Instrument Rating Intercepting & Tracking Navigational Systems & DME Arcs Lesson Plan

Instrument Rating (Airplane) • ACS Area V, Task A

The Instrument Rating (Airplane) Intercepting and Tracking Navigational Systems and DME Arcs Lesson Plan covers the knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with intercepting and tracking navigation aids and arcs solely by reference to instruments.

Instrument Rating Intercepting & Tracking Navigational Systems & DME Arcs Lesson Plan

Introduction

  • Schedule

    Topic:
    Time:
    Part 1, Introduce the Lesson:
    0:05
    Part 2, Intercepting and Tracking Foundations:
    0:15
    Part 3, Factors Impacting Intercepting and Tracking Navigational Facilities and DME Arcs Operations Performance:
    0:10
    Part 4, Intercepting and Tracking Procedure:
    0:20
    Part 5, Intercepting and Tracking Navigational Facilities and DME Arcs Risk Management:
    0:15
    Part 6, Intercepting and Tracking Navigational Facilities and DME Arcs Guided Scenario(s):
    0:15
    Part 7, Conclude Lesson:
    0:10
    Remotivation/Closure:
    0:05
    Total Ground Time:
    0:00

  • Attention Getter:

    • Present a clearance that requires the pilot to determine position, intercept and track a specified course, and transition onto a DME (distance measuring equipment) arc while correcting for wind.
    • Ask the learner how an incorrect course orientation, an excessive intercept angle, or failure to identify the navigation source could place the aircraft outside protected airspace.
    • Use the learner's response to introduce the relationship between navigation-system verification, situational awareness, and precise aircraft control.

  • Motivator:

    • Accurate course interception and tracking keep the aircraft within protected airspace and establish the foundation for departures, en route navigation, holding, arrivals, and instrument approaches.
    • Proficiency requires more than centering a course deviation indicator; the pilot must understand aircraft position, verify the navigation source, anticipate wind correction, and recognize unreliable guidance.
    • Consistent procedures reduce workload and allow the pilot to devote more attention to communication, weather, traffic, and changing clearances.

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Instrument Rating Intercepting & Tracking Navigational Systems & DME Arcs Lesson Plan

Instructor Actions

Instrument Rating Intercepting & Tracking Navigational Systems & DME Arcs Lesson Plan

Materials

  • Before the lesson, review reference materials.
  • Part 1, Introduce the Lesson:
    • Review the lesson plan, including the attention-getter and motivator.
    • Review the airman certification standards (ACS).
    • Use an aircraft- or scenario-specific example, then have the learner explain that this lesson integrates navigation-system operation, aircraft orientation, course interception, wind correction, and precise tracking.
    • Set expectations for situational awareness, navigation-system verification, aircraft control, and standardized instrument procedures.
  • Part 2, Intercepting and Tracking Foundations:
    • Use guided questioning to have the learner explain and apply homing and its difference from tracking.
    • Teach and assess ground-based navigation, including orientation, course determination, equipment, required tests and regulations, and procedures for intercepting and tracking courses and DME arcs. (IR.V.A.K1)
    • Teach and assess satellite-based navigation, including orientation, course determination, equipment, required tests and regulations, interference, appropriate database use, Receiver Autonomous Integrity Monitoring (RAIM), Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS), and procedures for intercepting and tracking courses and arcs. (IR.V.A.K2)
  • Part 3, Factors Impacting Intercepting and Tracking Navigational Facilities and DME Arcs Operations Performance:
    • Discuss crosswinds and demonstrate how to recognize drift, select an intercept angle, and apply a wind-correction angle while acquiring and maintaining a course or DME arc.
    • Use guided questioning to have the learner explain and apply the limitations of the navigation system in use and how those limitations affect course interception and tracking. (IR.V.A.R3)
  • Part 4, Intercepting and Tracking Procedure:
    • Demonstrate orientation, course selection, intercept-angle selection, wind correction, course tracking, and DME arc entry and maintenance using the installed navigation equipment.
    • Teach, demonstrate, and assess tuning and identifying the navigation facility or programming the navigation system, then verifying system accuracy as appropriate for the installed equipment. (IR.V.A.S1)
    • Teach, demonstrate, and assess determining aircraft position relative to the navigational facility or waypoint. (IR.V.A.S2)
    • Teach, demonstrate, and assess setting and orienting to the course to be intercepted. (IR.V.A.S3)
    • Teach, demonstrate, and assess intercepting the specified course at an appropriate angle, inbound to or outbound from a navigational facility or waypoint. (IR.V.A.S4)
    • Teach, demonstrate, and assess maintaining airspeed ±10 knots, altitude ±100 feet, and selected headings ±5°. (IR.V.A.S5)
    • Teach, demonstrate, and assess applying the correction necessary to remain within ¾-scale course deviation indicator (CDI) deflection and, when a DME arc is selected, within ±1 nautical mile of the arc. (IR.V.A.S6)
    • Teach, demonstrate, and assess recognizing a navigation-system or facility failure and reporting it to air traffic control when required. (IR.V.A.S7)
    • Teach, demonstrate, and assess using a multi-function display and other graphical navigation displays, if installed, to monitor position, track wind drift, and maintain situational awareness. (IR.V.A.S8)
    • At the evaluator's discretion, teach, demonstrate, and assess using the autopilot to make appropriate course intercepts, if installed. (IR.V.A.S9)
  • Part 5, Intercepting and Tracking Navigational Facilities and DME Arcs Risk Management:
    • Use guided questioning to have the learner explain and apply automation management, navigation-system failures, distractions, task prioritization, situational awareness, and disorientation while intercepting and tracking courses or DME arcs.
    • Use guided questioning to have the learner explain and apply the risks associated with managing automated navigation and autoflight systems. (IR.V.A.R1)
    • Use guided questioning to have the learner explain and apply risk management for distractions, task prioritization, loss of situational awareness, or disorientation. (IR.V.A.R2)
    • Teach, demonstrate, and assess the use of single-pilot resource management (SRM) or crew resource management (CRM), as appropriate, throughout course interception and tracking. (IR.V.A.S10)
  • Part 6, Intercepting and Tracking Navigational Facilities and DME Arcs Guided Scenario(s):
  • Part 7, Conclude Lesson:
    • Relate accurate course interception and tracking to departure, en route, holding, arrival, and instrument-approach operations.
    • Tie lesson back to previous lessons to reinforce past experiences (law of readiness).
    • Present the remotivation, conclude, and provide guidance for follow-on lessons.
    • Review student actions required ahead of the next lesson.
    • Debrief the student's understanding of the knowledge, risk-management, and skill elements associated with intercepting and tracking navigational systems and DME arcs.
  • Update the instructor log and student progress. Select the student and sign off completed objectives. If the student does not have a connected account, record the update manually in the instructor log and student training record.
Instrument Rating Intercepting & Tracking Navigational Systems & DME Arcs Lesson Plan

Interactive Guided Scenario

Integrated guided scenario for Instrument Rating (Airplane) Intercepting And Tracking Navigational Systems And Dme Arcs.

Instrument Rating (Airplane) Intercepting And Tracking Navigational Systems And Dme Arcs Guided Flight

Work through one integrated 120-decision guided scenario combining 8 linked lesson topics into a comprehensive training exercise.

120 Decisions8 TopicsIntegrated Guided ScenarioConsequence-BasedRetry and Debrief
Decision 1
0%

Scenario Complete

Instrument Rating Intercepting & Tracking Navigational Systems & DME Arcs Lesson Plan

Student Actions

Instrument Rating Intercepting & Tracking Navigational Systems & DME Arcs Lesson Plan

Airman Certification Standards

Instrument Rating Intercepting & Tracking Navigational Systems & DME Arcs Airman Certification Standards

  • Objective: To determine whether the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with intercepting and tracking navigation aids and arcs solely by reference to instruments.
  • 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.
  • References: 14 CFR part 91; AIM; FAA-H-8083-2 (Risk Management Handbook), FAA-H-8083-3 (Airplane Flying Handbook), FAA-H-8083-15, FAA-H-8083-16, FAA-H-8083-25 (Pilot Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge); POH/AFM.
Knowledge 2 ACS Elements
  • IR.V.A.K1:
    Ground-based navigation (orientation, course determination, equipment, tests, and regulations), including procedures for intercepting and tracking courses and arcs.
  • IR.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
Skills 10 ACS Elements
  • IR.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 aircraft.
  • IR.V.A.S2:
    Determine aircraft position relative to the navigational facility or waypoint.
  • IR.V.A.S3:
    Set and orient to the course to be intercepted.
  • IR.V.A.S4:
    Intercept the specified course at appropriate angle, inbound to or outbound from a navigational facility or waypoint.
  • IR.V.A.S5:
    Maintain airspeed ±10 knots, altitude ±100 feet, and selected headings ±5°.
  • IR.V.A.S6:
    Apply proper correction to maintain a course, allowing no more than 3/4-scale deflection of the course deviation indicator (CDI). If a distance measuring equipment (DME) arc is selected, maintain that arc ±1 nautical mile.
  • IR.V.A.S7:
    Recognize navigational system or facility failure, and when required, report the failure to air traffic control (ATC).
  • IR.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.
  • IR.V.A.S9:
    At the discretion of the evaluator, use the autopilot to make appropriate course intercepts, if installed.
  • IR.V.A.S10:
    Use single-pilot resource management (SRM) or crew resource management (CRM), as appropriate.
Instrument Rating Intercepting & Tracking Navigational Systems & DME Arcs Lesson Plan

Conclusion

  • Re-Motivation:

    • Intercepting and Tracking Navigational Systems and DME Arcs develops the procedural discipline, instrument interpretation, and aircraft control required when outside visual references are limited or unavailable.
    • Cross-checking instruments, anticipating clearances, monitoring navigation performance, and recognizing deviations early preserve situational awareness and safe margins.
    • Accurate communication, checklist use, workload management, and timely missed-approach or alternate decisions connect technical proficiency with sound instrument-flight judgment.
    • Continued practice with Intercepting and Tracking Navigational Systems and DME Arcs prepares instrument pilots for more complex procedures, system failures, and real-world IFR (Instrument Flight Rules) decision-making.

  • Closure:

    • The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) provides test-taking guidance and test guides on its website.
    • To learn more about preparing for the practical test, visit the checkride page.
    • Advise students that this lesson will be used as a starting point for the next lesson.
    • Assign study materials for the next lesson.