Private Pilot (Airplane) Diversion Lesson Plan

Private Pilot (Airplane) • ACS Area VI, Task C

The Private Pilot (Airplane) Diversion Lesson Plan covers the knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with diversion.

Private Pilot (Airplane) Diversion Lesson Plan

Introduction

  • Schedule

    Topic:
    Time:
    Attention/Motivator:
    0:05
    Part 1, Lesson Introduction:
    0:05
    Part 2, Diversion Fundamentals:
    1:15
    Part 3, Diversion Procedures:
    1:15
    Part 4, Diversion Risk Management:
    0:20
    Part 5, Diversion Guided Scenario(s):
    0:20
    Part 6, Lesson Conclusion:
    0:05
    Remotivation/Closure:
    0:05
    Total Ground Time:
    0:00

  • Attention Getter:

    • Research and present a mishap case study:
    • Discuss how the initial conditions developed into an incident/accident/mishap.
    • Relate similar personal experiences of the same type of incident/accident/mishap.
    • Consider incorporating a case study as a guided scenario.

  • Motivator:

    • Diversions are deviations from the original plan which are usually due to fuel, weather, aeromedical or systems
    • While no one plans to divert, the first time the situation dictates a diversion, you should have already planned ahead.
    • Practice develops skills necessary for plotting a new course and determining a new ETA while en route
    • Diversions occur due to low fuel, bad weather, fatigue, illness, airplane or system malfunction, and others
    • Although the concept is the same, their procedures can be dramatically different when flying Visual Flight Rules (VFR) or Instrument Flight Rules (IFR)
Private Pilot (Airplane) Diversion Lesson Plan

Materials

Private Pilot (Airplane) Diversion Lesson Plan

Instructor Actions

  • Before the lesson, review reference materials.
  • Part 1, Lesson Introduction:
  • Part 2, Diversion Fundamentals:
    • Discuss selecting an alternate destination, including runway length, services, weather, terrain, and familiarity.
    • Discuss diversion decision making, emphasizing early recognition and timely action.
    • Discuss situations requiring deviation from the flight plan or ATC instructions.
    • Review risks associated with delaying diversion decisions, including fuel exhaustion, deteriorating weather, and increasing workload.
    • Discuss task prioritization and distractions, emphasizing “aviate, navigate, communicate.”
    • Introduce available resources (charts, GPS, ATC, onboard equipment) and how they support diversion decisions.
  • Part 3, Diversion Procedures:
    • Discuss diversion planning, including estimating heading, distance, groundspeed, time, and fuel.
    • Demonstrate how to select a suitable route and adjust for wind correction.
    • Discuss maintaining aircraft control while performing calculations and navigation updates.
    • Introduce VFR diversion procedures, including pilotage, dead reckoning, and use of landmarks.
    • Introduce IFR diversion considerations, including ATC coordination and clearance requirements.
    • Discuss updating Diversion in flight and adjusting the diversion plan accordingly.
    • Review common errors, including fixation, poor planning, loss of situational awareness, and failure to act promptly.
  • Part 4, Diversion Risk Management:
  • Part 5, Guided Scenario(s):
    • Lead a guided scenarios.
    • Present a realistic en route situation requiring a diversion (weather, fuel, mechanical, or passenger-related).
    • Require the student to select a diversion airport and justify the decision.
    • Have the student estimate heading, time en route, and fuel requirements.
    • Require the student to verbalize priorities and demonstrate workload management.
    • Challenge the student to identify and mitigate risks such as disorientation, fuel state, and deteriorating conditions.
  • Part 6, Lesson Conclusion:
    • Present the remotivation, conclude, and provide guidance for follow-on lessons.
    • Review student actions required ahead of the next lesson.
  • Update instructor endorsement records and the student's jacket, as required.
Private Pilot (Airplane) Diversion Lesson Plan

Guided Scenario(s)

  • Take an existing flight plan and identify potential alternates
    • What airports are suitable, have requisite services, or are most familiar?
  • Discuss considerations for diverting for maintenance, weather, etc.
  • Discuss resources available to make a diversion decision
  • Walk through a diversion
  • Related scenarios:
Private Pilot (Airplane) Diversion Lesson Plan

Student Actions

Private Pilot (Airplane) Diversion Lesson Plan

Airman Certification Standards

Private Pilot (Airplane) Diversion Airman Certification Standards

Knowledge 2 ACS Elements
Risk Management 5 ACS Elements
Skills 6 ACS Elements
  • PA.VI.C.S1:
    Select a suitable destination and route for diversion.
  • PA.VI.C.S2:
    Make a reasonable estimate of heading, groundspeed, arrival time, and fuel required to the "divert to" destination.
  • PA.VI.C.S3:
    Maintain the selected altitude ±200 feet and heading ±15°.
  • PA.VI.C.S4:
    Update/interpret weather in flight.
  • PA.VI.C.S5:
    Use displays of digital weather and aeronautical information, as applicable to maintain situational awareness.
  • PA.VI.C.S6:
    Promptly divert toward the destination.
Private Pilot (Airplane) Diversion Lesson Plan

Conclusion

  • Re-Motivation:

    • Diversion connects careful preflight planning with the continuous awareness needed to keep the aircraft, route, fuel, weather, and available alternatives aligned.
    • Using multiple navigation references and verifying position, performance, and changing conditions helps pilots detect errors before they narrow available options.
    • Timely communication, workload management, and a willingness to revise the plan turn navigation knowledge into practical aeronautical decision-making.
    • Further practice with Diversion prepares private pilots for longer, less familiar, and more operationally complex flights.

  • Closure:

    • Advise students that this lesson will be used as a starting point for the next lesson.
    • Assign study materials for the next lesson.