Private Pilot (Airplane)
Performance & Limitations Lesson Plan
The Private Pilot (Airplane) Performance and Limitations Lesson Plan covers the knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with operating an airplane safely within the parameters of its performance capabilities and limitations.
Private Pilot (Airplane) Performance & Limitations Lesson Plan
Private Pilot (Airplane) Performance & Limitations Lesson Plan Introduction
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Attention Getter:
- Research 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
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Motivator:
- Aerodynamics is the branch of dynamics dealing with the motion of air and other gases, which gives us the performance we need to fly.
- Understanding basic aerodynamic concepts is essential to understanding the operation of the components and subcomponents of an aircraft.
- The principal aerodynamic concepts are that of the four forces that affect aircraft.
- It can be associated with the forces acting on an object in motion through the air or with a stationary object in a current of air.
- Several factors affect aircraft performance, including the atmosphere, aerodynamics, and aircraft icing.
- Pilots need an understanding of these factors to provide a sound basis for anticipating aircraft response to control inputs, which come in the form of performance.
Private Pilot (Airplane) Performance & Limitations Lesson Plan
Private Pilot (Airplane) Performance & Limitations Lesson Plan Materials
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Required Materials:
- Writing instrument (pen, marker, etc.).
- Writing surface (paper, whiteboard, etc.).
- Pilot Operating Handbook
- Weight & Balance Form Template
- Airman Certification Standards.
- Student jacket.
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Optional Materials:
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Reference Materials:
- Risk Management Handbook.
- Airplane Flying Handbook.
- Pilot Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge.
- Airman Certification Standards:
- 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.
Private Pilot (Airplane) Performance & Limitations Lesson Plan
Private Pilot (Airplane) Performance & Limitations Lesson Plan Instructor Actions
- Before the lesson, review reference materials.
- Part 1, Lesson Introduction:
- Review the lesson plan, including the attention-getter and motivator.
- Review the airman certification standards.
- Part 2, Aerodynamics:
- Principles of Flight
- Introduce Lift, including AOA
- Introduce weight
- Introduce thrust
- Introduce drag
- Introduce ground effect
- Principles of Flight
- Part 3, Performance Calculations
- Introduce Temperature Conversion
- Introduce turn performance
- Introduce stall performance
- Introduce takeoff performance.
- Introduce normal takeoff and climb performance
- Crosswind Component
- Introduce soft-field takeoff and climb performance.
- Short-Field Takeoff and Climb
- Introduce confined area takeoff and maximum performance climb
- Rate of Climb Performance
- Introduce takeoff performance rules of thumb
- Introduce climb performance.
- Introduce rate of climb
- Introduce descent performance.
- Introduce landing performance.
- Normal landing
- Crosswind landing
- Short-field landing
- Soft-field landing
- Confined area approach and landing
- Pivotal altitude
- Temperature conversion
- Pressure Altitude
- Density Altitude
- Determining Climb Gradient
- Determining Rate-of-Climb Requirements
- Maneuvering Speed
- Rate of Turn
- Overbank Acceleration
- Minimum Safe Altitude (FL)
- Part 4, Performance Factors:
- Weight and Balance
- Introduce Center of Gravity
- Introduce effects of a foreward and aft center of gravity
- Introduce aircraft stability
- Introduce balanced flight including maneuverability vs. controllability
- Introduce static and dynamic stability
- Introduce lateral, vertical, and longitudinal stability
- Introduce left turning tendancies, including adverse yaw.
- Introduce pilot induced oscillations and the pilot's impact on aircraft stability.
- Introduce how configuration changes impact performance, including retractable landing gear, high-lift devices, spoilers/speed brakes, and propeller feathering.
- Introduce wing planform, including aspect ratio and wing design
- Introduce factors impacting descent performance and landing performance
- Introduce pilot technique considerations
- Introduce performance limitations in PoH
- Weight and Balance
- Part 5, Guided Scenario:
- Introduce a weight & balance calculation
- Takeoff & Climb Performance
- Demonstrate a takeoff distance calculation for each type of takeoff chart provided
- Demonstrate an aborted takeoff calculation (if provided)
- Demonstrate a time/distance/fuel for a top of climb, climb gradient required, and rate of climb requirements.
- Discuss the factors which impact climb performance, including best angle/rate-of-climb
- Cruise Performance
- Demonstrate a time/distance/fuel calculation
- Discuss factors accounted for on the chart and those not explicitly mentioned which impact cruise performance
- Demonstrate a descent calculation.
- Demonstrate a landing distance calculation for each type of landing chart provided
- Introduce Turn Performance
- Rate and Radius of Turns
- Coordination Throughout Turns
- Aircraft Performance While Turning (Adverse Yaw [drag], Yaw against the direction of turn [lift], diving tendency, over-banking tendency, oncreased stall speed)
- Stall Performance
- Glide Performance
- Descent and landing Performance
- Demonstrate a landing distance calculation
- Discuss various factors accounted for on the chart and those not explicitly mentioned which impact descent and landing performance
- Conduct a weight and balance configuration
- Part 6, Lesson Conclusion:
- Discuss the possible differences between calculated performance and actual performance
- 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) Performance & Limitations Lesson Plan
Private Pilot (Airplane) Performance & Limitations Lesson Plan Guided Scenario(s)
- What happens to the AOA if while in straight-and-level flight, a pilot pushes forward on the control stick, pulls backward?
- What happens to the AoA if while in straight-and-level flight, a pilot pushes forward on the throttle? pulls backward?
- What factors can the pilot control to change the amount of lift an aircraft has? Weight? Thrust? Drag?
- The pilot is ready to taxi, applying power to start moving
- What must the pilot do with the power after the aircraft starts moving?
- What principle requires the pilot to change the power setting?
- After completing a weight and balance, the pilot realizes the aircraft is within tolerance, but the center of gravity tends aft
- How should the pilot expect stall speed to change? What if the center of gravity tends forward?
- Why does a heavy aircraft requires more takeoff distance? Can a pilot do anything to shorten this disance? If so, what? and at what cost?
- Before the next flight, the pilot realizes they need more cargo space and wish to remove the back seats.
- Is this permitted and if so, by whom?
- What are the follow-on weight and balance requirements if so?
- The pilot mounts a weather radar pod on the wing, what type of drag can be expected?
- The interaction between the pod and the natural form of the wing is considered what kind of drag?
- The wing it is mounted has several imperfections, rivets, etc. what kind of drag is characterized by these features?
- What sort of performance changes would be expected by such a modification?
- As an aircraft is accelerating down the runway, it is actually increasing it's drag, how is this possible?
- While in the traffic pattern, the pilot finds themselves "behind the power curve." what does this mean?
- While landing, the pilot experiences what feels like a cushion of air beneath the wings. What is this phenomena?
- When could the pilot expect to feel this cushion?
- What is causing this anomaly?
Private Pilot (Airplane) Performance & Limitations Lesson Plan
Private Pilot (Airplane) Performance & Limitations Lesson Plan Student Actions
- Complete the assigned readings (see content above).
- Complete or review AOPA's Online Learning Course - Essential Aerodynamics
- Ask pertinent questions
- Perform self-assessment, including fitness for flight and personal minimums, as appropriate
- Make a go/no-go decision, as appropriate
Private Pilot (Airplane) Performance & Limitations Lesson Plan
Private Pilot (Airplane) Performance & Limitations Airman Certification Standards
- Objective: To determine whether the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with operating an airplane safely within the parameters of its performance capabilities and limitations
- References: FAA-H-8083-1, FAA-H-8083-2 (Risk Management Handbook), FAA-H-8083-3 (Airplane Flying Handbook), FAA-H-8083-25 (Pilot Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge); POH/AFM
Private Pilot (Airplane) Performance and Limitations Knowledge:
The applicant demonstrates an understanding of:-
PA.I.F.K2:
Factors affecting performance, to include:-
PA.I.F.K2a:
Atmospheric conditions. -
PA.I.F.K2b:
Pilot technique. -
PA.I.F.K2c:
Airplane configuration. -
PA.I.F.K2d:
Airport environment. -
PA.I.F.K2e:
Loading (e.g., center of gravity). -
PA.I.F.K2f:
Weight and balance.
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PA.I.F.K3:
Aerodynamics.
Private Pilot (Airplane) Performance and Limitations Risk Management:
The applicant is able to identify, assess, and mitigate risks associated with:-
PA.I.F.R1:
Use of performance charts, tables, and data. -
PA.I.F.R2:
Airplane limitations. -
PA.I.F.R3:
Possible differences between calculated performance and actual performance.
Private Pilot (Airplane) Performance and Limitations Skills:
The applicant exhibits the skills to:-
PA.I.F.S1:
Compute the weight and balance, correct out-of-CG loading errors and determine if the weight and balance remains within limits during all phases of flight. -
PA.I.F.S2:
Use the appropriate airplane performance charts, tables, and data.
Private Pilot (Airplane) Performance & Limitations Lesson Plan
Private Pilot (Airplane) Performance & Limitations Lesson Plan Conclusion
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Re-Motivation:
- With a foundation on the requirements to meet certification standards, students can envision a path to certification completion.
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Closure:
- Advise students that this lesson will be used as a starting point for the next lesson
- Assign study materials for the next lesson