Private Pilot (Airplane)
Operation of Aircraft Systems Lesson Plan

Attention:

• Research a case study:
  • Airspeed Indicator Case Studies
• 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:

• All aircraft have the requirement for essential interconnected and integrated systems, the performance of which is critical to safe operations
• Several basic aircraft systems are universal, but even the most simple aircraft will contain complex systems
• These systems are reliant on some power source, meaning they rely upon a powerplant not just to move the airplane, but run the systems
• Finally, there are a variety of support systems which for comfort, regulatory, or human physiological reasons, exist to support flight operations, especially those considered high-performance
• Understanding the aircraft systems is critical to its safe operation and proper maintenance

Overview:

Required Materials:

• Student Jacket, Paper & Pen or Marker & Whiteboard, access to maintenance spaces/A&P

Instructor Actions:

• Introduce the lesson:
  • Review the lesson plan, including the attention-getter and motivator.
  • Review the airman certification standards.
• Part 1, flight control systems:
  • Review Aircraft Performance and Structure.
  • Review how airfoil design influences lift, including chord, relative wind, and AOA.
  • Introduce primary flight controls, including the controls that manipulate them.
  • Introduce secondary flight controls, including the controls that manipulate them.
  • Introduce other aerodynamic surfaces.
  • Introduce and discuss specific aerodynamic surfaces and controls on the aircraft used for training.
  • Introduce preflight checks.
  • Introduce indications of and procedures to handle flight control malfunctions and anomalies.
• Part 2, powerplant:
  • Introduce reciprocating engines and the four-stroke cycle.
  • Introduce the induction system.
  • Introduce the ignition system.
  • Introduce turbo-charging systems.
  • Introduce powerplant instrumentation.
  • Introduce and discuss specific powerplant system functions and instrumentation on the aircraft used for training.
  • Introduce preflight checks.
  • Introduce indications of and procedures to handle powerplant malfunctions and anomalies.
  • Introduce and briefly discuss turbine engines.
  • Walk around an engine under maintenance, if available
• Part 3, environmental:
  • Introduce heating systems.
  • Introduce cooling systems.
  • Introduce pressurization systems function and instrumentation.
  • Introduce and discuss specific environmental control system functions and instrumentation on the aircraft used for training.
  • Introduce indications and procedures to handle environmental control system anomalies.
• Part 4, propeller system:
  • Introduce propeller mechanics, referencing how propellers relate to airfoil design.
  • Introduce fixed-pitch propeller systems.
  • Introduce variable-pitch propeller systems, if appropriate.
  • Introduce variable-pitch propeller procedures, if appropriate.
  • Introduce propeller instrumentation.
  • Introduce and discuss specific propeller system functions and instrumentation on the aircraft used for training.
  • Introduce preflight checks.
  • Introduce indications and procedures to handle propeller malfunctions and anomalies.
• Part 5, fuel system:
  • Introduce the types of fuel systems.
  • Introduce the types of aviation fuel, how to recognize them, and how to recognize contamination within them.
  • Introduce the fuel system components.
  • Introduce the fuel system indicators.
  • Introduce and discuss specific fuel system functions and instrumentation on the aircraft used for training.
  • Introduce preflight checks.
  • Introduce indications and procedures to handle fuel system malfunctions and anomalies.
  • Demonstrate aircraft refueling procedures (can be done separately after a live flight).
• Part 6, oil/lubrication system:
  • Introduce and generally discuss the types of oil/lubrication systems.
  • Introduce and generally discuss the oil/lubrication system components.
  • Introduce and generally discuss the oil/lubrication system indicators.
  • Introduce and discuss the specific oil/lubrication system functions and instrumentation on the aircraft used for training
  • Introduce preflight checks.
  • Introduce indications and procedures to handle oil/lubrication system malfunctions and anomalies.
• Part 7, electrical system:
  • Introduce and generally discuss the types of electrical systems.
  • Introduce and generally discuss the electrical system components and their function.
  • Introduce and generally discuss what equipment utilizes the electrical system (avionics, interior and exterior lights, instruments, etc.).
  • Introduce and generally discuss the electrical system indicators.
  • Introduce and discuss the specific electrical system equipment, functions, and instrumentation on the aircraft used for training.
  • Introduce preflight checks.
  • Introduce indications and procedures to handle electrical system malfunctions and anomalies.
• Part 8, Pitot-static and vacuum/pressure, and associated flight instruments
  • Introduce the Pitot-static system.
  • Introduce the vacuum/pressure system.
  • Introduce Pitot-static instruments (airspeed indicator, altitude, altimeter):
    • Introduce Pitot-static instrument designs.
    • Introduce Pitot-static instrument function/operation.
    • Introduce Pitot-static instrument indications.
    • Introduce Pitot-static instrument system malfunction and anomaly indications and procedures.
  • Introduce vacuum/pressure system instruments (attitude indicator, turn coordination, heading indicator):
    • Introduce vacuum/pressure instrument designs.
    • Introduce vacuum/pressure instrument function/operation.
    • Introduce vacuum/pressure instrument indications.
    • Introduce vacuum/pressure instrument system malfunction and anomaly indications and procedures.
• Part 9, aircraft landing gear:
  • Introduce the types of landing gear.
  • Introduce landing gear design.
  • Introduce landing gear components.
  • Introduce brake design.
  • Introduce brake components.
  • Introduce preflight checks.
  • Introduce servicing and maintenance.
  • Introduce landing gear system malfunction and anomaly indications and procedures.
• Part 10, oxygen systems:
  • Introduce supplemental oxygen regulations, including SCUBA diving regulations.
  • Introduce supplemental oxygen system designs.
  • Introduce supplemental oxygen system delivery systems.
  • Introduce oxygen sensing systems.
  • Introduce preflight checks.
  • Introduce supplemental oxygen system servicing and maintenance.
  • Introduce supplemental oxygen system malfunction and anomaly indications and procedures.
• Part 11, hydraulic and pneumatic systems:
  • Introduce hydraulic/pneumatic system designs.
  • Introduce hydraulic/pneumatic system components.
  • Introduce hydraulic/pneumatic system servicing and maintenance.
  • Introduce hydraulic/pneumatic system malfunction and anomaly indications and procedures.
• Part 12, deicing and anti-icing:
  • Introduce the difference between de-icing and anti-icing.
  • Introduce frezing level and icing conditions.
    • Introduce products/calculations used to determine freezing level.
  • Introduce anti-icing systems.
  • Introduce de-icing systems.
• Part 13, review emergency procedures best practices.
• Part 14, conduct the guided scenario.
• Conclude the lesson:
  • 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 student's jacket, as required.

Student Actions:

• Complete the assigned readings (see content above).
• Ask pertinent questions
• Perform self-assessment, including fitness for flight and personal minimums, as appropriate
• Make a go/no-go decision, as appropriate

Operation of Aircraft Systems Guided Scenario:

• While flying, the pilot realizes their airspeed is reading much differently than the GPS speed
  • How can this be?
  • What if the pilot had recently changed altitude?

Private Pilot (Airplane) Operation of Aircraft Systems Airman Certification Standards:

• Objective: To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with safe operation of systems on the airplane provided for the flight test.
• References: FAA-H-8083-2 (Risk Management Handbook), FAA-H-8083-3 (Airplane Flying Handbook), FAA-H-8083-23 (Seaplane, Skiplane, and Float/Ski Equipped Helicopter Operations Handbook), FAA-H-8083-25 (Pilot Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge); POH/AFM
• Note: If K1 is selected, the evaluator must assess the applicant's knowledge of at least three sub-elements

Re-Motivation:

Closure:

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

Conclusion:

• Hard copies of the ACS and Oral Exam Guides are available on Amazon.
• Digital copies of the ACS are available on the FAA's website.
• The FAA provides test-taking guidance and test guides on its website.
• To learn more about earning the practical test, visit the checkride page.