Instrument Rating (Helicopter) Intercepting and Tracking Navigational Systems and DME Arcs Lesson Plan

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 intercepting and tracking navigation aids and arcs solely by reference to instruments.

Materials

FAA-S-ACS-14.
Model-specific Rotorcraft Flight Manual, approved checklist, IFR supplements, and installed-equipment guides.
Task references: 14 CFR part 91; AIM; FAA-H-8083-2, FAA-H-8083-15, FAA-H-8083-16, FAA-H-8083-21, FAA-H-8083-25; POH/RFM
ACS note: The evaluator should reference the manufacturer’s equipment supplement(s) as necessary for appropriate limitations, procedures, etc.
ACS note: See Appendix 3: Aircraft, Equipment, and Operational Requirements & Limitations for information related to this Task.

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:
- Ground-based navigation (orientation, course determination, equipment, tests, and regulations), including procedures for intercepting and tracking courses and arcs. (IH.V.A.K1)
- Satellite-based navigation (orientation, course determination, equipment, tests, regulations, interference, appropriate use of databases, Receiver Autonomous Integrity Monitoring (RAIM), and Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS)), including procedures for intercepting and tracking courses and arcs. (IH.V.A.K2)
Use realistic helicopter IFR scenarios to teach and assess the following risk-management elements:
- Management of automated navigation and autoflight systems. (IH.V.A.R1)
- Distractions, task prioritization, loss of situational awareness, or disorientation. (IH.V.A.R2)
- Limitations of the navigation system in use. (IH.V.A.R3)
Demonstrate, coach, and assess the following skills:
- Tune and identify the navigation facility/program the navigation system and verify system accuracy as appropriate for the equipment installed in the helicopter. (IH.V.A.S1)
- Determine aircraft position relative to the navigational facility or waypoint. (IH.V.A.S2)
- Set and orient to the course to be intercepted. (IH.V.A.S3)
- Intercept the specified course at appropriate angle, inbound to or outbound from a navigational facility or waypoint. (IH.V.A.S4)
- Maintain airspeed ±10 knots, altitude ±100 feet, and selected headings ±5°. (IH.V.A.S5)
- Apply proper correction to maintain a course, allowing no more than ¾-scale deflection of the course deviation indicator (CDI). If a distance measuring equipment (DME) arc is selected, maintain that arc ±1 nautical mile. (IH.V.A.S6)
- Recognize navigational system or facility failure, and when required, report the failure to air traffic control (ATC). (IH.V.A.S7)
- Use a multi-function display (MFD) and other graphical navigation displays, if installed, to monitor position, track wind drift, and to maintain situational awareness. (IH.V.A.S8)
- At the discretion of the evaluator, use the autopilot to make appropriate course intercepts, if installed. (IH.V.A.S9)
- Use single-pilot resource management (SRM) or crew resource management (CRM), as appropriate. (IH.V.A.S10)
Syllabus Objective Coverage:
- Explain ground-based navigation (orientation, course determination, equipment, tests, and regulations), including procedures for intercepting and tracking courses and arcs.
- Explain satellite-based navigation (orientation, course determination, equipment, tests, regulations, interference, appropriate use of databases, Receiver Autonomous Integrity Monitoring (RAIM), and Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS)), including procedures for intercepting and tracking courses and arcs.
- Identify and assess the hazards associated with management of automated navigation and autoflight systems.
- Select and justify effective controls for the risks associated with management of automated navigation and autoflight systems.
- Identify distraction, task-prioritization, and situational-awareness hazards while configuring, intercepting, and tracking navigation guidance.
- Maintain instrument cross-check, helicopter control, and position awareness while tuning, identifying, programming, or changing navigation guidance.
- Interrupt navigation programming or troubleshooting fixation when it threatens aircraft control or flightpath monitoring.
- Identify and assess the hazards associated with limitations of the navigation system in use.
- Select and justify effective controls for the risks associated with limitations of the navigation system in use.
- Integrate the component skills required to tune, identify, program, and verify the installed navigation equipment.
- Determine aircraft position relative to the navigational facility or waypoint.
- Set and orient to the course to be intercepted.
- Intercept the specified course at appropriate angle, inbound to or outbound from a navigational facility or waypoint.
- Maintain airspeed ±10 knots, altitude ±100 feet, and selected headings ±5°.
- Apply proper correction to maintain a course, allowing no more than ¾-scale deflection of the course deviation indicator (CDI). If a distance measuring equipment (DME) arc is selected, maintain that arc ±1 nautical mile.
- Recognize navigational system or facility failure, and when required, report the failure to air traffic control (ATC).
- Use a multi-function display (MFD) and other graphical navigation displays, if installed, to monitor position, track wind drift, and to maintain situational awareness.
- At the discretion of the evaluator, use the autopilot to make appropriate course intercepts, if installed.
- 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) Intercepting and Tracking Navigational Systems and DME Arcs Lesson Plan

Airman Certification Standards

Instrument Rating (Helicopter) Intercepting and Tracking Navigational Systems and DME Arcs Airman Certification Standards

Objective: To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with intercepting and tracking navigation aids and arcs solely by reference to instruments.
References: 14 CFR part 91; AIM; FAA-H-8083-2, FAA-H-8083-15, FAA-H-8083-16, FAA-H-8083-21, FAA-H-8083-25; POH/RFM
Note: The evaluator should reference the manufacturer’s equipment supplement(s) as necessary for appropriate limitations, procedures, etc.
Note: See Appendix 3: Aircraft, Equipment, and Operational Requirements & Limitations for information related to this Task.

Knowledge 2 ACS Elements

IH.V.A.K1:
Ground-based navigation (orientation, course determination, equipment, tests, and regulations), including procedures for intercepting and tracking courses and arcs.
IH.V.A.K2:
Satellite-based navigation (orientation, course determination, equipment, tests, regulations, interference, appropriate use of databases, Receiver Autonomous Integrity Monitoring (RAIM), and Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS)), including procedures for intercepting and tracking courses and arcs.

Risk Management 3 ACS Elements

IH.V.A.R1:
Management of automated navigation and autoflight systems.
IH.V.A.R2:
Distractions, task prioritization, loss of situational awareness, or disorientation.
IH.V.A.R3:
Limitations of the navigation system in use.

Skills 10 ACS Elements

IH.V.A.S1:
Tune and identify the navigation facility/program the navigation system and verify system accuracy as appropriate for the equipment installed in the helicopter.
IH.V.A.S2:
Determine aircraft position relative to the navigational facility or waypoint.
IH.V.A.S3:
Set and orient to the course to be intercepted.
IH.V.A.S4:
Intercept the specified course at appropriate angle, inbound to or outbound from a navigational facility or waypoint.
IH.V.A.S5:
Maintain airspeed ±10 knots, altitude ±100 feet, and selected headings ±5°.
IH.V.A.S6:
Apply proper correction to maintain a course, allowing no more than ¾-scale deflection of the course deviation indicator (CDI). If a distance measuring equipment (DME) arc is selected, maintain that arc ±1 nautical mile.
IH.V.A.S7:
Recognize navigational system or facility failure, and when required, report the failure to air traffic control (ATC).
IH.V.A.S8:
Use a multi-function display (MFD) and other graphical navigation displays, if installed, to monitor position, track wind drift, and to maintain situational awareness.
IH.V.A.S9:
At the discretion of the evaluator, use the autopilot to make appropriate course intercepts, if installed.
IH.V.A.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.