Instrument Rating (Helicopter) Cross-Country Flight Planning Lesson Plan

Instrument Rating (Helicopter) • ACS Area I, Task C

The Instrument Rating (Helicopter) Cross-Country Flight Planning 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 planning an IFR cross-country and filing an IFR flight plan.

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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; Chart Supplements; FAA-H-8083-2, FAA-H-8083-15, FAA-H-8083-16, FAA-H-8083-21, FAA-H-8083-25; IFR Enroute Charts; NOTAMs; IFR Navigation Charts
  • ACS note: Preparation, presentation, and explanation of a computer-generated flight plan is an acceptable option.

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:
    • Route planning, including consideration of: (IH.I.C.K1)
      • Available navigational facilities (IH.I.C.K1a)
      • Special use airspace (IH.I.C.K1b)
      • Preferred routes (IH.I.C.K1c)
      • Primary and alternate airports (IH.I.C.K1d)
      • Enroute charts (IH.I.C.K1e)
      • Chart Supplements (IH.I.C.K1f)
      • NOTAMs (IH.I.C.K1g)
      • Terminal Procedures Publications (TPP) (IH.I.C.K1h)
    • Altitude selection accounting for terrain and obstacles, IFR cruising altitudes, and effect of wind and oxygen requirements. (IH.I.C.K2)
    • Calculating: (IH.I.C.K3)
      • Time, climb and descent rates, course, distance, heading, true airspeed, and groundspeed (IH.I.C.K3a)
      • Estimated time of arrival, including conversion to universal coordinated time (UTC) (IH.I.C.K3b)
      • Fuel requirements, including reserve (IH.I.C.K3c)
    • Elements of an IFR flight plan. (IH.I.C.K4)
    • Procedures for activating and closing an IFR flight plan in controlled and uncontrolled airspace. (IH.I.C.K5)
  • Use realistic helicopter IFR scenarios to teach and assess the following risk-management elements:
    • Pilot. (IH.I.C.R1)
    • Helicopter. (IH.I.C.R2)
    • Environment (e.g., weather, icing, airports/heliports/helipads/landing areas, airspace, terrain, obstacles). (IH.I.C.R3)
    • External pressures. (IH.I.C.R4)
    • Limitations of air traffic control (ATC) services. (IH.I.C.R5)
    • Limitations of electronic planning applications and programs. (IH.I.C.R6)
    • Fuel planning. (IH.I.C.R7)
  • Demonstrate, coach, and assess the following skills:
    • Prepare, present, and explain a cross-country flight plan assigned by the evaluator including a risk analysis based on real time weather, which includes calculating time en route and fuel considering factors such as power settings, operating altitude, wind, fuel reserve requirements, and weight and balance requirements. (IH.I.C.S1)
    • Recalculate fuel reserves based on a scenario provided by the evaluator. (IH.I.C.S2)
    • Create a navigation plan and simulate filing an IFR flight plan. (IH.I.C.S3)
    • Interpret departure, arrival, en route, and approach procedures with reference to appropriate and current charts. (IH.I.C.S4)
    • Recognize contamination due to rotor or airframe icing and demonstrate knowledge of the adverse effects of icing during pre-takeoff, takeoff, cruise, and landing phases of flight as well as the corrective actions. (IH.I.C.S5)
    • Apply pertinent information from appropriate and current aeronautical charts, Chart Supplements; Notices to Air Missions (NOTAMs) relative to airport, runway and taxiway closures; and other flight publications. (IH.I.C.S6)
  • Syllabus Objective Coverage:
    • Organize and explain IFR route-planning considerations.
      • Explain available navigational facilities.
      • Explain special use airspace.
      • Explain preferred routes.
      • Explain primary and alternate airports.
      • Explain enroute charts.
      • Explain chart Supplements.
      • Explain NOTAMs.
      • Explain terminal Procedures Publications (TPP).
    • Explain altitude selection accounting for terrain and obstacles, IFR cruising altitudes, and effect of wind and oxygen requirements in a helicopter IFR operating context.
    • Organize and explain the calculations required for a complete helicopter IFR flight plan.
      • Explain time, climb and descent rates, course, distance, heading, true airspeed, and groundspeed.
      • Explain estimated time of arrival, including conversion to universal coordinated time (UTC).
      • Apply estimated time of arrival, including conversion to universal coordinated time (UTC) to the aircraft, conditions, or flight scenario presented.
      • Explain fuel requirements, including reserve.
      • Apply fuel requirements, including reserve to the aircraft, conditions, or flight scenario presented.
    • Explain elements of an IFR flight plan.
    • Explain procedures for activating and closing an IFR flight plan in controlled and uncontrolled airspace.
    • Identify and assess pilot-condition, qualification, currency, proficiency, fatigue, health, and readiness hazards for the planned IFR flight.
    • Select and justify controls for pilot-condition, qualification, currency, proficiency, fatigue, health, and readiness risks.
    • Assess the difference between legal currency and readiness for the planned flight.
    • Select delay, cancellation, or a changed plan when fatigue or distraction makes the pilot unready.
    • Reassess pilot readiness when condition or circumstances change.
    • Assess helicopter airworthiness, equipment, performance, limitations, power margin, fuel, and suitability for the planned IFR flight.
    • Assess and manage environment (e.g., weather, icing, airports/heliports/helipads/landing areas, airspace, terrain, obstacles).
    • Identify and assess the hazards associated with external pressures.
    • Select and justify effective controls for the risks associated with external pressures.
    • Select delay, cancellation, or a changed plan rather than lower personal minimums under passenger pressure.
    • Identify and assess the hazards associated with limitations of air traffic control (ATC) services.
    • Select and justify effective controls for the risks associated with limitations of air traffic control (ATC) services.
    • Assess and manage limitations of electronic planning applications and programs.
    • Identify and assess the hazards associated with fuel planning.
    • Select and justify effective controls for the risks associated with fuel planning.
    • Prepare, present, and explain a cross-country flight plan assigned by the evaluator including a risk analysis based on real time weather, which includes calculating time en route and fuel considering factors such as power settings, operating altitude, wind, fuel reserve requirements, and weight and balance requirements.
    • Recalculate fuel reserves based on a scenario provided by the evaluator.
    • Create a navigation plan and simulate filing an IFR flight plan.
    • Interpret departure, arrival, en route, and approach procedures using appropriate and current charts.
    • Recognize rotor or airframe icing contamination, explain its effects during each phase of flight, and select the appropriate corrective action.
    • Apply pertinent information from appropriate and current aeronautical charts, Chart Supplements; Notices to Air Missions (NOTAMs) relative to airport, runway and taxiway closures; and other flight publications.
  • 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) Cross-Country Flight Planning Lesson Plan

Airman Certification Standards

Instrument Rating (Helicopter) Cross-Country Flight Planning Airman Certification Standards

  • Objective: To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with planning an IFR cross-country and filing an IFR flight plan.
  • References: 14 CFR part 91; AIM; Chart Supplements; FAA-H-8083-2, FAA-H-8083-15, FAA-H-8083-16, FAA-H-8083-21, FAA-H-8083-25; IFR Enroute Charts; NOTAMs; IFR Navigation Charts
  • Note: Preparation, presentation, and explanation of a computer-generated flight plan is an acceptable option.
Knowledge 5 ACS Elements
  • IH.I.C.K1:
    Route planning, including consideration of:
    • IH.I.C.K1a:
      Available navigational facilities
    • IH.I.C.K1b:
      Special use airspace
    • IH.I.C.K1c:
      Preferred routes
    • IH.I.C.K1d:
      Primary and alternate airports
    • IH.I.C.K1e:
      Enroute charts
    • IH.I.C.K1f:
      Chart Supplements
    • IH.I.C.K1g:
      NOTAMs
    • IH.I.C.K1h:
      Terminal Procedures Publications (TPP)
  • IH.I.C.K2:
    Altitude selection accounting for terrain and obstacles, IFR cruising altitudes, and effect of wind and oxygen requirements.
  • IH.I.C.K3:
    Calculating:
    • IH.I.C.K3a:
      Time, climb and descent rates, course, distance, heading, true airspeed, and groundspeed
    • IH.I.C.K3b:
      Estimated time of arrival, including conversion to universal coordinated time (UTC)
    • IH.I.C.K3c:
      Fuel requirements, including reserve
  • IH.I.C.K4:
    Elements of an IFR flight plan.
  • IH.I.C.K5:
    Procedures for activating and closing an IFR flight plan in controlled and uncontrolled airspace.
Risk Management 7 ACS Elements
  • IH.I.C.R1:
    Pilot.
  • IH.I.C.R2:
    Helicopter.
  • IH.I.C.R3:
    Environment (e.g., weather, icing, airports/heliports/helipads/landing areas, airspace, terrain, obstacles).
  • IH.I.C.R4:
    External pressures.
  • IH.I.C.R5:
    Limitations of air traffic control (ATC) services.
  • IH.I.C.R6:
    Limitations of electronic planning applications and programs.
  • IH.I.C.R7:
    Fuel planning.
Skills 6 ACS Elements
  • IH.I.C.S1:
    Prepare, present, and explain a cross-country flight plan assigned by the evaluator including a risk analysis based on real time weather, which includes calculating time en route and fuel considering factors such as power settings, operating altitude, wind, fuel reserve requirements, and weight and balance requirements.
  • IH.I.C.S2:
    Recalculate fuel reserves based on a scenario provided by the evaluator.
  • IH.I.C.S3:
    Create a navigation plan and simulate filing an IFR flight plan.
  • IH.I.C.S4:
    Interpret departure, arrival, en route, and approach procedures with reference to appropriate and current charts.
  • IH.I.C.S5:
    Recognize contamination due to rotor or airframe icing and demonstrate knowledge of the adverse effects of icing during pre-takeoff, takeoff, cruise, and landing phases of flight as well as the corrective actions.
  • IH.I.C.S6:
    Apply pertinent information from appropriate and current aeronautical charts, Chart Supplements; Notices to Air Missions (NOTAMs) relative to airport, runway and taxiway closures; and other flight publications.

Conclusion

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