Private Pilot (Airplane) Pilot Qualifications Lesson Plan
The Private Pilot (Airplane) Pilot Qualifications Lesson Plan covers the knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with airman and medical certificates including privileges, limitations, currency, and operating as pilot-in-command as a private pilot.
Private Pilot (Airplane) Pilot Qualifications Lesson Plan Introduction
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Schedule:
Topic:Time:Attention/Motivator:0:05Part 1, Lesson Introduction:0:05Part 2, Student Pilot Foundations:0:10Part 3, Private Pilot Foundations:0:10Part 4, Legalities:0:10Part 5, Pilot Qualifications Risk Management:0:10Part 6, Pilot Qualifications Guided Scenario(s):0:20Part 7, Lesson Conclusion:0:05Remotivation/Closure:0:05Total Ground Time:0:00
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Attention Getter:
- Discuss motivation to become a pilot.
- Relate similar personal experiences to the student to establish rapport.
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Motivator:
- The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulates general aviation operations in the United States.
- According to the Federal Aviation Administration, more than 50,000 people are issued one or more certificates, ranging from student to airline transport, by the age of 24.
- Pilot and instructor certificates each have unique privileges and limitations.
- Pilot certificates include student, sport, recreational, private, commercial, airline transport, and remote pilot certificates.
- Instructor certificates include flight and ground instructors.
- Certificates may have additional ratings added to them.
Private Pilot (Airplane) Pilot Qualifications Lesson Plan Materials
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Required Materials:
- Writing instrument (pen, marker, etc.).
- Writing surface (paper, whiteboard, etc.).
- Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs) or an internet-enabled device to access FARs.
- Airman Certification Standards.
- Student jacket.
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Optional Materials:
- Student Pilot (Airplane) Eligibility Checklist.
- Private Pilot (Airplane) Eligibility Checklist.
- Private Pilot (Airplane) Aeronautical Knowledge Checklist.
- Private Pilot (Airplane) Aeronautical Experience Checklist.
- Private Pilot (Airplane) Aeronautical Proficiency Requirements Checklist.
- Instructor endorsement log.
- Pilot Logbook.
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Reference Materials:
- Aircraft Categories and Classes Supplement.
- Pilot Certificates and Ratings Supplement.
- Pilot Logbooks Supplement.
- Medical Certificate Supplement.
- Currency Supplement.
- Fitness for Flight Supplement.
- Aeronautical Decision-Making Supplement.
- Federal Aviation Regulations Part 61.
- Federal Aviation Regulations Part 68.
- Federal Aviation Regulations Part 91.
- Advisory Circular 68-1.
- 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) Pilot Qualifications 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, Student Pilot Foundations:
- Baseline the discussion by covering aircraft categories and classes.
- Introduce student pilot certificate requirements, including certificate eligibility and medical certificate procedures.
- Introduce student pilot privileges and limitations.
- Part 3, Private Pilot Foundations:
- Introduce private pilot eligibility requirements and start an eligibility checklist.
- Introduce private pilot aeronautical knowledge requirements and start an aeronautical knowledge checklist.
- Introduce private pilot aeronautical experience requirements and start an aeronautical experience checklist.
- Introduce private pilot flight proficiency requirements and start an aeronautical proficiency requirements checklist.
- Discuss the WINGS program and have students register if they haven't already.
- Part 4, Legalities:
- Introduce pilot logbook/recordkeeping requirements.
- Introduce private pilot privileges and limitations.
- Introduce documents required to exercise private pilot privileges.
- Introduce medical certificate requirements, including BasicMed.
- Part 5, Pilot Qualifications Risk Management:
- Introduce currency vs. proficiency and how that plays into performing self-assessments.
- Introduce considerations when operating unfamiliar aircraft or avionics.
- Part 6, Pilot Qualifications Guided Scenario(s):
- Lead a guided scenario.
- Part 7, Lesson Conclusion:
- Present the remotivation, conclude, and provide guidance for follow-on lessons.
- Review student actions required ahead of the next lesson.
- Consider providing the student with a copy of the above eligibility checklist, aeronautical knowledge checklist, aeronautical experience checklist, and flight proficiency checklist.
- Update instructor endorsement records and the student's jacket, as required.
Private Pilot (Airplane) Pilot Qualifications Lesson Plan Guided Scenario(s)
- A newly certificated private pilot receives an invitation from two friends to fly to a nearby airport for lunch approximately 85 nautical miles away. The pilot, a recently certificate Private Pilot, agrees and begins preparing for the flight several days in advance.
- What would be different if the pilot was a student pilot?
- Where does one find the established privileges and limitations of a student pilot? Private pilot?
- While organizing flight documents, the pilot reviews personal records and realizes the upcoming trip will occur on month 25 since their medical was last issued.
- Is the pilot legal to fly? Is there license valid? Is their medical valid? How does this change if they were originally issued a 1st class, 2nd class, or 3rd class medical?
- During flight preparation, the pilot reviews recent flight experience and realizes very little flying has been conducted during the previous several months. Although the pilot remains current for day VFR operations, recent experience in cross-country flying is limited.
- The day before departure, the aircraft owner informs the pilot that the aircraft intended for the flight was not available; however, another aircraft which recently received a new glass-panel avionics upgrade is. The aircraft remains airworthy and legal for flight, but the pilot has never operated the installed equipment.
- The pilot arrives at the airport and while checking in, realizes they left their wallet with their drivers license in it at home.
- Is this a problem?
- Is the pilot legal to fly?
- What are the three required documents to exercise the privilege of a private pilot?
- The pilot completes preflight planning. Weather conditions support VFR flight, aircraft inspections reveal no discrepancies, and all required documents are present.
- Prior to departure, one passenger mentions plans to remain at the destination longer than originally expected. The anticipated return flight may now occur after sunset.
- The pilot reviews personal records and realizes passenger-carrying requirements for night operations have not been met recently. While the outbound flight remains legal, the return flight introduces additional qualification considerations.
- What requirements must that pilot meet to fly at night?
- What is the definition of night?
- What changes if the pilot is carrying passengers?
- Can the pilot legally takeoff if by the time they land, they are no longer legal?
- What documents must be in the pilot’s possession? (ACS: PA.I.A.K4)
- The pilot begins evaluating alternatives, including:
- Departing earlier from the destination.
- Remaining overnight.
- Obtaining additional night experience before conducting the flight.
- Selecting an alternate means of transportation for the return trip.
- While discussing options, the aircraft owner mentions the airport recently installed a new RNAV approach procedure and updated airport lighting systems. The pilot realizes unfamiliar equipment, unfamiliar procedures, and limited recent experience may increase workload during the return flight.
- The pilot must now determine whether the planned flight remains both legal and prudent. Any deficiencies in qualifications, currency, proficiency, or familiarity must be addressed before accepting responsibility as pilot in command.
- What considerations does the pilot have?
Private Pilot (Airplane) Pilot Qualifications Lesson Plan Student Actions
- Complete the assigned readings (see content above).
- Complete relevant knowledge checks:
- Complete relevant interactive scenarios:
- Register for the WINGS program, if not done so already.
- Complete initial BasicMed requirements.
- Complete a student pilot certificate application through the Integrated Airman Certification and Rating Application (IACRA) website or by paper using FAA form 8710-1.
- Complete an electronic application for an FAA Medical Clearance, Medical Certificate, or Student Pilot Medical Certificate through the FAA's MedXPress system.
- Complete or review AOPA's Online Learning Course - Transitioning to Other Airplanes.
- Perform self-assessment, including fitness for flight and personal minimums, as appropriate.
- Ask pertinent questions.
- Make a go/no-go decision, as appropriate.
Private Pilot (Airplane) Pilot Qualifications Airman Certification Standards
- Objective: To determine whether the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with airman and medical certificates including privileges, limitations, currency, and operating as pilot-in-command as a private pilot.
- References: 14 CFR parts 61, 68, 91; AC 68-1; FAA-H-8083-2 (Risk Management Handbook), FAA-H-8083-3 (Airplane Flying Handbook), FAA-H-8083-25 (Pilot Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge).
Private Pilot (Airplane) Pilot Qualifications Knowledge:
The applicant demonstrates an understanding of:-
PA.I.A.K1:
Certification requirements [eligibility, aeronautical knowledge], recent flight experience [aeronautical experience, flight proficiency], and recordkeeping. -
PA.I.A.K2:
Privileges and limitations. -
PA.I.A.K3:
Medical certificates: class, expiration, privileges, temporary disqualifications. -
PA.I.A.K4:
Documents required to exercise private pilot privileges. -
PA.I.A.K5:
Part 68 BasicMed privileges and limitations.
Private Pilot (Airplane) Pilot Qualifications Risk Management:
The applicant is able to identify, assess, and mitigate risks associated with:Private Pilot (Airplane) Pilot Qualifications Skills:
The applicant exhibits the skills to:-
PA.I.A.S1:
Apply requirements to act as Pilot-in-Command (PIC) under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) in a scenario given by the evaluator.
Private Pilot (Airplane) Pilot Qualifications 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:
- 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.