Private Pilot (Airplane) Flight Deck Management Lesson Plan

Private Pilot (Airplane) • ACS Area II, Task B

The Private Pilot (Airplane) Flight Deck Management covers the knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with flight deck management practices.

Private Pilot (Airplane) Flight Deck Management Lesson Plan

Introduction

  • Schedule

    Topic:
    Time:
    Attention/Motivator:
    0:05
    Part 1, Lesson Introduction:
    0:05
    Part 2, Flight Deck Management:
    0:15
    Part 3, Avionics and Automation:
    0:15
    Part 4, Flight Deck Management Guided Scenario(s):
    0:20
    Part 5, Lesson Conclusion:
    0:05
    Remotivation/Closure:
    0:05
    Total Ground Time:
    0:00

  • Attention Getter:

    • Research a 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.

  • Motivator:

    • Cockpit management are the actions and procedures, starting with preflight, in which all necessary equipment, documents, checklists, and navigation charts appropriate for the flight are on board and easily accessible.
    • With this comes the need to keep things organized to reduce Foreign Object Debris (FOD) and confusion in flight.

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Private Pilot (Airplane) Flight Deck Management Lesson Plan

Materials

Private Pilot (Airplane) Flight Deck Management Lesson Plan

Instructor Actions

  • Before the lesson, review reference materials.
  • Part 1, Lesson Introduction:
  • Part 2, Flight Deck Management:
    • Introduce passenger briefing and restraint-use requirements; have the student deliver the briefing and explain when restraint-use notifications are required. (PA.II.B.K1; PA.II.B.S2)
      • Distinguish the 14 CFR 91.107(a)(1) briefing on fastening and unfastening safety belts and installed shoulder harnesses from the 91.107(a)(2) notification to fasten them; have the student identify the operating phases to which each applies.
      • Include PIC (Pilot in Command) identification, doors, passenger conduct, sterile-flight-deck expectations, propeller avoidance, and aircraft-specific emergency procedures in the passenger briefing.
    • Use guided questioning to have the learner explain and apply checklist verification after a memorized flow and recovering from an interruption without skipping items. (PA.II.B.K2)
    • Use guided questioning to have the learner explain and apply current navigation and airport information, including night-flight preparation and checking electronic data. (PA.II.B.K3)
    • Use guided questioning to have the learner explain and apply securing cargo and loose articles and keeping controls unobstructed, including during stall or spin recovery. (PA.II.B.K4)
    • Use guided questioning to have the learner explain and apply passenger-distraction controls while preserving the reporting of urgent safety information. (PA.II.B.R3)
    • Have the student demonstrate securing the flight deck, briefing passengers, and managing installed automation; assess performance against the applicable ACS standards, and have the student recognize and correct deviations. (PA.II.B.S1)
    • Have the student apply ADM and SRM/CRM to a changing workload: prioritize aircraft control, use available resources, delegate appropriate tasks, reassess the plan, and recognize and correct ineffective risk controls. (PA.II.B.S4)
    • Elicit prior knowledge, then establish the operational relevance of passenger preflight briefing requirements.
    • Review aircraft preflight assessment flight deck considerations:
    • Elicit prior knowledge, then establish the operational relevance of distractions.
    • Use retrieval questioning to have the learner explain Aeronautical Decision Making, Single-Pilot Resource Management/Crew Resource Management.
  • Part 3, Avionics and Automation:
    • Discuss automation and electronic-flight-bag risks, including data currency, power, placement, visibility, mode awareness, and failure alternatives; have the student verify data suitability, program and monitor installed automation, and select a safe alternative when equipment or data cannot support the intended use. (PA.II.B.R1; PA.II.B.S3)
    • Review inoperative-equipment decisions and aircraft-specific fault procedures, including a circuit breaker that trips again. (PA.II.B.R2)
      • For an airplane without an approved MEL, have the student determine eligibility to use 14 CFR 91.213(d), check the type-certification requirements, equipment list or KOEL, regulations, and Airworthiness Directives, specify removal or deactivation, placarding and maintenance-record actions as applicable, and determine whether the inoperative item creates a hazard. Distinguish legal dispatch eligibility from an acceptable flight-specific risk decision.
      • Discuss why repeatedly resetting a circuit breaker that trips again can worsen a fault; require use of the aircraft-specific checklist and limitations rather than repeated resets to restore equipment.
    • Elicit prior knowledge, then establish the operational relevance of flying with inoperative equipment. (PA.II.B.R2)
    • Elicit prior knowledge, then establish the operational relevance of automation and pitfalls.
  • Part 4, Flight Deck Management Guided Scenario(s).
  • Part 5, Lesson Conclusion:
    • Tie lesson back to previous lessons to reinforce past experiences (law of readiness).
    • 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) Flight Deck Management Lesson Plan

Guided Scenario(s)

  • Discuss varying experience of passengers, assumptions, and why there is a legal requirement to brief passengers.
  • Discuss impacts of missing a checklist item.
  • Discuss impact of a shifting center of gravity from cargo movement.
  • Discuss potential distractions and the businest phases of flight.
  • Related scenarios:
    • None.
  • Aids: None.
Private Pilot (Airplane) Flight Deck Management Lesson Plan

Student Actions

Private Pilot (Airplane) Flight Deck Management Lesson Plan

Airman Certification Standards

Private Pilot (Airplane) Flight Deck Management Airman Certification Standards

Knowledge 4 ACS Elements
Risk Management 3 ACS Elements
  • PA.II.B.R1:
    Use of systems or equipment, including automation and portable electronic devices.
  • PA.II.B.R2:
    Inoperative equipment.
  • PA.II.B.R3:
    Passenger distractions.
Skills 4 ACS Elements
  • PA.II.B.S1:
    Secure all items in the aircraft.
  • PA.II.B.S2:
    Conduct an appropriate passenger briefing, including identifying the pilot-in-command (PIC), use of safety belts, shoulder harnesses, doors, passenger conduct, sterile aircraft, propeller blade avoidance, and emergency procedures.
  • PA.II.B.S3:
    Properly program and manage the aircraft's automation, as applicable.
  • PA.II.B.S4:
    Appropriately manage risks by utilizing ADM, including SRM/CRM.
Private Pilot (Airplane) Flight Deck Management Lesson Plan

Conclusion

  • Re-Motivation:

    • Flight Deck Management reinforces that safe flight depends on disciplined preparation, positive aircraft control, and attention to detail before and after the airborne portion of a flight.
    • Checklists, clear communication, traffic awareness, configuration verification, and early recognition of discrepancies prevent routine ground tasks from creating avoidable hazards.
    • Managing distractions and continuously confirming aircraft position, condition, and readiness turn standard procedures into effective risk controls.
    • Continued practice with Flight Deck Management prepares private pilots for busier environments, unfamiliar aircraft, and more complex operations later in training.

  • Closure:

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