Private Pilot (Airplane) Pilotage & Dead Reckoning Lesson Plan

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

The Private Pilot (Airplane) Pilotage and Dead Reckoning Lesson Plan covers the knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with pilotage and dead reckoning.

Private Pilot (Airplane) Pilotage & Dead Reckoning Lesson Plan

Introduction

  • Schedule

    Topic:
    Time:
    Attention/Motivator:
    0:05
    Part 1, Lesson Introduction:
    0:05
    Part 2, Flight Planning Fundamentals:
    0:10
    Part 3, Pilotage and Dead Reckoning:
    0:10
    Part 4, Charts and Topography:
    0:10
    Part 5, Navigation Considerations:
    0:10
    Part 6, Navigation Calculations:
    0:10
    Part 7, Flight Log:
    0:10
    Part 8, Complete Cross-Country:
    0:10
    Part 9, Piloage and Dead Reckoning Risk Management:
    0:20
    Part 10, Pilotage and Dead Reckoning Guided Scenario(s):
    0:05
    Part 11, 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:

    • Flight planning is the process in which a pilot prepares for an upcoming flight.
    • It is a descriptive process therefore involving more than one type of navigation.
    • If no wind information is available, plan using statistical winds, make them headwinds to be conservative in your fuel planning.
    • Course: is pre-flight.
    • Track: is flown.
    • Charts are all "true" as in true north and must be compensated to find magnetic north.
    • Include the following:
      • Diverts (direction and channels/frequencies).
    • Checkpoints:
      • Check points should be set approximately 10 NM apart.
      • Your first checkpoint should be Top of Climb (TOC) and the last should be Top of Descent (TOD).

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Private Pilot (Airplane) Pilotage & Dead Reckoning Lesson Plan

Materials

Private Pilot (Airplane) Pilotage & Dead Reckoning Lesson Plan

Instructor Actions

  • Before the lesson, review reference materials.
  • Part 1, Lesson Introduction:
    • If not previously discussed, provide expectations on time to train, ground instruction vs. flight instruction, and instructor/student availability.
    • Review the lesson plan, including the attention and motivator.
    • Review the airman certification standards.
  • Part 2, Flight Planning Fundamentals:
  • Part 3, Pilotage and Dead Reckoning:
    • Introduce pilotage and dead reckoning. (PA.VI.A.K1)
    • Discuss pilotage (visual navigation) vs dead reckoning (time, distance, heading).
    • Compare strengths and limitations of each.
    • Discuss why both are used together.
    • Discuss determining route/choosing checkpoints.
    • Discuss differences between planned vs actual conditions.
      • Effect of wind.
      • Discuss drift correction techniques.
      • Discuss time correciton techniques.
  • Part 4, Charts & Topography:
    • Discuss chart orientation (true vs magnetic).
    • Discuss terrain, landmarks, and feature identification.
      • Emphasize difference between chart and cockpit identification.
    • Discuss VFR checkpoint usage.
  • Part 5, Navigation Considerations:
    • Discuss types and navigation.
    • Discuss flight planning and Navigation Tools.
    • Discuss route selection considerations: Terrain, Airspace, Distance.
    • Explain how weather affects the safety of the planned flight.
      • Have the student evaluate ceilings, visibility, winds, turbulence, thunderstorms, icing risk, temperature, density altitude, and forecast trends for departure, the route, destination, and alternatives. Compare these conditions with aircraft capability, pilot proficiency, and established personal minimums.
      • Present good departure weather with route conditions forecast below personal minimums. Have the student explain why departure conditions alone do not justify the flight and select an appropriate route or timing change, delay, or cancellation.
    • Explain obstruction avoidance principles as part of flight planning.
      • Have the student review current charts, applicable NOTAMs, and airport information to identify towers, cranes, wires, and other obstructions affecting departure, the route, and arrival. Compare their locations and elevations with the planned flight path, clearance margins, and aircraft performance.
      • Have the student explain why an absent chart symbol does not establish that a flight path is clear. Discuss uncharted, changed, unmarked, and unlighted hazards, and the need for current supplemental information, appropriate clearance, and continued vigilance.
    • Explain terrain avoidance principles as part of flight planning.
      • Have the student evaluate terrain elevations, clearance margins, aircraft climb capability, terrain-related wind hazards, escape routes, and emergency landing options.
      • Compare a direct route across high terrain with a lower-terrain alternative and explain the safety tradeoffs.
  • Part 6, Navigation Calculations:
    • Heading calculations (course, heading, track).
    • Groundspeed calculations.
    • Wind correction angle calculations. (PA.VI.A.K5b)
    • Time/distance calculations.
  • Part 7, Flight Log:
    • Introduce flight log structure.
    • Discuss how to use in flight.
      • Review impacts of not updating log.
      • Review risks of fixating inside the cockpit.
  • Part 8, Complete Cross-Country
    • Follow guided scenario in flight.
    • Introduce radio calls to flight service station.
  • Part 9, Risk Management:
    • Loss of situational awareness. (PA.VI.A.R2)
    • Collision hazards. (PA.VI.A.R1)
    • Fuel miscalculation.
    • Identify risk triggers.
    • Mitigate using planning and in-flight adjustments.
    • Discuss Pilotage and Dead Reckoning common errors.
  • Part 10, Pilotage and Dead Reckoning Guided Scenario(s):
  • Part 11, Lesson Conclusion:
    • 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.
  • Update instructor endorsement records and the student's jacket, as required.
Private Pilot (Airplane) Pilotage & Dead Reckoning Lesson Plan

Guided Scenario(s)

  • Plan a flight
  • For each leg, discuss:
    • What is the topography?
    • What checkpoints are there?
    • What is an appropriate altitude? Why?
  • Discuss topography across route
  • Explain: Checkpoints, Headings, Timing, Correction strategy.
  • Student briefs: Route, Checkpoints, Headings and timing.
  • Complete sample time/distance calculations.
  • Describe checkpoint identification.
  • Monitor scan and fixation risks.
  • Identify landmarks along route.
  • Require time tracking between checkpoints.
  • Require student to: Compare planned vs actual times.
  • Monitor heading and altitude control.
  • Challenge: "Where are you right now?"
  • Apply heading/time corrections.
  • Related scenarios:
Private Pilot (Airplane) Pilotage & Dead Reckoning Lesson Plan

Student Actions

Private Pilot (Airplane) Pilotage & Dead Reckoning Lesson Plan

Airman Certification Standards

Private Pilot (Airplane) Pilotage & Dead Reckoning Airman Certification Standards

Knowledge 7 ACS Elements
  • PA.VI.A.K1:
    Pilotage and dead reckoning.
  • PA.VI.A.K2:
    Magnetic compass errors.
  • PA.VI.A.K3:
    Topography.
  • PA.VI.A.K4:
    Selection of appropriate:
    • PA.VI.A.K4a:
      Route.
    • PA.VI.A.K4b:
      Altitude(s).
    • PA.VI.A.K4c:
      Checkpoints.
  • PA.VI.A.K5:
    Plotting a course, including:
  • PA.VI.A.K6:
    Power setting selection.
  • PA.VI.A.K7:
    Planned versus actual flight plan calculations and required corrections.
Risk Management 3 ACS Elements
Skills 7 ACS Elements
  • PA.VI.A.S1:
    Prepare and use a flight log.
  • PA.VI.A.S2:
    Navigate by pilotage.
  • PA.VI.A.S3:
    Navigate by means of pre-computed headings, groundspeeds, elapsed time, and reference to landmarks or checkpoints.
  • PA.VI.A.S4:
    Use the magnetic direction indicator in navigation, including turns to headings.
  • PA.VI.A.S5:
    Verify position within three nautical miles of the flight-planned route.
  • PA.VI.A.S6:
    Arrive at the en route checkpoints within five minutes of the initial or revised estimated time of arrival (ETA) and provide a destination estimate.
  • PA.VI.A.S7:
    Maintain the selected altitude ±200 feet and heading ±15°.
Private Pilot (Airplane) Pilotage & Dead Reckoning Lesson Plan

Conclusion

  • Re-Motivation:

    • Pilotage and Dead Reckoning 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 Pilotage and Dead Reckoning prepares private pilots for longer, less familiar, and more operationally complex flights.

  • Closure:

    • Inform students that this lesson will serve as a starting point for the next lesson.
    • Advise the student to register for the WINGS program if they have not already done so.
    • Advise the student to complete BasicMed if they have not already done so.
    • Assign study materials for the next lesson.
    • The FAA provides test-taking guidance and test guides on its website.
    • To learn more about preparing for the practical test, visit the checkride page.