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).
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:
    • 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:
  • Part 6, Navigation Calculations:
    • Heading calculations (course, heading, track).
    • Groundspeed calculations.
    • Wind correction angle calculations.
    • 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:
  • Part 10, Pilotage and Dead Reckoning Guided Scenario(s):
  • Part 11, 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) 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.