Private Pilot (Airplane)
Performance & Limitations Lesson Plan

Attention:

• Research a mishap case study:
  • Weight & balance 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:

Overview:

Required Materials:

• Student Jacket, Paper & Pen or Marker & Whiteboard

Instructor Actions:

• Introduce the lesson:
  • Review the lesson plan, including the attention-getter and motivator.
  • Review the airman certification standards.
• Part 1, discuss knowledge areas:
  • Principles of Flight
  • Weight and Balance
• Part 2, conduct practical application:
  • Takeoff & Climb Performance
    • Demonstrate a takeoff distance calculation for each type of takeoff chart provided
      • Discuss factors accounted for on the chart and those not explicitly mentioned which impact takeoff performance
    • 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
  • Turn Performance
  • 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 3, conduct a guided scenario
• Conclude the lesson:
  • 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 student's jacket, as required.

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

Performance and Limitations Guided Scenario:

• 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 and Limitations Airman Certification Standards:

• Objective: To determine 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

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.