Instrument Rating (Helicopter) Instrument Flight Lesson Plan

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

The Instrument Rating (Helicopter) Instrument Flight 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 performing basic flight maneuvers solely by reference to instruments.

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Materials

  • FAA-S-ACS-14.
  • Model-specific Rotorcraft Flight Manual, approved checklist, IFR supplements, and installed-equipment guides.
  • Task references: 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 related to attitude instrument flying during straight-and-level flight, climbs, turns, and descents while conducting various instrument flight procedures. (IH.IV.A.K1)
    • Interpretation, operation, and limitations of pitch, bank, and power instruments. (IH.IV.A.K2)
    • Normal and abnormal instrument indications and operations. (IH.IV.A.K3)
  • Use realistic helicopter IFR scenarios to teach and assess the following risk-management elements:
    • Situations that can affect physiology and degrade instrument cross-check. (IH.IV.A.R1)
    • Spatial disorientation and optical illusions. (IH.IV.A.R2)
    • Flying unfamiliar helicopter or operating with unfamiliar flight display systems and avionics. (IH.IV.A.R3)
  • Demonstrate, coach, and assess the following skills:
    • Maintain altitude ±100 feet during level flight, selected headings ±10°, airspeed ±10 knots, and bank angles ±5° during turns. (IH.IV.A.S1)
    • Use proper instrument cross-check and interpretation, and apply the appropriate pitch, bank, power, and trim corrections when applicable. (IH.IV.A.S2)
  • Syllabus Objective Coverage:
    • Explain elements related to attitude instrument flying during straight-and-level flight, climbs, turns, and descents while conducting various instrument flight procedures.
    • Explain interpretation, operation, and limitations of pitch, bank, and power instruments.
    • Explain normal and abnormal instrument indications and operations.
    • Assess and manage situations that can affect physiology and degrade instrument cross-check.
    • Assess and manage spatial disorientation and optical illusions.
    • Identify, assess, and select effective controls for risks associated with flying unfamiliar helicopter or operating with unfamiliar flight display systems and avionics.
    • Maintain altitude ±100 feet during level flight, selected headings ±10°, airspeed ±10 knots, and bank angles ±5° during turns.
    • Use proper instrument cross-check and interpretation, and apply the appropriate pitch, bank, power, and trim corrections when applicable.
  • 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) Instrument Flight Lesson Plan

Airman Certification Standards

Instrument Rating (Helicopter) Instrument Flight Airman Certification Standards

  • Objective: To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with performing basic flight maneuvers solely by reference to instruments.
  • References: 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.IV.A.K2:
    Interpretation, operation, and limitations of pitch, bank, and power instruments.
  • IH.IV.A.K3:
    Normal and abnormal instrument indications and operations.
Risk Management 3 ACS Elements
  • IH.IV.A.R1:
    Situations that can affect physiology and degrade instrument cross-check.
  • IH.IV.A.R2:
    Spatial disorientation and optical illusions.
  • IH.IV.A.R3:
    Flying unfamiliar helicopter or operating with unfamiliar flight display systems and avionics.
Skills 2 ACS Elements
  • IH.IV.A.S1:
    Maintain altitude ±100 feet during level flight, selected headings ±10°, airspeed ±10 knots, and bank angles ±5° during turns.
  • IH.IV.A.S2:
    Use proper instrument cross-check and interpretation, and apply the appropriate pitch, bank, power, and trim corrections when applicable.

Conclusion

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