Private Pilot (Helicopter) Night Operations Lesson Plan

Private Pilot (Helicopter) • ACS Area IX, Task A

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

Private Pilot (Helicopter) Night Operations 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 night operations 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 and risk management associated with night operations.

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Private Pilot (Helicopter) Night Operations 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, Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs), and electronic flight bag, as applicable.
    • Helicopter, cockpit procedures trainer, or approved training device, as appropriate.

  • Reference Materials:

Private Pilot (Helicopter) Night Operations Lesson Plan

Instructor Actions

  • Before the lesson, review the reference materials, helicopter limitations, and local operating considerations.
  • Part 1, Lesson Introduction:
  • Part 2, Knowledge Elements:
    • Explain and assess the student's understanding of physiological aspects of vision related to night flying. (PH.IX.A.K1)
    • Explain and assess the student's understanding of personal equipment essential for night flight. (PH.IX.A.K2)
    • Explain and assess the student's understanding of helicopter equipment and lighting requirements for night operations. (PH.IX.A.K3)
    • Explain and assess the student's understanding of lighting systems identifying airports/heliports/helipads/landing areas, runways, taxiways and obstructions, as well as pilot controlled lighting. (PH.IX.A.K4)
    • Explain and assess the student's understanding of night orientation, navigation, chart reading techniques and methods for maintaining night vision effectiveness. (PH.IX.A.K5)
      • Teach and assess the learner's ability to explain FAA night-flying guidance for using supplemental oxygen above 5,000 feet MSL.
    • Explain and assess the student's understanding of night taxi operations. (PH.IX.A.K6)
    • Explain and assess the student's understanding of interpretation of traffic position and direction based solely on position lights. (PH.IX.A.K7)
    • Explain and assess the student's understanding of visual illusions at night. (PH.IX.A.K8)
    • Explain and assess the student's understanding of appropriate use of automation, if applicable. (PH.IX.A.K9)
  • Part 3, Risk Management:
    • Use a helicopter scenario to have the student identify, assess, and mitigate risks associated with collision hazards. (PH.IX.A.R1)
    • Use a helicopter scenario to have the student identify, assess, and mitigate risks associated with runway incursion. (PH.IX.A.R2)
    • 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.IX.A.R3)
    • Use a helicopter scenario to have the student identify, assess, and mitigate risks associated with effect of visual illusions and night adaptation during all phases of night flying. (PH.IX.A.R4)
    • Use a helicopter scenario to have the student identify, assess, and mitigate risks associated with night currency versus proficiency. (PH.IX.A.R5)
    • Use a helicopter scenario to have the student identify, assess, and mitigate risks associated with weather considerations specific to night operations. (PH.IX.A.R6)
    • Use a helicopter scenario to have the student identify, assess, and mitigate risks associated with inoperative equipment. (PH.IX.A.R7)
    • Require the student to verbalize trigger points for discontinuing or modifying the operation.
  • Part 4, Skill Development:
    • Demonstrate and coach an integrated night-operation briefing that addresses aircraft and personal equipment, lighting, night vision, orientation, navigation, taxi, visual illusions, weather, automation, and applicable limitations. (PH.IX.A.S1)
    • 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) Night Operations Lesson Plan

Guided Scenario(s)

  • During a planned helicopter flight, conditions require the student to apply the knowledge and procedures associated with night operations.
  • Ask the student to identify hazards, including Collision hazards, and explain how each risk will be controlled.
  • Require the student to plan and brief a night flight, identify the controlling hazards, and explain the conditions that would require delaying, modifying, or discontinuing the operation.
  • 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) Night Operations 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) Night Operations Lesson Plan

Airman Certification Standards

Private Pilot (Helicopter) Night Operations Airman Certification Standards

  • Task A: Night Operations.
  • Objective: To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge and risk management associated with night operations.
  • Note: For applicants that reside in Alaska, refer to 14 CFR part 61, section 61.110.
  • References: 14 CFR part 91; AIM; FAA-H-8083-2, FAA-H-8083-21, FAA-H-8083-25; POH/RFM
Knowledge 9 ACS Elements
  • PH.IX.A.K1:
    Physiological aspects of vision related to night flying.
  • PH.IX.A.K2:
    Personal equipment essential for night flight.
  • PH.IX.A.K3:
    Helicopter equipment and lighting requirements for night operations.
  • PH.IX.A.K4:
    Lighting systems identifying airports/heliports/helipads/landing areas, runways, taxiways and obstructions, as well as pilot controlled lighting.
  • PH.IX.A.K5:
    Night orientation, navigation, chart reading techniques and methods for maintaining night vision effectiveness.
  • PH.IX.A.K6:
    Night taxi operations.
  • PH.IX.A.K7:
    Interpretation of traffic position and direction based solely on position lights.
  • PH.IX.A.K8:
    Visual illusions at night.
  • PH.IX.A.K9:
    Appropriate use of automation, if applicable.
Risk Management 7 ACS Elements
  • PH.IX.A.R1:
    Collision hazards.
  • PH.IX.A.R2:
    Runway incursion.
  • PH.IX.A.R3:
    Distractions, task prioritization, loss of situational awareness, or disorientation.
  • PH.IX.A.R4:
    Effect of visual illusions and night adaptation during all phases of night flying.
  • PH.IX.A.R5:
    Night currency versus proficiency.
  • PH.IX.A.R6:
    Weather considerations specific to night operations.
  • PH.IX.A.R7:
    Inoperative equipment.
Skills 1 ACS Element
  • PH.IX.A.S1:
    [Intentionally left blank].
Private Pilot (Helicopter) Night Operations Lesson Plan

Conclusion

  • Re-Motivation:

    • Consistent night operations 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.