Private Pilot (Helicopter) Hover Taxi Lesson Plan

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

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

Private Pilot (Helicopter) Hover 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 hover 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 hover taxi operations, including runway incursion avoidance.

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Private Pilot (Helicopter) Hover 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) Hover 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 B, and the Airman Certification Standards.
    • State the lesson objective: To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with hover taxi operations, including runway incursion avoidance.
  • 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.B.K1)
    • Explain and assess the student's understanding of hover taxi instructions, clearances, and limitations. (PH.IV.B.K2)
    • Explain and assess the student's understanding of airport/heliport/helipad/landing area, signs, markings, and lighting. (PH.IV.B.K3)
    • Explain and assess the student's understanding of visual indicators for wind. (PH.IV.B.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.B.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.B.K6)
      • Pilot activities during taxiing (PH.IV.B.K6a)
      • Safe hover taxi at towered and non-towered airports/heliports/helipads/landing areas (PH.IV.B.K6b)
      • Entering or crossing runways (PH.IV.B.K6c)
    • Explain and assess the student's understanding of height/Velocity (H/V) considerations. (PH.IV.B.K7)
    • Explain and assess the student's understanding of aircraft operating limitations. (PH.IV.B.K8)
  • 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.B.R1)
    • Use a helicopter scenario to have the student identify, assess, and mitigate risks associated with reduced visibility or night taxi operations. (PH.IV.B.R2)
    • Use a helicopter scenario to have the student identify, assess, and mitigate risks associated with runway incursion. (PH.IV.B.R3)
    • Use a helicopter scenario to have the student identify, assess, and mitigate risks associated with other aircraft, vehicles, persons, and hazards. (PH.IV.B.R4)
    • Use a helicopter scenario to have the student identify, assess, and mitigate risks associated with hazardous effects of downwash. (PH.IV.B.R5)
    • 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.B.R6)
    • Use a helicopter scenario to have the student identify, assess, and mitigate risks associated with height/Velocity (H/V) considerations. (PH.IV.B.R7)
    • 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.B.R8)
      • 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.B.S1)
    • Demonstrate, then coach the student to receive and correctly read back clearances/instructions, if applicable. (PH.IV.B.S2)
    • Demonstrate, then coach the student to use an airport diagram or taxi chart during taxi, if published, and maintain situational awareness. (PH.IV.B.S3)
    • Demonstrate, then coach the student to comply with airport/heliport taxiway markings, signals, and signs. (PH.IV.B.S4)
    • Demonstrate, then coach the student to maintain powerplant and main rotor (Nr) speed within normal limits. (PH.IV.B.S5)
    • Demonstrate, then coach the student to maintain a straight ground track within ±4 feet of a designated ground track. (PH.IV.B.S6)
    • Demonstrate, then coach the student to maintain recommended hovering altitude, ±1/2 of that altitude within 10 feet of the surface, if above 10 feet, ±5 feet. (PH.IV.B.S7)
    • Demonstrate, then coach the student to hover taxi over specified ground references, demonstrating forward, sideward, and rearward hovering and hovering turns. (PH.IV.B.S8)
    • Demonstrate, then coach the student to maintain a constant rate of turn at pivot points. (PH.IV.B.S9)
    • Demonstrate, then coach the student to maintain a position within 4 feet of each pivot point during turns. (PH.IV.B.S10)
    • Demonstrate, then coach the student to make a 360° pivoting turn, left and right, stopping within 10° of a specified heading. (PH.IV.B.S11)
    • Demonstrate, then coach the student to make smooth, timely, and correct control application during the maneuver. (PH.IV.B.S12)
    • 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.
  • Approved syllabus objective coverage:
    • Introduce, demonstrate, and assess the learner's ability to demonstrate coordinated basic helicopter flight and transitions using the installed controls while managing power, rotor limits, attitude, altitude, airspeed, and traffic awareness under instructor supervision. (PH.TRAINING.T19)
  • 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) Hover Taxi Lesson Plan

Guided Scenario(s)

  • During a planned helicopter flight, conditions require the student to apply the knowledge and procedures associated with hover 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) Hover 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) Hover Taxi Lesson Plan

Airman Certification Standards

Private Pilot (Helicopter) Hover Taxi Airman Certification Standards

  • Task B: Hover Taxi.
  • Objective: To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with hover taxi operations, including runway incursion avoidance.
  • References: AC 91-73; AIM; Chart Supplements; FAA-H-8083-2, FAA-H-8083-21, FAA-H-8083-25; POH/RFM
Knowledge 8 ACS Elements
  • PH.IV.B.K1:
    Current airport aeronautical references and information resources such as the Chart Supplement, airport diagram, and Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs).
  • PH.IV.B.K2:
    Hover taxi instructions, clearances, and limitations.
  • PH.IV.B.K3:
    Airport/heliport/helipad/landing area, signs, markings, and lighting.
  • PH.IV.B.K4:
    Visual indicators for wind.
  • PH.IV.B.K5:
    Aircraft lighting, as appropriate.
  • PH.IV.B.K6:
    Procedures for:
    • PH.IV.B.K6a:
      Pilot activities during taxiing
    • PH.IV.B.K6b:
      Safe hover taxi at towered and non-towered airports/heliports/helipads/landing areas
    • PH.IV.B.K6c:
      Entering or crossing runways
  • PH.IV.B.K7:
    Height/Velocity (H/V) considerations.
  • PH.IV.B.K8:
    Aircraft operating limitations.
Risk Management 8 ACS Elements
  • PH.IV.B.R1:
    Distractions, task prioritization, loss of situational awareness, or disorientation.
  • PH.IV.B.R2:
    Reduced visibility or night taxi operations.
  • PH.IV.B.R3:
    Runway incursion.
  • PH.IV.B.R4:
    Other aircraft, vehicles, persons, and hazards.
  • PH.IV.B.R5:
    Hazardous effects of downwash.
  • PH.IV.B.R6:
    Main rotor, tail rotor, and tail strike hazards.
  • PH.IV.B.R7:
    Height/Velocity (H/V) considerations.
  • PH.IV.B.R8:
    Confirmation or expectation bias as related to taxi instructions.
Skills 12 ACS Elements
  • PH.IV.B.S1:
    Complete the appropriate checklist(s).
  • PH.IV.B.S2:
    Receive and correctly read back clearances/instructions, if applicable.
  • PH.IV.B.S3:
    Use an airport diagram or taxi chart during taxi, if published, and maintain situational awareness.
  • PH.IV.B.S4:
    Comply with airport/heliport taxiway markings, signals, and signs.
  • PH.IV.B.S5:
    Maintain powerplant and main rotor (Nr) speed within normal limits.
  • PH.IV.B.S6:
    Maintain a straight ground track within ±4 feet of a designated ground track.
  • PH.IV.B.S7:
    Maintain recommended hovering altitude, ±1/2 of that altitude within 10 feet of the surface, if above 10 feet, ±5 feet.
  • PH.IV.B.S8:
    Hover taxi over specified ground references, demonstrating forward, sideward, and rearward hovering and hovering turns.
  • PH.IV.B.S9:
    Maintain a constant rate of turn at pivot points.
  • PH.IV.B.S10:
    Maintain a position within 4 feet of each pivot point during turns.
  • PH.IV.B.S11:
    Make a 360° pivoting turn, left and right, stopping within 10° of a specified heading.
  • PH.IV.B.S12:
    Make smooth, timely, and correct control application during the maneuver.
Private Pilot (Helicopter) Hover Taxi Lesson Plan

Conclusion

  • Re-Motivation:

    • Consistent hover 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.