Private Pilot (Helicopter) Cross-Country Flight Planning Lesson Plan

Private Pilot (Helicopter) • ACS Area I, Task D

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

Private Pilot (Helicopter) Cross-Country Flight Planning 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 cross-country flight planning 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 cross-country flights and VFR (Visual Flight Rules) flight planning.

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Private Pilot (Helicopter) Cross-Country Flight Planning 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) Cross-Country Flight Planning 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 I, Task D, and the Airman Certification Standards.
    • State the lesson objective: To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with cross-country flights and VFR flight planning.
  • Part 2, Knowledge Elements:
    • Explain and assess the student's understanding of route planning, including consideration of different classes and special use airspace (SUA) and selection of appropriate and available navigation/communication systems and facilities. (PH.I.D.K1)
      • Use of an electronic flight bag (EFB), if used (PH.I.D.K1a)
    • Explain and assess the student's understanding of altitude selection accounting for terrain and obstacles, autorotation requirements of the helicopter, VFR cruising altitudes, and the effect of wind. (PH.I.D.K2)
    • Explain and assess the student's understanding of Calculating: (PH.I.D.K3)
      • Time, climb and descent rates, course, distance, heading, true airspeed, and groundspeed (PH.I.D.K3a)
      • Estimated time of arrival, including conversion to universal coordinated time (UTC) (PH.I.D.K3b)
      • Fuel requirements, including reserve (PH.I.D.K3c)
    • Explain and assess the student's understanding of elements of a VFR flight plan. (PH.I.D.K4)
    • Explain and assess the student's understanding of procedures for filing, activating, and closing a VFR flight plan. (PH.I.D.K5)
    • Explain and assess the student's understanding of inflight intercept procedures. (PH.I.D.K6)
  • Part 3, Risk Management:
    • Use a helicopter scenario to have the student identify, assess, and mitigate risks associated with pilot. (PH.I.D.R1)
    • Use a helicopter scenario to have the student identify, assess, and mitigate risks associated with aircraft. (PH.I.D.R2)
    • Use a helicopter scenario to have the student identify, assess, and mitigate risks associated with environment (e.g., weather, airports, airspace, terrain, obstacles, including wire strike hazards). (PH.I.D.R3)
    • Use a helicopter scenario to have the student identify, assess, and mitigate risks associated with external pressures. (PH.I.D.R4)
    • Use a helicopter scenario to have the student identify, assess, and mitigate risks associated with limitations of air traffic control (ATC) services. (PH.I.D.R5)
    • Use a helicopter scenario to have the student identify, assess, and mitigate risks associated with fuel planning. (PH.I.D.R6)
    • Use a helicopter scenario to have the student identify, assess, and mitigate risks associated with use of an electronic flight bag (EFB), if used. (PH.I.D.R7)
    • Require the student to verbalize trigger points for discontinuing or modifying the operation.
  • Part 4, Skill Development:
    • Demonstrate, then coach the student to prepare, present, and explain a cross-country flight plan assigned by the evaluator, including a risk analysis based on real-time weather, to the first fuel stop. (PH.I.D.S1)
    • Demonstrate, then coach the student to Apply pertinent information from appropriate and current aeronautical charts, Chart Supplements; Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) relative to airport/heliport/helipad/landing area, runway and taxiway closures; and other flight publications. (PH.I.D.S2)
    • Demonstrate, then coach the student to create a navigation plan and simulate filing a VFR flight plan. (PH.I.D.S3)
    • Demonstrate, then coach the student to recalculate fuel reserves based on a scenario provided by the evaluator. (PH.I.D.S4)
    • Demonstrate, then coach the student to use an electronic flight bag (EFB), if applicable. (PH.I.D.S5)
    • 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 complete and log the solo cross-country flights required for the certificate pathway, meeting its helicopter-specific distance, landing, and experience requirements. Obtain the required endorsements and flight-specific authorization; review planning and results with the instructor. (PH.TRAINING.T50)
  • 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) Cross-Country Flight Planning Lesson Plan

Guided Scenario(s)

  • During a planned helicopter flight, conditions require the student to apply the knowledge and procedures associated with cross-country flight planning.
  • Ask the student to identify hazards, including Pilot, and explain how each risk will be controlled.
  • Require the student to brief, perform, or explain how to Prepare, present, and explain a cross-country flight plan assigned by the evaluator, including a risk analysis based on real-time weather, to the first fuel stop, 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) Cross-Country Flight Planning 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) Cross-Country Flight Planning Lesson Plan

Airman Certification Standards

Private Pilot (Helicopter) Cross-Country Flight Planning Airman Certification Standards

  • Task D: Cross-Country Flight Planning.
  • Objective: To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with cross-country flights and VFR flight planning.
  • Note: Preparation, presentation, and explanation of a computer-generated flight plan is an acceptable option.
  • References: 14 CFR part 91; AC 91.21-1; AIM; Chart Supplements; FAA-H-8083-2, FAA-H-8083-21, FAA-H-8083-25; Helicopter Route Charts; NOTAMs; VFR Navigation Charts
Knowledge 6 ACS Elements
  • PH.I.D.K1:
    Route planning, including consideration of different classes and special use airspace (SUA) and selection of appropriate and available navigation/communication systems and facilities.
    • PH.I.D.K1a:
      Use of an electronic flight bag (EFB), if used
  • PH.I.D.K2:
    Altitude selection accounting for terrain and obstacles, autorotation requirements of the helicopter, VFR cruising altitudes, and the effect of wind.
  • PH.I.D.K3:
    Calculating:
    • PH.I.D.K3a:
      Time, climb and descent rates, course, distance, heading, true airspeed, and groundspeed
    • PH.I.D.K3b:
      Estimated time of arrival, including conversion to universal coordinated time (UTC)
    • PH.I.D.K3c:
      Fuel requirements, including reserve
  • PH.I.D.K4:
    Elements of a VFR flight plan.
  • PH.I.D.K5:
    Procedures for filing, activating, and closing a VFR flight plan.
  • PH.I.D.K6:
    Inflight intercept procedures.
Risk Management 7 ACS Elements
  • PH.I.D.R1:
    Pilot.
  • PH.I.D.R2:
    Aircraft.
  • PH.I.D.R3:
    Environment (e.g., weather, airports, airspace, terrain, obstacles, including wire strike hazards).
  • PH.I.D.R4:
    External pressures.
  • PH.I.D.R5:
    Limitations of air traffic control (ATC) services.
  • PH.I.D.R6:
    Fuel planning.
  • PH.I.D.R7:
    Use of an electronic flight bag (EFB), if used.
Skills 5 ACS Elements
  • PH.I.D.S1:
    Prepare, present, and explain a cross-country flight plan assigned by the evaluator, including a risk analysis based on real-time weather, to the first fuel stop.
  • PH.I.D.S2:
    Apply pertinent information from appropriate and current aeronautical charts, Chart Supplements; Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) relative to airport/heliport/helipad/landing area, runway and taxiway closures; and other flight publications.
  • PH.I.D.S3:
    Create a navigation plan and simulate filing a VFR flight plan.
  • PH.I.D.S4:
    Recalculate fuel reserves based on a scenario provided by the evaluator.
  • PH.I.D.S5:
    Use an electronic flight bag (EFB), if applicable.
Private Pilot (Helicopter) Cross-Country Flight Planning Lesson Plan

Conclusion

  • Re-Motivation:

    • Consistent cross-country flight planning 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.