Private Pilot (Helicopter) Weather Information Lesson Plan

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

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

Private Pilot (Helicopter) Weather Information 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 weather information 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 weather information for a flight under VFR.

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Private Pilot (Helicopter) Weather Information 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) Weather Information 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 C, and the Airman Certification Standards.
    • State the lesson objective: To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with weather information for a flight under VFR.
  • Part 2, Knowledge Elements:
    • Explain and discuss PH.I.C.K1: Sources of weather data (e.g., National Weather Service, Flight Service) for flight planning purposes.
    • Explain and discuss PH.I.C.K2: Acceptable weather products and resources required for preflight planning, current and forecast weather for departure, en route, and arrival phases of flight such as:
      • PH.I.C.K2a: a. Airport Observations (METAR and SPECI) and Pilot Observations (PIREP)
      • PH.I.C.K2b: b. Surface Analysis Chart, Ceiling and Visibility Chart (CVA)
      • PH.I.C.K2c: c. Terminal Aerodrome Forecasts (TAF)
      • PH.I.C.K2d: d. Graphical Forecasts for Aviation (GFA)
      • PH.I.C.K2e: e. Wind and Temperature Aloft Forecast (FB)
      • PH.I.C.K2f: f. Convective Outlook (AC)
      • PH.I.C.K2g: g. Inflight Aviation Weather Advisories including Airmen's Meteorological Information (AIRMET), Significant Meteorological Information (SIGMET), and Convective SIGMET
    • Explain and discuss PH.I.C.K3: Meteorology applicable to the departure, en route, alternate, and destination under visual flight rules (VFR) in Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC), including expected climate and hazardous conditions such as:
      • PH.I.C.K3a: a. Atmospheric composition and stability
      • PH.I.C.K3b: b. Wind (e.g., windshear, mountain wave, factors affecting wind, etc.)
      • PH.I.C.K3c: c. Temperature and heat exchange
      • PH.I.C.K3d: d. Moisture/precipitation
      • PH.I.C.K3e: e. Weather system formation, including air masses and fronts
      • PH.I.C.K3f: f. Clouds
      • PH.I.C.K3g: g. Turbulence
      • PH.I.C.K3h: h. Thunderstorms and microbursts
      • PH.I.C.K3i: i. Icing and freezing level information
      • PH.I.C.K3j: j. Fog/mist
      • PH.I.C.K3k: k. Frost
      • PH.I.C.K3l: l. Obstructions to visibility (e.g., smoke, haze, volcanic ash, etc.)
    • Explain and discuss PH.I.C.K4: Flight deck instrument displays of digital weather and aeronautical information.
  • Part 3, Risk Management:
    • Use a helicopter scenario to have the student identify, assess, and mitigate PH.I.C.R1: Making the go/no-go and continue/divert decisions, including:
      • PH.I.C.R1a: a. Circumstances that would make diversion prudent
      • PH.I.C.R1b: b. Personal weather minimums
      • PH.I.C.R1c: c. Hazardous weather conditions, including known or forecast icing or turbulence aloft
    • Use a helicopter scenario to have the student identify, assess, and mitigate PH.I.C.R2: Use and limitations of:
      • PH.I.C.R2a: a. Installed onboard weather equipment
      • PH.I.C.R2b: b. Aviation weather reports and forecasts
      • PH.I.C.R2c: c. Inflight weather resources
    • Require the student to verbalize trigger points for discontinuing or modifying the operation.
  • Part 4, Skill Development:
    • Demonstrate, then coach the student to PH.I.C.S1: Use available aviation weather resources to obtain an adequate weather briefing.
    • Demonstrate, then coach the student to PH.I.C.S2: Analyze the implications of at least three of the conditions listed in K3a through K3l, using actual weather or weather conditions provided by the evaluator.
    • Demonstrate, then coach the student to PH.I.C.S3: Correlate weather information to make a go/no-go decision.
    • 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) Weather Information Lesson Plan

Guided Scenario(s)

  • During a planned helicopter flight, conditions require the student to apply the knowledge and procedures associated with weather information.
  • Ask the student to identify hazards, including Making the go/no-go and continue/divert decisions, including:, and explain how each risk will be controlled.
  • Require the student to brief, perform, or explain how to Use available aviation weather resources to obtain an adequate weather briefing., 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) Weather Information 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) Weather Information Lesson Plan

Airman Certification Standards

Private Pilot (Helicopter) Weather Information Airman Certification Standards

  • Area of Operation I: Preflight Preparation.
  • Task C: Weather Information.
  • Objective: To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with weather information for a flight under VFR.
  • Note: If K2 is selected, the evaluator must assess the applicant's knowledge of at least three sub-elements.
  • Note: If K3 is selected, the evaluator must assess the applicant's knowledge of at least three sub-elements.
  • References: 14 CFR part 91; AC 91-92; AIM; FAA-H-8083-2, FAA-H-8083-21, FAA-H-8083-25, FAA-H-8083-28
Knowledge 4 ACS Elements
  • PH.I.C.K1:
    Sources of weather data (e.g., National Weather Service, Flight Service) for flight planning purposes.
  • PH.I.C.K2:
    Acceptable weather products and resources required for preflight planning, current and forecast weather for departure, en route, and arrival phases of flight such as:
    • PH.I.C.K2a: a. Airport Observations (METAR and SPECI) and Pilot Observations (PIREP)
    • PH.I.C.K2b: b. Surface Analysis Chart, Ceiling and Visibility Chart (CVA)
    • PH.I.C.K2c: c. Terminal Aerodrome Forecasts (TAF)
    • PH.I.C.K2d: d. Graphical Forecasts for Aviation (GFA)
    • PH.I.C.K2e: e. Wind and Temperature Aloft Forecast (FB)
    • PH.I.C.K2f: f. Convective Outlook (AC)
    • PH.I.C.K2g: g. Inflight Aviation Weather Advisories including Airmen's Meteorological Information (AIRMET), Significant Meteorological Information (SIGMET), and Convective SIGMET
  • PH.I.C.K3:
    Meteorology applicable to the departure, en route, alternate, and destination under visual flight rules (VFR) in Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC), including expected climate and hazardous conditions such as:
    • PH.I.C.K3a: a. Atmospheric composition and stability
    • PH.I.C.K3b: b. Wind (e.g., windshear, mountain wave, factors affecting wind, etc.)
    • PH.I.C.K3c: c. Temperature and heat exchange
    • PH.I.C.K3d: d. Moisture/precipitation
    • PH.I.C.K3e: e. Weather system formation, including air masses and fronts
    • PH.I.C.K3f: f. Clouds
    • PH.I.C.K3g: g. Turbulence
    • PH.I.C.K3h: h. Thunderstorms and microbursts
    • PH.I.C.K3i: i. Icing and freezing level information
    • PH.I.C.K3j: j. Fog/mist
    • PH.I.C.K3k: k. Frost
    • PH.I.C.K3l: l. Obstructions to visibility (e.g., smoke, haze, volcanic ash, etc.)
  • PH.I.C.K4:
    Flight deck instrument displays of digital weather and aeronautical information.
Risk Management 2 ACS Elements
  • PH.I.C.R1:
    Making the go/no-go and continue/divert decisions, including:
    • PH.I.C.R1a: a. Circumstances that would make diversion prudent
    • PH.I.C.R1b: b. Personal weather minimums
    • PH.I.C.R1c: c. Hazardous weather conditions, including known or forecast icing or turbulence aloft
  • PH.I.C.R2:
    Use and limitations of:
    • PH.I.C.R2a: a. Installed onboard weather equipment
    • PH.I.C.R2b: b. Aviation weather reports and forecasts
    • PH.I.C.R2c: c. Inflight weather resources
Skills 3 ACS Elements
  • PH.I.C.S1:
    Use available aviation weather resources to obtain an adequate weather briefing.
  • PH.I.C.S2:
    Analyze the implications of at least three of the conditions listed in K3a through K3l, using actual weather or weather conditions provided by the evaluator.
  • PH.I.C.S3:
    Correlate weather information to make a go/no-go decision.
Private Pilot (Helicopter) Weather Information Lesson Plan

Conclusion

  • Re-Motivation:

    • Consistent weather information 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.