Sport Pilot (Airplane) Diversion Lesson Plan

Sport Pilot (Airplane) • PTS Area VII, Task B

The Sport Pilot (Airplane) Diversion Lesson Plan covers the knowledge and skills required by FAA-S-8081-29A.

Sport Pilot (Airplane) Diversion Lesson Plan

Introduction

  • Schedule

    Topic:
    Time:
    Attention/Motivator:
    0:05
    Part 1, Lesson Introduction:
    0:05
    Part 2, Diversion Fundamentals:
    1:15
    Part 3, Diversion Procedures:
    1:15
    Part 4, Diversion Risk Management:
    0:20
    Part 5, Guided Scenario(s):
    0:20
    Part 6, Lesson Conclusion:
    0:05
    Remotivation/Closure:
    0:05
    Total Ground Time:
    0:00

  • Attention Getter:

    • Research and present a mishap case study:
    • Discuss how the initial conditions developed into an incident/accident/mishap.
    • Relate similar personal experiences of the same type of incident/accident/mishap.
    • Consider incorporating a case study as a guided scenario.

  • Motivator:

    • Diversions are deviations from the original plan which are usually due to fuel, weather, aeromedical or systems
    • While no one plans to divert, the first time the situation dictates a diversion, you should have already planned ahead.
    • Practice develops skills necessary for plotting a new course and determining a new ETA (Estimated Time of Arrival) while en route
    • Diversions occur due to low fuel, bad weather, fatigue, illness, airplane or system malfunction, and others
    • Although the concept is the same, their procedures can be dramatically different when flying Visual Flight Rules (VFR) or Instrument Flight Rules (IFR)

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Sport Pilot (Airplane) Diversion Lesson Plan

Materials

Sport Pilot (Airplane) Diversion Lesson Plan

Instructor Actions

  • Review the maneuver's common errors and assess the learner's understanding of their mitigations.
  • Before the lesson, review reference materials.
  • Part 1, Lesson Introduction:
  • Part 2, Diversion Fundamentals:
    • Use guided questioning to have the learner explain and apply selecting an alternate destination, including runway length, services, weather, terrain, and familiarity.
    • Use guided questioning to have the learner explain and apply diversion decision making, emphasizing early recognition and timely action.
    • Use guided questioning to have the learner explain and apply situations requiring deviation from the flight plan or ATC (Air Traffic Control) instructions.
    • Use retrieval questioning to have the learner explain risks associated with delaying diversion decisions, including fuel exhaustion, deteriorating weather, and increasing workload.
    • Use guided questioning to have the learner explain and apply task prioritization and distractions, emphasizing “aviate, navigate, communicate.”
    • Elicit prior knowledge, then establish the operational relevance of available resources (charts, GPS (Global Positioning System), ATC, onboard equipment) and how they support diversion decisions.
  • Part 3, Diversion Procedures:
    • Use guided questioning to have the learner explain and apply diversion planning, including estimating heading, distance, groundspeed, time, and fuel.
    • Demonstrate how to select a suitable route and adjust for wind correction.
    • Use guided questioning to have the learner explain and apply maintaining aircraft control while performing calculations and navigation updates.
    • Elicit prior knowledge, then establish the operational relevance of VFR diversion procedures, including pilotage, dead reckoning, and use of landmarks.
    • Elicit prior knowledge, then establish the operational relevance of IFR diversion considerations, including ATC coordination and clearance requirements.
    • Use guided questioning to have the learner explain and apply updating Diversion in flight and adjusting the diversion plan accordingly.
    • Use retrieval questioning to have the learner explain common errors, including fixation, poor planning, loss of situational awareness, and failure to act promptly.
  • Part 4, Diversion Risk Management:
    • Assess delayed diversion, fuel miscalculation, fixation, rushed calculations, unsuitable alternate selection, airspace or terrain conflict, deteriorating weather, and loss-of-position risks; require an early decision, conservative estimates, and continued outside scanning.
  • Required teaching coverage:
    • Assess whether the learner exhibits knowledge of the elements related to diversion. (SP.1)
    • Have the learner select a suitable alternate and route, recompute fuel with an adequate reserve, and execute the diversion within the PTS (Practical Test Standards) altitude and heading standards while accounting for terrain, obstacles, weather, and airspace. (SP.2) (SP.3) (SP.4)
  • Part 5, Guided Scenario(s):
    • Lead a guided scenarios.
    • Present a realistic en route situation requiring a diversion (weather, fuel, mechanical, or passenger-related).
    • Require the student to select a diversion airport and justify the decision.
    • Have the student estimate heading, time en route, and fuel requirements.
    • Require the student to verbalize priorities and demonstrate workload management.
    • Challenge the student to identify and mitigate risks such as disorientation, fuel state, and deteriorating conditions.
  • Part 6, Lesson Conclusion:
    • Tie lesson back to previous lessons to reinforce past experiences (law of readiness).
    • Present the remotivation, conclude, and provide guidance for follow-on lessons.
    • Review student actions required ahead of the next lesson.
  • Update the instructor log and student progress. Select the student and sign off completed objectives. If the student does not have a connected account, record the update manually in the instructor log and student training record.
Sport Pilot (Airplane) Diversion Lesson Plan

Guided Scenario(s)

  • Take an existing flight plan and identify potential alternates
    • What airports are suitable, have requisite services, or are most familiar?
  • Discuss considerations for diverting for maintenance, weather, etc.
  • Discuss resources available to make a diversion decision
  • Walk through a diversion
  • Related scenarios:
Sport Pilot (Airplane) Diversion Lesson Plan

Student Actions

Sport Pilot (Airplane) Diversion Lesson Plan

Airman Certification Standards

Sport Pilot (Airplane) Diversion Practical Test Standards

  • Source: FAA-S-8081-29A, Section 1 - Sport Pilot Airplane.
  • Task: DIVERSION (ASEL and ASES).
  • References: FAA-H-8083-25; AIM.
  • Objective: To determine that the applicant:
Objective Elements 4 PTS Elements
  • SP.1:
    Exhibits knowledge of the elements related to diversion.
  • SP.2:
    Selects an appropriate alternate airport, or landing area and route.
  • SP.3:
    Determines there is sufficient fuel to fly to the alternate airport or landing area.
  • SP.4:
    Maintains the appropriate altitude, ±200 feet and headings, ±15°.
Sport Pilot (Airplane) Diversion Lesson Plan

Conclusion

  • Re-Motivation:

    • Diversion connects careful preflight planning with the continuous awareness needed to keep the aircraft, route, fuel, weather, and available alternatives aligned.
    • Using multiple navigation references and verifying position, performance, and changing conditions helps pilots detect errors before they narrow available options.
    • Timely communication, workload management, and a willingness to revise the plan turn navigation knowledge into practical aeronautical decision-making.
    • Further practice with Diversion prepares sport pilots for longer, less familiar, and more operationally complex flights.

  • Closure:

    • Advise students that this lesson will be used as a starting point for the next lesson.
    • Assign study materials for the next lesson.