Instrument Rating (Helicopter) Departure, En Route, and Arrival Operations Lesson Plan

Instrument Rating (Helicopter) • ACS Area V, Task B

The Instrument Rating (Helicopter) Departure, En Route, and Arrival Operations 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 IFR departure, en route, and arrival operations 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, 97; AC 90-100, AC 91-74; 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 ATC routes, including departure procedures (DPs) and associated climb gradients; standard terminal arrival (STAR) procedures and associated constraints. (IH.V.B.K1)
    • Pilot/controller responsibilities, communication procedures, and ATC services available to pilots. (IH.V.B.K2)
  • Use realistic helicopter IFR scenarios to teach and assess the following risk-management elements:
    • ATC communications and compliance with published procedures. (IH.V.B.R1)
    • Limitations of traffic avoidance equipment. (IH.V.B.R2)
    • Responsibility to use "see and avoid" techniques when possible. (IH.V.B.R3)
  • Demonstrate, coach, and assess the following skills:
    • Select, identify (as necessary) and use the appropriate communication and navigation facilities associated with the proposed flight. (IH.V.B.S1)
    • Perform the appropriate checklist items relative to the phase of flight. (IH.V.B.S2)
    • Use the current and appropriate paper or electronic navigation publications. (IH.V.B.S3)
    • Establish two-way communications with the proper controlling agency, use proper phraseology, and comply in a timely manner with all ATC instructions and airspace restrictions. (IH.V.B.S4)
    • Intercept all courses, radials, and bearings appropriate to the procedure, route, or clearance in a timely manner. (IH.V.B.S5)
    • Comply with all applicable charted procedures. (IH.V.B.S6)
    • Maintain airspeed ±10 knots, altitude ±100 feet, and selected headings ±10°, and apply proper correction to maintain a course allowing no more than ¾-scale deflection of the course deviation indicator (CDI). (IH.V.B.S7)
    • Update/interpret weather in flight. (IH.V.B.S8)
    • Use displays of digital weather and aeronautical information, as applicable to maintain situational awareness. (IH.V.B.S9)
    • Use single-pilot resource management (SRM) or crew resource management (CRM), as appropriate. (IH.V.B.S10)
  • Syllabus Objective Coverage:
    • Explain elements related to ATC routes, including departure procedures (DPs) and associated climb gradients; standard terminal arrival (STAR) procedures and associated constraints.
    • Explain pilot/controller responsibilities, communication procedures, and ATC services available to pilots.
    • Assess and manage ATC communications and compliance with published procedures.
    • Assess and manage limitations of traffic avoidance equipment.
    • Assess and manage responsibility to use "see and avoid" techniques when possible.
    • Integrate the component skills required to select, identify, and use the communication and navigation facilities associated with the flight.
    • Perform the appropriate checklist items relative to the phase of flight.
    • Use the current and appropriate paper or electronic navigation publications.
    • Establish two-way communications with the proper controlling agency, use proper phraseology, and comply in a timely manner with all ATC instructions and airspace restrictions.
    • Intercept all courses, radials, and bearings appropriate to the procedure, route, or clearance in a timely manner.
    • Comply with all applicable charted procedures.
    • Maintain airspeed ±10 knots, altitude ±100 feet, and selected headings ±10°, and apply proper correction to maintain a course allowing no more than ¾-scale deflection of the course deviation indicator (CDI).
    • Update/interpret weather in flight.
    • Use displays of digital weather and aeronautical information, as applicable to maintain situational awareness.
    • 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.
Instrument Rating (Helicopter) Departure, En Route, and Arrival Operations Lesson Plan

Airman Certification Standards

Instrument Rating (Helicopter) Departure, En Route, and Arrival Operations Airman Certification Standards

  • Objective: To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with IFR departure, en route, and arrival operations solely by reference to instruments.
  • References: 14 CFR parts 91, 97; AC 90-100, AC 91-74; AIM; FAA-H-8083-2, FAA-H-8083-15, FAA-H-8083-16, FAA-H-8083-21, FAA-H-8083-25; POH/RFM
Knowledge 2 ACS Elements
  • IH.V.B.K2:
    Pilot/controller responsibilities, communication procedures, and ATC services available to pilots.
Risk Management 3 ACS Elements
  • IH.V.B.R1:
    ATC communications and compliance with published procedures.
  • IH.V.B.R2:
    Limitations of traffic avoidance equipment.
  • IH.V.B.R3:
    Responsibility to use "see and avoid" techniques when possible.
Skills 10 ACS Elements
  • IH.V.B.S1:
    Select, identify (as necessary) and use the appropriate communication and navigation facilities associated with the proposed flight.
  • IH.V.B.S2:
    Perform the appropriate checklist items relative to the phase of flight.
  • IH.V.B.S3:
    Use the current and appropriate paper or electronic navigation publications.
  • IH.V.B.S4:
    Establish two-way communications with the proper controlling agency, use proper phraseology, and comply in a timely manner with all ATC instructions and airspace restrictions.
  • IH.V.B.S5:
    Intercept all courses, radials, and bearings appropriate to the procedure, route, or clearance in a timely manner.
  • IH.V.B.S6:
    Comply with all applicable charted procedures.
  • IH.V.B.S7:
    Maintain airspeed ±10 knots, altitude ±100 feet, and selected headings ±10°, and apply proper correction to maintain a course allowing no more than ¾-scale deflection of the course deviation indicator (CDI).
  • IH.V.B.S8:
    Update/interpret weather in flight.
  • IH.V.B.S9:
    Use displays of digital weather and aeronautical information, as applicable to maintain situational awareness.
  • IH.V.B.S10:
    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.