Private Pilot (Helicopter) Air Taxi Lesson Plan

Private Pilot (Helicopter) • ACS Area IV, Task C

The Private Pilot (Helicopter) Air Taxi Lesson Plan covers the knowledge, risk management, and skills required by FAA-S-ACS-15.

Private Pilot (Helicopter) Air Taxi Lesson Plan

Introduction

  • Schedule

    Topic:
    Time:
    Attention/Motivator:
    0:05
    Part 1, Lesson Introduction:
    0:05
    Part 2, Knowledge Elements:
    0:20
    Part 3, Risk Management:
    0:15
    Part 4, Skill Development:
    0:30
    Part 5, Guided Scenario(s):
    0:20
    Part 6, Lesson Conclusion:
    0:05
    Remotivation/Closure:
    0:05
    Total Ground Time:
    0:00

  • Attention Getter:

    • Present a helicopter scenario in which the outcome depends on sound air taxi knowledge, risk management, and technique.
    • Ask the student to identify the earliest decision or control input that determines a safe outcome.

  • Motivator:

    • To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with air taxi operations.

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Private Pilot (Helicopter) Air Taxi Lesson Plan

Materials

  • Required Materials:

    • Writing instrument and instructional surface.
    • FAA-S-ACS-15, Private Pilot for Rotorcraft Category Helicopter Rating Airman Certification Standards.
    • Student training record and applicable lesson records.

  • Optional Materials:

    • Model-specific Pilot's Operating Handbook or Rotorcraft Flight Manual (POH/RFM).
    • Manufacturer-approved checklist and performance data.
    • Current charts, Chart Supplement, NOTAMs, and electronic flight bag, as applicable.
    • Helicopter, cockpit procedures trainer, or approved training device, as appropriate.

  • Reference Materials:

Private Pilot (Helicopter) Air Taxi Lesson Plan

Instructor Actions

  • Before the lesson, review the reference materials, helicopter limitations, and local operating considerations.
  • Part 1, Lesson Introduction:
    • Present the attention getter and motivator.
    • Review Area of Operation IV, Task C, and the Airman Certification Standards.
    • State the lesson objective: To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with air taxi operations.
  • Part 2, Knowledge Elements:
    • Explain and assess the student's understanding of current airport aeronautical references and information resources such as the Chart Supplement, airport diagram, and Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs). (PH.IV.C.K1)
    • Explain and assess the student's understanding of air taxi instructions, clearances, and limitations. (PH.IV.C.K2)
    • Explain and assess the student's understanding of airport/heliport/helipad/landing area, signs, markings, and lighting. (PH.IV.C.K3)
    • Explain and assess the student's understanding of visual indicators for wind. (PH.IV.C.K4)
      • Teach and assess the learner's ability to distinguish wind-direction indicators from a tetrahedron landing-direction indicator.
    • Explain and assess the student's understanding of aircraft lighting, as appropriate. (PH.IV.C.K5)
      • Teach and assess the learner's ability to select night taxi lighting use consistent with visibility, glare avoidance, and aircraft limitations.
    • Explain and assess the student's understanding of Procedures for: (PH.IV.C.K6)
      • Pilot activities during taxiing (PH.IV.C.K6a)
      • Safe air taxi at towered and nontowered airports (PH.IV.C.K6b)
      • Overflying of runways (PH.IV.C.K6c)
    • Explain and assess the student's understanding of height/Velocity (H/V) considerations. (PH.IV.C.K7)
  • Part 3, Risk Management:
    • Use a helicopter scenario to have the student identify, assess, and mitigate risks associated with distractions, task prioritization, loss of situational awareness, or disorientation. (PH.IV.C.R1)
    • Use a helicopter scenario to have the student identify, assess, and mitigate risks associated with reduced visibility or night taxi operations. (PH.IV.C.R2)
    • Use a helicopter scenario to have the student identify, assess, and mitigate risks associated with runway incursion. (PH.IV.C.R3)
    • Use a helicopter scenario to have the student identify, assess, and mitigate risks associated with main rotor, tail rotor, and tail strike hazards. (PH.IV.C.R4)
    • Use a helicopter scenario to have the student identify, assess, and mitigate risks associated with h/V diagram performance in case of powerplant failure. (PH.IV.C.R5)
    • Use a helicopter scenario to have the student identify, assess, and mitigate risks associated with confirmation or expectation bias as related to taxi instructions. (PH.IV.C.R6)
      • Teach and assess the learner's ability to stop and resolve taxi-position uncertainty instead of following an expected route despite conflicting signs; select verification actions that counter expectation bias in taxi instructions.
    • Require the student to verbalize trigger points for discontinuing or modifying the operation.
  • Part 4, Skill Development:
    • Demonstrate, then coach the student to complete the appropriate checklist(s). (PH.IV.C.S1)
    • Demonstrate, then coach the student to use an airport diagram or taxi chart during taxi, if published, and maintain situational awareness. (PH.IV.C.S2)
    • Demonstrate, then coach the student to select a safe airspeed and altitude. (PH.IV.C.S3)
    • Demonstrate, then coach the student to maintain desired track and groundspeed in headwind and crosswind conditions, avoiding conditions that might lead to loss of tail rotor/antitorque effectiveness. (PH.IV.C.S4)
    • Demonstrate, then coach the student to maintain powerplant and main rotor (Nr) speed within normal limits. (PH.IV.C.S5)
    • Demonstrate, then coach the student to comply with airport/heliport/helipad/landing area markings, lights, signs, and ATC instructions. (PH.IV.C.S6)
    • Demonstrate, then coach the student to maintain specified altitude, ±10 feet. (PH.IV.C.S7)
    • Apply the helicopter POH/RFM, checklist, limitations, and FAA safety-of-flight guidance throughout the demonstration and practice.
  • Part 5, Guided Scenario(s):
    • Lead the guided scenario.
    • Evaluate the student's decisions and performance against every applicable ACS element.
  • Part 6, Lesson Conclusion:
    • Review the lesson objective, identified risks, performance strengths, and items requiring additional practice.
    • Present the re-motivation and closure.
  • Update instructor records and the student's training record, as required.
Private Pilot (Helicopter) Air Taxi Lesson Plan

Guided Scenario(s)

  • During a planned helicopter flight, conditions require the student to apply the knowledge and procedures associated with air taxi.
  • Ask the student to identify hazards, including Distractions, task prioritization, loss of situational awareness, or disorientation, and explain how each risk will be controlled.
  • Require the student to brief, perform, or explain how to Complete the appropriate checklist(s), as appropriate to the task and training environment.
  • Introduce a realistic change in wind, power available, landing area, traffic, system status, or external pressure and require the student to reassess the plan.
  • Conclude with a self-critique tied to the ACS knowledge, risk management, and skill elements.
Private Pilot (Helicopter) Air Taxi Lesson Plan

Student Actions

  • Complete assigned readings and review the model-specific POH/RFM and checklist.
  • Explain the applicable knowledge elements in scenario context rather than by rote recall.
  • Identify, assess, and mitigate the risks associated with the task.
  • Demonstrate or explain each applicable skill within ACS standards and helicopter limitations.
  • Ask pertinent questions, perform a self-assessment, and make appropriate go/no-go or continue/discontinue decisions.
Private Pilot (Helicopter) Air Taxi Lesson Plan

Airman Certification Standards

Private Pilot (Helicopter) Air Taxi Airman Certification Standards

  • Task C: Air Taxi.
  • Objective: To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with air taxi operations.
  • References: AC 91-73; AIM; Chart Supplements; FAA-H-8083-2, FAA-H-8083-21, FAA-H-8083-25; POH/RFM
Knowledge 7 ACS Elements
  • PH.IV.C.K1:
    Current airport aeronautical references and information resources such as the Chart Supplement, airport diagram, and Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs).
  • PH.IV.C.K2:
    Air taxi instructions, clearances, and limitations.
  • PH.IV.C.K3:
    Airport/heliport/helipad/landing area, signs, markings, and lighting.
  • PH.IV.C.K4:
    Visual indicators for wind.
  • PH.IV.C.K5:
    Aircraft lighting, as appropriate.
  • PH.IV.C.K6:
    Procedures for:
    • PH.IV.C.K6a:
      Pilot activities during taxiing
    • PH.IV.C.K6b:
      Safe air taxi at towered and nontowered airports
    • PH.IV.C.K6c:
      Overflying of runways
  • PH.IV.C.K7:
    Height/Velocity (H/V) considerations.
Risk Management 6 ACS Elements
  • PH.IV.C.R1:
    Distractions, task prioritization, loss of situational awareness, or disorientation.
  • PH.IV.C.R2:
    Reduced visibility or night taxi operations.
  • PH.IV.C.R3:
    Runway incursion.
  • PH.IV.C.R4:
    Main rotor, tail rotor, and tail strike hazards.
  • PH.IV.C.R5:
    H/V diagram performance in case of powerplant failure.
  • PH.IV.C.R6:
    Confirmation or expectation bias as related to taxi instructions.
Skills 7 ACS Elements
  • PH.IV.C.S1:
    Complete the appropriate checklist(s).
  • PH.IV.C.S2:
    Use an airport diagram or taxi chart during taxi, if published, and maintain situational awareness.
  • PH.IV.C.S3:
    Select a safe airspeed and altitude.
  • PH.IV.C.S4:
    Maintain desired track and groundspeed in headwind and crosswind conditions, avoiding conditions that might lead to loss of tail rotor/antitorque effectiveness.
  • PH.IV.C.S5:
    Maintain powerplant and main rotor (Nr) speed within normal limits.
  • PH.IV.C.S6:
    Comply with airport/heliport/helipad/landing area markings, lights, signs, and ATC instructions.
  • PH.IV.C.S7:
    Maintain specified altitude, ±10 feet.
Private Pilot (Helicopter) Air Taxi Lesson Plan

Conclusion

  • Re-Motivation:

    • Consistent air taxi performance protects the helicopter's limited margins and supports sound pilot-in-command decisions.

  • Closure:

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