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, Self-Assessments:0:10Part 6, Pilot Qualifications Risk Management:0:10Part 7, Pilot Qualifications Guided Scenario(s):0:20Part 8, 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:
- 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, Self-Assessments:
- Introduce currency vs. proficiency and how that plays into performing self-assessments.
- Introduce considerations when operating unfamiliar aircraft or avionics.
- Part 6, Risk Management:
- Legal vs. safe operation.
- Part 7, Pilot Qualifications Guided Scenario(s):
- Lead a guided scenario.
- Part 8, Lesson Conclusion:
- 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) Pilot Qualifications Lesson Plan Guided Scenario(s)
- A prospective pilot, age 16, walks into a new flight school with the goal of earning a Private Pilot Certificate. They are enthusiastic and eager to begin training immediately. The person working at the front desk asks, do you meet the student pilot eligibility requirements?
- What is the required age to be a student pilot? For what aircraft category?
- What must a student be able to do in the English language?
- Who makes this determination?
- Where would you verify these requirements?
- The prospective pilot confidently meets the student pilot eligibility requirements, but receives a follow-up question. What is the desired timeline? Will you meet the eligibility requirements to take the private pilot practical test?
- What is the required age to be a private pilot? For what aircraft category?
- Has anything changed for the prospective pilot's use of the English language?
- Who makes this determination?
- You pass an aeronautical knowledge test? What makes you eligible to take it?
- What are the aeronautical experience requirements? Where do you find them?
- What are the medical requirements? Do what level of medical class do you need?
- Receive the required endorsements from an instructor.
- The prospective pilot is eligible to become a student pilot and believes they will meet the eligibility requirements for when it is time to take the test. They decide to begin building their aeronautical knowledge in preparation for the knowledge test.
- What methods of ground training are valid?
- What are some of the areas covered?
- Where can those knowledge areas be found?
- How do these knowledge areas support safe decision-making as pilot-in-command?
- In addition to building aeronautical knowledge on the ground, the student pilot must meetaeronautical experience and flight proficiency requirements.
- Where can a student find these requirements?
- How many hours are required? How are requirements broken down?
- How does proficiency differ from simply meeting minimum hour requirements?
- A pilot wants to fly to a local airport for dinner and return that same night.
- 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)
- Scenario Progression (Instructor Injects):
- The pilot has not flown at night in the past 90 days.
- The pilot recently switched to a new aircraft with unfamiliar avionics.
- The pilot is unsure whether their medical certificate is still valid.
- Decision Points:
- Is the pilot legal to act as PIC for this flight?
- Is the pilot proficient, even if legally current?
- Should the flight be delayed, canceled, or modified?
- What additional risks are introduced by unfamiliar equipment? (ACS: PA.I.A.R2) :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}
- Required Student Actions:
- Determine if all certification, medical, and currency requirements are met.
- Verify required documents and endorsements.
- Assess personal proficiency versus legal minimums.
- Make a go/no-go decision and justify it.
- Completion Standards:
- Applies certification and medical requirements correctly.
- Identifies and mitigates risks related to currency and proficiency.
- Demonstrates sound aeronautical decision-making.
- Accurately determines legal ability to act as pilot-in-command (ACS: PA.I.A.S1) :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}
Private Pilot (Airplane) Pilot Qualifications Lesson Plan Student Actions
- Complete the assigned readings (see content above).
- 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 earning the practical test, visit the checkride page.