Instrument Rating Cross Country Flight Planning Lesson Plan

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

The Instrument Rating (Airplane) Cross-Country Flight Planning covers the knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with planning an IFR cross-country and filing an IFR flight plan.

Instrument Rating Cross Country Flight Planning Lesson Plan

Introduction

  • Schedule

    Topic:
    Time:
    Attention/Motivator:
    0:05
    Part 1, Lesson Introduction:
    0:10
    Part 2, Route Planning:
    0:35
    Part 3, Altitude Selection:
    0:20
    Part 4, Flight-Planning Calculations:
    0:35
    Part 5, IFR Flight Plan:
    0:20
    Part 6, Risk Management:
    0:30
    Part 7, Practical Planning Scenario:
    0:45
    Part 8, Lesson Conclusion:
    0:10
    Remotivation/Closure:
    0:05
    Total Ground Time:
    0:00

  • Attention Getter:

  • Motivator:

    • Flight planning is the process through which a pilot prepares for an upcoming flight.
      • Although often associated with completing a navigation log for a cross-country flight, flight planning is necessary for every flight.
    • Effective IFR (Instrument Flight Rules) planning integrates route, altitude, weather, aircraft performance, fuel, procedures, and contingencies.
    • If forecast wind information is unavailable, use an appropriately conservative planning assumption and reassess before departure.
    • Pilots choose a route and altitude based on regulatory, operational, weather, terrain, performance, and risk considerations.

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Instrument Rating Cross Country Flight Planning Lesson Plan

Materials

Instrument Rating Cross Country Flight Planning Lesson Plan

Instructor Actions

  • Before the lesson, review the reference materials, select a realistic IFR cross-country assignment, and confirm that current charts, weather information, aircraft data, and flight-planning resources are available.
  • Part 1, Lesson Introduction:
    • Present the attention getter and motivator.
    • State the lesson objective, explain how the planning exercise will be evaluated, and review the applicable Airman Certification Standards (ACS).
    • Ask the learner to describe the planning process they currently use and identify any areas that require additional instruction.
  • Part 2, Route Planning:
    • Develop a practical IFR route with the learner and have them explain how each available source affects the proposed flight. (IR.I.C.K1) (IR.I.C.K1a) (IR.I.C.K1b) (IR.I.C.K1c) (IR.I.C.K1d) (IR.I.C.K1e) (IR.I.C.K1f) (IR.I.C.K1g) (IR.I.C.K1h)
      • Compare direct routing, airways, preferred routes, and available navigational facilities.
      • Account for airspace, including special use airspace, and identify any operational restrictions.
      • Select suitable destination and alternate airports.
      • Correlate current IFR en route charts, Chart Supplements, NOTAMs, and the applicable Terminal Procedures Publications (TPP), including departure, arrival, and approach procedures.
      • Have the learner defend the route in terms of efficiency, workload, weather, terrain, available approaches, and practical diversion options.
  • Part 3, Altitude Selection:
    • Have the learner select and justify an IFR altitude that is both legal and operationally sound. (IR.I.C.K2)
      • Apply the applicable MEA, MOCA, OROCA, MCA, MRA, and maximum authorized altitude information.
      • Balance terrain and obstacle clearance with winds aloft, aircraft performance, oxygen requirements, glide capability, and access to suitable airports.
      • Use guided questioning to have the learner explain how departure, arrival, icing, turbulence, and weather conditions could change the selected altitude.
  • Part 4, Flight-Planning Calculations:
    • Guide the learner through the flight-planning calculations, then require them to verify that the results agree with the proposed route and aircraft performance. (IR.I.C.K3) (IR.I.C.K3a) (IR.I.C.K3b) (IR.I.C.K3c)
      • Calculate climb and descent performance, course, distance, heading, true airspeed, groundspeed, and time en route.
      • Determine the estimated time of arrival (ETA) and convert time correctly to coordinated universal time (UTC).
      • Calculate fuel requirements, including start, taxi, climb, cruise, approach, alternate, reserve, and a realistic contingency allowance.
      • Check each result for reasonableness rather than relying solely on an electronic planning application.
  • Part 5, IFR Flight Plan:
    • Use retrieval questioning to have the learner explain the IFR flight-plan elements in the context of the assigned flight, emphasizing accurate entries and operationally useful remarks. (IR.I.C.K4)
    • Use an aircraft- or scenario-specific example, then have the learner explain the procedures for filing an IFR flight plan and activating and closing it. (IR.I.C.K5)
    • Have the learner complete the navigation plan and simulate filing the IFR flight plan; correct errors through guided questioning. (IR.I.C.S3)
  • Part 6, Risk Management:
    • Use the completed plan to conduct a structured risk review. Ask the learner to identify the most significant hazards, explain their effect on the flight, and propose specific mitigations before making a go/no-go decision.
      • Assess pilot readiness, instrument proficiency, recent experience, fatigue, and health. (IR.I.C.R1)
      • Confirm the aircraft's airworthiness, equipment, limitations, performance, loading, fuel capacity, and suitability for the flight. (IR.I.C.R2)
      • Evaluate weather, airports, airspace, terrain, obstacles, and realistic diversion options. (IR.I.C.R3)
      • Identify external pressures and establish conditions that would require delaying, diverting, or canceling the flight. (IR.I.C.R4)
      • Clarify the limitations of ATC services and the pilot's continuing responsibility for terrain, weather, and traffic avoidance. (IR.I.C.R5)
      • Identify the limitations of electronic planning applications and require independent verification of critical information. (IR.I.C.R6)
      • Test the fuel plan against delays, reroutes, holds, a missed approach, use of the alternate, and other foreseeable contingencies. (IR.I.C.R7)
  • Part 7, Practical Planning Scenario:
    • Have the learner present the completed IFR cross-country as a preflight briefing. Require them to explain and defend the route, altitude, destination and alternate, performance assumptions, time and fuel calculations, weight and balance, and risk controls using current information. (IR.I.C.S1)
    • Introduce a realistic change—such as a delay, reroute, hold, missed approach, worsening weather, or diversion—and have the learner revise the plan, recalculate fuel, and determine whether the flight remains acceptable. (IR.I.C.S2)
    • Ask the learner to brief the applicable departure, en route, arrival, and approach procedures directly from current charts. (IR.I.C.S4)
    • Present a contamination or airframe-icing scenario and have the learner explain the performance consequences and appropriate corrective actions for each affected phase of flight. (IR.I.C.S5)
    • Require the learner to identify and apply pertinent information from current charts, Chart Supplements, Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs), and other flight publications without prompting. (IR.I.C.S6)
    • Complete the guided scenario, using follow-up questions to evaluate judgment, planning discipline, and mastery of the applicable Task I.C elements.
  • Part 8, Lesson Conclusion:
    • Review the learner's planning strengths, errors, risk-management decisions, and any items requiring additional practice.
    • Tie the lesson to previous training and explain how the completed plan will support subsequent instrument lessons (law of readiness).
    • Present the remotivation, deliver the closure, and assign appropriate follow-on study or practice.
    • Confirm the learner understands the actions required before the next lesson.
  • Update instructor endorsement records and the student's jacket, as required.
Instrument Rating Cross Country Flight Planning Lesson Plan

Guided Scenario(s)

  • Assign an IFR cross-country using current weather and an aircraft appropriate to the learner's training.
  • Require the learner to prepare and explain:
    • The proposed route, navigational facilities, airspace, preferred routes, destination, alternate, en route charts, Chart Supplements, NOTAMs, and applicable terminal procedures.
    • The selected altitude, including terrain, obstacles, glide distance, IFR cruising altitude, wind, oxygen, and aircraft-performance considerations.
    • Time, climb and descent performance, course, distance, heading, true airspeed, groundspeed, ETA in UTC, fuel requirements, reserves, and weight and balance.
    • The completed IFR flight plan and procedures for filing, activating, and closing it.
    • A PAVE-based risk analysis addressing the pilot, aircraft, environment, external pressures, ATC (Air Traffic Control) limitations, electronic-planning limitations, and fuel.
  • Introduce an en route delay, reroute, hold, missed approach, deteriorating weather condition, or diversion and require the learner to recalculate fuel and reassess the flight.
  • Require interpretation of applicable departure, arrival, en route, and approach procedures and application of current charts, Chart Supplements, NOTAMs, and other flight publications.
  • Present simulated airframe icing and require the learner to identify its effects and appropriate corrective actions.
Instrument Rating Cross Country Flight Planning Lesson Plan

Student Actions

Instrument Rating Cross Country Flight Planning Lesson Plan

Airman Certification Standards

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

Knowledge 5 ACS Elements
  • IR.I.C.K1:
    Route planning, including consideration of:.
  • IR.I.C.K2:
    Altitude selection accounting for terrain and obstacles, glide distance of airplane, IFR cruising altitudes, effect of wind, and oxygen requirements.
  • IR.I.C.K3:
    Calculating:.
    • IR.I.C.K3a:
      Time, climb and descent rates, course, distance, heading, true airspeed, and groundspeed.
    • IR.I.C.K3b:
      Estimated time of arrival to include conversion to universal coordinated time (UTC).
    • IR.I.C.K3c:
      Fuel requirements, including reserve.
  • IR.I.C.K4:
    Elements of an IFR flight plan.
  • IR.I.C.K5:
    Procedures for activating and closing an IFR flight plan in controlled and uncontrolled airspace.
Risk Management 7 ACS Elements
  • IR.I.C.R1:
    Pilot.
  • IR.I.C.R2:
    Aircraft.
  • IR.I.C.R3:
    Environment (e.g., weather, airports, airspace, terrain, obstacles).
  • IR.I.C.R4:
    External pressures.
  • IR.I.C.R5:
    Limitations of air traffic control (ATC) services.
  • IR.I.C.R6:
    Limitations of electronic planning applications and programs.
  • IR.I.C.R7:
    Fuel planning.
Skills 6 ACS Elements
  • IR.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.
  • IR.I.C.S2:
    Recalculate fuel reserves based on a scenario provided by the evaluator.
  • IR.I.C.S3:
    Create a navigation plan and simulate filing an IFR flight plan.
  • IR.I.C.S4:
    Interpret departure, arrival, en route, and approach procedures with reference to appropriate and current charts.
  • IR.I.C.S5:
    Recognize simulated wing contamination due to airframe icing and demonstrate knowledge of the adverse effects of airframe icing during pre-takeoff, takeoff, cruise, and landing phases of flight as well as the corrective actions.
  • IR.I.C.S6:
    Apply pertinent information from appropriate and current aeronautical charts, Chart Supplements; Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) relative to airport, runway and taxiway closures; and other flight publications.
Instrument Rating Cross Country Flight Planning Lesson Plan

Conclusion

  • Re-Motivation:

    • IFR cross-country planning integrates weather, route, altitude, aircraft performance, fuel, procedures, and risk management into one defensible operational plan.
    • A complete plan provides alternatives before changing conditions, delays, equipment limitations, or external pressures increase workload.
    • Continued planning practice prepares instrument pilots to recognize deteriorating margins early and revise or discontinue a flight safely.

  • Closure:

    • Review the learner's planning strengths, deficiencies, risk controls, and recommended follow-on study.
    • Assign study materials for the next lesson.