Instrument Rating (Helicopter) Weather Information Lesson Plan

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

The Instrument Rating (Helicopter) Weather Information 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 obtaining, understanding, and applying weather information for a flight under IFR.

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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; AC 91-92; AIM; FAA-H-8083-2, FAA-H-8083-15, FAA-H-8083-21, FAA-H-8083-25, FAA-H-8083-28
  • ACS note: If K2 is selected, the evaluator must assess the applicant’s knowledge of at least three sub-elements.
  • ACS note: If K3 is selected, the evaluator must assess the applicant’s knowledge of at least three sub-elements.

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:
    • Sources of weather data (e.g., National Weather Service, Flight Service) for flight planning purposes. (IH.I.B.K1)
    • Acceptable weather products and resources required for preflight planning, current and forecast weather for departure, en route, and arrival phases of flight such as: (IH.I.B.K2)
      • Airport Observations (METAR and SPECI) and Pilot Observations (PIREP) (IH.I.B.K2a)
      • Surface Analysis Chart, Ceiling and Visibility Chart (CVA) (IH.I.B.K2b)
      • Terminal Aerodrome Forecasts (TAF) (IH.I.B.K2c)
      • Graphical Forecasts for Aviation (GFA) (IH.I.B.K2d)
      • Wind and Temperature Aloft Forecast (FB) (IH.I.B.K2e)
      • Convective Outlook (AC) (IH.I.B.K2f)
      • Inflight Aviation Weather Advisories including Airmen's Meteorological Information (AIRMET), Significant Meteorological Information (SIGMET), and Convective SIGMET (IH.I.B.K2g)
    • Meteorology applicable to the departure, en route, alternate, and destination for flights conducted under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) to include expected climate and hazardous conditions such as: (IH.I.B.K3)
      • Atmospheric composition and stability (IH.I.B.K3a)
      • Wind (e.g., windshear, mountain wave, factors affecting wind, etc.) (IH.I.B.K3b)
      • Temperature and heat exchange (IH.I.B.K3c)
      • Moisture/precipitation (IH.I.B.K3d)
      • Weather system formation, including air masses and fronts (IH.I.B.K3e)
      • Clouds (IH.I.B.K3f)
      • Turbulence (IH.I.B.K3g)
      • Thunderstorms and microbursts (IH.I.B.K3h)
      • Icing and freezing level information (IH.I.B.K3i)
      • Fog/mist (IH.I.B.K3j)
      • Frost (IH.I.B.K3k)
      • Obstructions to visibility (e.g., smoke, haze, volcanic ash, etc.) (IH.I.B.K3l)
    • Flight deck instrument displays of digital weather and aeronautical information. (IH.I.B.K4)
  • Use realistic helicopter IFR scenarios to teach and assess the following risk-management elements:
    • Making the go/no-go and continue/divert decisions, including: (IH.I.B.R1)
      • Circumstances that would make diversion prudent (IH.I.B.R1a)
      • Personal weather minimums (IH.I.B.R1b)
      • Hazardous weather conditions, including known or forecast icing or turbulence aloft (IH.I.B.R1c)
    • Use and limitations of: (IH.I.B.R2)
      • Installed onboard weather equipment (IH.I.B.R2a)
      • Aviation weather reports and forecasts (IH.I.B.R2b)
      • Inflight weather resources (IH.I.B.R2c)
  • Demonstrate, coach, and assess the following skills:
    • Use available aviation weather resources to obtain an adequate weather briefing. (IH.I.B.S1)
    • Analyze the implications of at least three of the conditions listed in K3a through K3l, using actual weather or weather conditions provided by the evaluator. (IH.I.B.S2)
    • Correlate weather information to make a go/no-go decision. (IH.I.B.S3)
    • Determine whether an alternate airport is required, and, if required, whether the selected alternate airport meets regulatory requirements. (IH.I.B.S4)
  • Syllabus Objective Coverage:
    • Identify flight service role and self briefing alternatives.
    • Explain sources of weather data (e.g., National Weather Service, Flight Service) for flight planning purposes.
    • Organize and explain the required preflight weather products and resources for departure, en route, alternate, and arrival planning.
      • Interpret METAR visibility units.
      • Decode METAR precipitation begin end remarks.
      • Define aviation ceiling.
      • Distinguish true METAR wind from magnetic runway reference.
      • Explain airport Observations (METAR and SPECI) and Pilot Observations (PIREP).
      • Identify METAR remarks section.
      • Identify LIFR thresholds.
      • Identify MVFR reporting category.
      • Identify VFR reporting category.
      • Explain surface Analysis Chart, Ceiling and Visibility Chart (CVA).
      • Interpret TAF cloud base and ceiling.
      • Identify TAF for terminal forecast.
      • Use TAF for destination eta.
      • Explain terminal Aerodrome Forecasts (TAF).
      • Identify GFA as conus fa replacement.
      • Identify aviation surface cloud forecast times.
      • Interpret aviation cloud forecast heights.
      • Explain graphical Forecasts for Aviation (GFA).
      • Identify winds aloft omission thresholds.
      • Decode winds aloft wind groups.
      • Explain wind and Temperature Aloft Forecast (FB).
      • Explain convective Outlook (AC).
      • Identify AIRMET tango surface wind criterion.
      • Explain inflight Aviation Weather Advisories including Airmen's Meteorological Information (AIRMET), Significant Meteorological Information (SIGMET), and Convective SIGMET.
      • Apply inflight Aviation Weather Advisories including Airmen's Meteorological Information (AIRMET), Significant Meteorological Information (SIGMET), and Convective SIGMET to the aircraft, conditions, or flight scenario presented.
    • Organize and explain the meteorology and hazardous conditions relevant to departure, en route, alternate, and destination planning under IFR.
      • Explain atmospheric composition and stability.
      • Explain wind (e.g., windshear, mountain wave, factors affecting wind, etc.).
      • Apply wind (e.g., windshear, mountain wave, factors affecting wind, etc.) to the aircraft, conditions, or flight scenario presented.
      • Explain temperature and heat exchange.
      • Explain moisture/precipitation.
      • Explain weather system formation, including air masses and fronts.
      • Apply weather system formation, including air masses and fronts to the aircraft, conditions, or flight scenario presented.
      • Identify low cloud base altitude range.
      • Identify middle cloud base altitude range.
      • Identify high cloud base altitude range.
      • Explain clouds.
      • Explain turbulence.
      • Explain thunderstorms and microbursts.
      • Identify clear ice favorable conditions.
      • Explain rime ice formation.
      • Explain clear ice formation.
      • Explain icing and freezing level information.
      • Explain fog/mist.
      • Explain frost.
      • Explain obstructions to visibility (e.g., smoke, haze, volcanic ash, etc.).
    • Explain flight deck instrument displays of digital weather and aeronautical information.
    • Integrate go/no-go, continue, and divert risk controls for the planned helicopter IFR flight.
      • Identify and assess the hazards associated with circumstances that would make diversion prudent.
      • Select and justify effective controls for the risks associated with circumstances that would make diversion prudent.
      • Identify and assess the hazards associated with personal weather minimums.
      • Select and justify effective controls for the risks associated with personal weather minimums.
      • Identify and assess the hazards associated with hazardous weather conditions, including known or forecast icing or turbulence aloft.
      • Select and justify effective controls for the risks associated with hazardous weather conditions, including known or forecast icing or turbulence aloft.
    • Integrate risk controls for the use and limitations of onboard, reported, forecast, and inflight weather resources.
      • Identify and assess the hazards associated with installed onboard weather equipment.
      • Select and justify effective controls for the risks associated with installed onboard weather equipment.
      • Identify and assess the hazards associated with aviation weather reports and forecasts.
      • Select and justify effective controls for the risks associated with aviation weather reports and forecasts.
      • Identify and assess the hazards associated with inflight weather resources.
      • Select and justify effective controls for the risks associated with inflight weather resources.
    • Use available aviation weather resources to obtain an adequate weather briefing.
    • Analyze the implications of at least three of the conditions listed in K3a through K3l, using actual weather or weather conditions provided by the evaluator.
    • Correlate weather information to make a go/no-go decision.
    • Determine whether an alternate airport is required, and, if required, whether the selected alternate airport meets regulatory requirements.
  • 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) Weather Information Lesson Plan

Airman Certification Standards

Instrument Rating (Helicopter) Weather Information Airman Certification Standards

  • Objective: To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with obtaining, understanding, and applying weather information for a flight under IFR.
  • References: 14 CFR part 91; AC 91-92; AIM; FAA-H-8083-2, FAA-H-8083-15, FAA-H-8083-21, FAA-H-8083-25, FAA-H-8083-28
  • Note: If K2 is selected, the evaluator must assess the applicant’s knowledge of at least three sub-elements.
  • Note: If K3 is selected, the evaluator must assess the applicant’s knowledge of at least three sub-elements.
Knowledge 4 ACS Elements
  • IH.I.B.K1:
    Sources of weather data (e.g., National Weather Service, Flight Service) for flight planning purposes.
  • IH.I.B.K2:
    Acceptable weather products and resources required for preflight planning, current and forecast weather for departure, en route, and arrival phases of flight such as:
    • IH.I.B.K2a:
      Airport Observations (METAR and SPECI) and Pilot Observations (PIREP)
    • IH.I.B.K2b:
      Surface Analysis Chart, Ceiling and Visibility Chart (CVA)
    • IH.I.B.K2c:
      Terminal Aerodrome Forecasts (TAF)
    • IH.I.B.K2d:
      Graphical Forecasts for Aviation (GFA)
    • IH.I.B.K2e:
      Wind and Temperature Aloft Forecast (FB)
    • IH.I.B.K2f:
      Convective Outlook (AC)
    • IH.I.B.K2g:
      Inflight Aviation Weather Advisories including Airmen's Meteorological Information (AIRMET), Significant Meteorological Information (SIGMET), and Convective SIGMET
  • IH.I.B.K3:
    Meteorology applicable to the departure, en route, alternate, and destination for flights conducted under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) to include expected climate and hazardous conditions such as:
    • IH.I.B.K3a:
      Atmospheric composition and stability
    • IH.I.B.K3b:
      Wind (e.g., windshear, mountain wave, factors affecting wind, etc.)
    • IH.I.B.K3c:
      Temperature and heat exchange
    • IH.I.B.K3d:
      Moisture/precipitation
    • IH.I.B.K3e:
      Weather system formation, including air masses and fronts
    • IH.I.B.K3f:
      Clouds
    • IH.I.B.K3g:
      Turbulence
    • IH.I.B.K3h:
      Thunderstorms and microbursts
    • IH.I.B.K3i:
      Icing and freezing level information
    • IH.I.B.K3j:
      Fog/mist
    • IH.I.B.K3k:
      Frost
    • IH.I.B.K3l:
      Obstructions to visibility (e.g., smoke, haze, volcanic ash, etc.)
  • IH.I.B.K4:
    Flight deck instrument displays of digital weather and aeronautical information.
Risk Management 2 ACS Elements
  • IH.I.B.R1:
    Making the go/no-go and continue/divert decisions, including:
    • IH.I.B.R1a:
      Circumstances that would make diversion prudent
    • IH.I.B.R1b:
      Personal weather minimums
    • IH.I.B.R1c:
      Hazardous weather conditions, including known or forecast icing or turbulence aloft
  • IH.I.B.R2:
    Use and limitations of:
    • IH.I.B.R2a:
      Installed onboard weather equipment
    • IH.I.B.R2b:
      Aviation weather reports and forecasts
    • IH.I.B.R2c:
      Inflight weather resources
Skills 4 ACS Elements
  • IH.I.B.S1:
    Use available aviation weather resources to obtain an adequate weather briefing.
  • IH.I.B.S2:
    Analyze the implications of at least three of the conditions listed in K3a through K3l, using actual weather or weather conditions provided by the evaluator.
  • IH.I.B.S3:
    Correlate weather information to make a go/no-go decision.
  • IH.I.B.S4:
    Determine whether an alternate airport is required, and, if required, whether the selected alternate airport meets regulatory requirements.

Conclusion

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