High-Performance Airplane Endorsement Lesson Plan
Special Cases • 14 CFR 61.31(f)
The High-Performance Airplane Endorsement Lesson Plan develops the ground and flight proficiency required by 14 CFR 61.31(f) for airplanes with engines of more than 200 horsepower.
Introduction
Schedule
Topic:Time:Ground Training:1:00Flight Training:1:30Postflight and Endorsement:0:15Planned Time:0:00Attention Getter:
- Present a departure where rapid acceleration, greater torque effects, and rising cylinder temperatures demand earlier decisions than the pilot expects.
Motivator:
- High-performance airplanes reduce the time available to recognize and correct errors, making anticipation and disciplined energy management essential.
Objective:
- Develop and evaluate the knowledge and flight proficiency required for the high-performance-airplane logbook endorsement.
Materials
Required Materials:
- Pilot and aircraft documents, pilot operating handbook, checklist, and performance data.
- A high-performance airplane appropriate to the endorsement sought.
References:
Instructor Actions
Ground Training:
- Review powerplant operation, torque and P-factor, cooling, performance planning, fuel management, limitations, and high-speed aerodynamics as applicable.
- Discuss runway requirements, rejected-takeoff decisions, climb planning, descent planning, and stabilized approaches.
Flight Training:
- Practice normal and maximum-performance takeoffs, climbs, cruise power changes, descents, approaches, go-arounds, and landings.
- Emphasize smooth power application, directional control, engine monitoring, energy management, and staying ahead of the airplane.
Postflight:
- Debrief performance and issue the endorsement only after satisfactory proficiency is demonstrated.
Student Actions
- Explain airplane performance, systems, limitations, and operational risks.
- Calculate performance and make conservative runway and weather decisions.
- Demonstrate precise aircraft, power, temperature, and energy management.
Completion Standards
- The pilot demonstrates the knowledge and flight proficiency required by §61.31(f).
- Operations remain within aircraft limitations with sound judgment, checklist use, and positive control.
Conclusion
Re-Motivation:
- Proficiency lets the pilot use additional performance without allowing that performance to outrun judgment.
Closure:
- Review aircraft-specific limitations, personal minimums, and the applicable AC 61-65K endorsement.