Private Pilot (Airplane)
Pilot Qualifications Lesson Plan

Attention:

  • Discuss motivation to become a pilot
  • Relate similar personal experiences to the student to establish rapport

Motivator:

  • In the United States, the Federal Aviation Administration regulates general aviation operations
  • According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), 50,000+ people are issued one or more certificates, from student to airline transport, by age 24
  • Certificates are broken up into pilot, and Instructor certificates, each with unique privileges and limitations
    • Pilot certificates include: student, sport, recreational, private, commercial, airline transport, remote pilot certificates
    • Instructor certificates include: flight and ground instructiors
  • Additionally, ratings can be placed upon these certificates
    • Ratings are numerous, but related to the aircraft flown, most commonly airplanes, rotorcraft, gliders, etc., but may also be specific to an individual aircraft like a 787

Overview:

Topic:
Time:
Introduction:
0:02
Pilot certificates & ratings:
0:10
Eligibility information:
0:02
Aeronautical knowledge:
0:02
Aeronautical experience & flight proficiency:
0:10
Privileges & limitations:
0:02
Required documents:
0:02
Pilot logbook/record keeping:
0:05
Medical certificate/BasicMed:
0:08
Currency vs. proficiency:
0:02
Review (quiz):
0:05
Total Ground Time:
0:50

Required Materials:

  • Paper & Pen or Marker & Whiteboard, Federal Aviation Regulations, Pilot Logbook

Instructor Actions:

Student Actions:

Pilot Qualifications Guided Scenario:

  • A prospective pilot, age 16, walks into a new flight school looking to earn their private pilot's license, but are they eligible?
  • Assuming that same prospective pilot meets age and language requirements, they decide to take a home-study course to satisfy ground training requirements for the specificed knowledge areas. Is that permitted? Does an instructor have to be involved if the course is from a well-known business? What are some of the areas that must be covered? Where can those knowledge areas be found?
  • In addition to knowledge, prospective pilot pilots must have aeronautical experience. How many hours are required? How are requirements broken down?
  • Related scenarios:
    • None
  • Aids: If the student struggles, have them look up the answers

Private Pilot (Airplane) Pilot Qualifications Airman Certification Standards:


Private Pilot (Airplane) Pilot Qualifications Knowledge:

The applicant demonstrates understanding of:

Private Pilot (Airplane) Pilot Qualifications Risk Management:

The applicant is able to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with:

Private Pilot (Airplane) Pilot Qualifications Skills:

The applicant exhibits the skill to:
  • PA.I.A.S1:

    Apply requirements to act as PIC under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) in a scenario given by the evaluator.

Re-Motivation:

  • With a foundation on the necessary requirements to meet certification standards, a path to certification completion can be envisioned

Closure:

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

Resources: