Instrument Rating (Helicopter) Landing from an Instrument Approach Lesson Plan
Instrument Rating (Helicopter) • ACS Area VI, Task D
The Instrument Rating (Helicopter) Landing from an Instrument Approach 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 procedures for a landing from an instrument approach.
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; POH/RFM
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 the pilot’s responsibilities, and the environmental, operational, and meteorological factors that affect landing from a straight-in approach. (IH.VI.D.K1)
- Airport signs, markings, and lighting, including approach lighting systems. (IH.VI.D.K2)
- Appropriate landing profiles and aircraft configurations. (IH.VI.D.K3)
- Use realistic helicopter IFR scenarios to teach and assess the following risk-management elements:
- Attempting to land from an unstable approach. (IH.VI.D.R1)
- Flying below the glidepath. (IH.VI.D.R2)
- Transitioning from instrument to visual references for landing. (IH.VI.D.R3)
- Aircraft configuration for landing. (IH.VI.D.R4)
- Demonstrate, coach, and assess the following skills:
- Transition at the DA/DH, MDA, or visual descent point (VDP) to a visual flight condition, allowing for safe visual maneuvering and a normal landing. (IH.VI.D.S1)
- Adhere to all ATC or evaluator advisories, such as NOTAMs, windshear, wake turbulence, runway surface, and other operational considerations. (IH.VI.D.S2)
- Complete the appropriate checklist(s). (IH.VI.D.S3)
- Maintain positive helicopter control throughout the landing maneuver. (IH.VI.D.S4)
- Use single-pilot resource management (SRM) or crew resource management (CRM), as appropriate. (IH.VI.D.S5)
- Syllabus Objective Coverage:
- Explain elements related to the pilot’s responsibilities, and the environmental, operational, and meteorological factors that affect landing from a straight-in approach in a helicopter IFR operating context.
- Explain airport signs, markings, and lighting, including approach lighting systems.
- Explain appropriate landing profiles and aircraft configurations.
- Assess and manage attempting to land from an unstable approach.
- Assess and manage flying below the glidepath.
- Assess and manage transitioning from instrument to visual references for landing.
- Assess and manage aircraft configuration for landing.
- Transition at the DA/DH, MDA, or visual descent point (VDP) to a visual flight condition, allowing for safe visual maneuvering and a normal landing.
- Adhere to all ATC or evaluator advisories, such as NOTAMs, windshear, wake turbulence, runway surface, and other operational considerations.
- Complete the appropriate checklist(s).
- Maintain positive helicopter control throughout the landing maneuver.
- Use single-pilot resource management (SRM) or crew resource management (CRM), as appropriate.
- 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.
Airman Certification Standards
Instrument Rating (Helicopter) Landing from an Instrument Approach Airman Certification Standards
- Objective: To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with performing procedures for a landing from an instrument approach.
- 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; POH/RFM
Knowledge 3 ACS Elements
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IH.VI.D.K2: Airport signs, markings, and lighting, including approach lighting systems. -
IH.VI.D.K3: Appropriate landing profiles and aircraft configurations.
Risk Management 4 ACS Elements
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IH.VI.D.R1: Attempting to land from an unstable approach. -
IH.VI.D.R2: Flying below the glidepath. -
IH.VI.D.R3: Transitioning from instrument to visual references for landing. -
IH.VI.D.R4: Aircraft configuration for landing.
Skills 5 ACS Elements
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IH.VI.D.S1: Transition at the DA/DH, MDA, or visual descent point (VDP) to a visual flight condition, allowing for safe visual maneuvering and a normal landing. -
IH.VI.D.S2: Adhere to all ATC or evaluator advisories, such as NOTAMs, windshear, wake turbulence, runway surface, and other operational considerations. -
IH.VI.D.S3: Complete the appropriate checklist(s). -
IH.VI.D.S4: Maintain positive helicopter control throughout the landing maneuver. -
IH.VI.D.S5: Use single-pilot resource management (SRM) or crew resource management (CRM), as appropriate.
Conclusion
- Review the objective, risks, performance strengths, and retraining needs.
- Record progress and assign the next applicable lesson.