, including clearance void times.
    • Explain pilot-in-Command (PIC) emergency authority.
    • Explain lost communication procedures and procedures for flights outside of radar environments.
    • Assess and manage less than full understanding of an ATC clearance.
    • Assess and manage inappropriate, incomplete, or incorrect ATC clearances.
    • Identify, assess, and select effective controls for risks associated with ATC clearance inconsistent with helicopter performance or navigation capability.
    • Assess and manage ATC clearance intended for other aircraft with similar call signs.
    • Correctly copy, read back, interpret, and comply with simulated or actual ATC clearances in a timely manner using standard phraseology as provided in the Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM).
    • Correctly set communication frequencies, navigation systems (identifying when appropriate), and transponder codes in compliance with the ATC clearance.
    • Use the current and appropriate paper or electronic navigation publications.
    • Intercept all courses, radials, and bearings appropriate to the procedure, route, or clearance in a timely manner.
    • Maintain the applicable airspeed ±10 knots, headings ±10°, altitude ±100 feet; track a course, radial, or bearing within ¾-scale deflection of the course deviation indicator (CDI).
    • Use single-pilot resource management (SRM) or crew resource management (CRM), as appropriate.
    • Perform the appropriate checklist items relative to the phase of flight.
  • Use the current RFM, checklist, limitations, charts, procedures, and ATC information; document deficiencies and retraining.

Guided Scenario(s)

  • Use an IFR helicopter flight involving changing weather, terrain or obstacles, route constraints, automation, and external pressure.
  • Introduce a meaningful change in clearance, equipment status, weather, landing area, fuel, power margin, or workload and require a revised decision.
  • Require a self-critique tied to every applicable ACS element and helicopter limitation.

Student Actions

  • Complete assigned study and review the RFM, checklist, charts, and procedures.
  • Explain each knowledge element in operational context.
  • Identify, assess, and mitigate each applicable risk.
  • Demonstrate each applicable skill within FAA-S-ACS-14 standards and helicopter limitations.
  • Make and defend appropriate continue, delay, divert, missed-approach, or discontinue decisions.
Instrument Rating (Helicopter) Compliance with Air Traffic Control Clearances Lesson Plan

Airman Certification Standards

Instrument Rating (Helicopter) Compliance with Air Traffic Control Clearances Airman Certification Standards

  • Objective: To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with ATC clearances and procedures while operating solely by reference to instruments.
  • References: 14 CFR parts 91; AIM; FAA-H-8083-2, FAA-H-8083-15, FAA-H-8083-16, FAA-H-8083-21, FAA-H-8083-25
Knowledge 3 ACS Elements
  • IH.III.A.K2:
    Pilot-in-Command (PIC) emergency authority.
  • IH.III.A.K3:
    Lost communication procedures and procedures for flights outside of radar environments.
Risk Management 4 ACS Elements
  • IH.III.A.R1:
    Less than full understanding of an ATC clearance.
  • IH.III.A.R2:
    Inappropriate, incomplete, or incorrect ATC clearances.
  • IH.III.A.R3:
    ATC clearance inconsistent with helicopter performance or navigation capability.
  • IH.III.A.R4:
    ATC clearance intended for other aircraft with similar call signs.
Skills 7 ACS Elements
  • IH.III.A.S1:
    Correctly copy, read back, interpret, and comply with simulated or actual ATC clearances in a timely manner using standard phraseology as provided in the Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM).
  • IH.III.A.S2:
    Correctly set communication frequencies, navigation systems (identifying when appropriate), and transponder codes in compliance with the ATC clearance.
  • IH.III.A.S3:
    Use the current and appropriate paper or electronic navigation publications.
  • IH.III.A.S4:
    Intercept all courses, radials, and bearings appropriate to the procedure, route, or clearance in a timely manner.
  • IH.III.A.S5:
    Maintain the applicable airspeed ±10 knots, headings ±10°, altitude ±100 feet; track a course, radial, or bearing within ¾-scale deflection of the course deviation indicator (CDI).
  • IH.III.A.S6:
    Use single-pilot resource management (SRM) or crew resource management (CRM), as appropriate.
  • IH.III.A.S7:
    Perform the appropriate checklist items relative to the phase of flight.

Conclusion

  • Review the objective, risks, performance strengths, and retraining needs.
  • Record progress and assign the next applicable lesson.