Sport Pilot (Airplane) Aeromedical Factors Lesson Plan
Sport Pilot (Airplane) • PTS Area I, Task G
The Sport Pilot (Airplane) Aeromedical Factors Lesson Plan covers the knowledge and skills required by FAA-S-8081-29A.
Introduction
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Schedule:
Topic:Time:Attention/Motivator:0:05Part 1, Lesson Introduction:0:05Part 2, Aeromedical Factors:0:30Part 3, Aeromedical Regulation:0:10Part 4, Human Factors Risk Management:0:10Part 5, Human Factors Guided Scenario(s):0:20Part 6, Lesson Conclusion:0:05Remotivation/Closure:0:05Total Ground Time:0:00
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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.
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Motivator:
- Every flight depends on the condition of the pilot as much as the condition of the aircraft.
- Many aeromedical hazards develop gradually, often without obvious warning, affecting judgment, coordination, and decision-making before a pilot realizes anything is wrong.
- Understanding how the body responds to the aviation environment—and learning to recognize and manage these risks—provides one of the most effective tools for preventing accidents.
- Throughout this lesson, you'll discover how knowledge of human factors can improve safety, enhance aeronautical decision-making, and build the confidence to make sound choices before and during every flight.
Materials
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Required Materials:
- Writing instrument (pen, marker, etc.).
- Writing surface (paper, whiteboard, etc.).
- Airman Certification Standards.
- Student jacket.
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Optional Materials:
- Personal Weather Minimums Worksheet.
- Carbon Monoxide Detector.
- Supplemental oxygen devices.
- Instructor endorsement log.
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Reference Materials:
- Federal Aviation Regulations Part 91.
- Federal Aviation Regulations Part 93.
- Aeronautical Information Manual.
- Pilot Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge.
- Airman Certification Standards:
- Hard copies of the ACS and Oral Exam Guides are available on Amazon.
- Digital copies of the ACS are available on the FAA's website.
Instructor Actions
- Before the lesson, review reference materials.
- Part 1, Lesson Introduction:
- Review the lesson plan, including the attention and motivator.
- Review the airman certification standards.
- Part 2, Aeromedical Factors:
- Introduce symptoms, recognition, causes, effects, and corrective actions associated with hypoxia.
- Introduce symptoms, recognition, causes, effects, and corrective actions associated with hyperventilation.
- Introduce symptoms, recognition, causes, effects, and corrective actions associated with the middle ear and sinus problems.
- Introduce symptoms, recognition, causes, effects, and corrective actions associated with spatial disorientation.
- Introduce symptoms, recognition, causes, effects, and corrective actions associated with motion sickness.
- Introduce symptoms, recognition, causes, effects, and corrective actions associated with carbon monoxide poisoning.
- Introduce symptoms, recognition, causes, effects, and corrective actions associated with dehydration and nutrition.
- Introduce symptoms, recognition, causes, effects, and corrective actions associated with hypothermia.
- Introduce the effects of alcohol, drugs, and over-the-counter medications.
- Part 3, Aeromedical Regulation
- Part 4, Human Factors Risk Management:
- Introduce Aeronautical Decision-Making (ADM), Crew Resource Management (CRM) and Single-Pilot Resource Management (SRM), as appropriate.
- Aeronautical decision making, including Distractions, task prioritization, loss of situational awareness, or disorientation.
- Introduce personal minimums.
- Part 5, Human Factors Guided Scenario(s):
- Part 6, Conclude Lesson:
- Discuss aeromedical training locations/opportunities.
- Present the remotivation, conclude, and provide guidance for follow-on lessons.
- Review student actions required ahead of the next lesson.
- Update instructor endorsement records and the student's jacket, as required.
Guided Scenario(s)
- During the climb, the nervous passenger begins to start breathing heavily, panicking that they're an uneasy flier and have never been so far from the ground as they begin to experience dizziness.
- What may the passenger be experiencing?
- What are some corrective actions?
- How could this event be prevented/mitigated on subsequent legs of the flight?
- What are some of the risk factors for this type of event?
- The aircraft is now operating at a high altitude when a passenger starts becoming uncharacteristically talkative, laughing, and explaining how they're feeling a little light headed but otherwise enjoying the flight.
- What may the passenger be experiencing?
- What are some corrective actions?
- How could this event be prevented/mitigated on subsequent legs of the flight?
- What are some of the risk factors for this type of event?
- After landing, the pilot recognizes not only that they have a headache, but that they've had one after the past few flights.
- What may the pilot be experiencing?
- What are some corrective actions?
- How could this event be prevented/mitigated on subsequent legs of the flight?
- What are some of the risk factors for this type of event?
- Related scenarios:
- None.
Student Actions
- Complete the assigned readings (see content above).
- Complete relevant knowledge checks:
- Hypoxia Knowledge Check.
- Hyperventilation Knowledge Check.
- Spatial Disorientation Knowledge Check.
- Vestibular System Knowledge Check.
- Spatial Disorientation Knowledge Check.
- Motion Sickness Knowledge Check.
- Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Knowledge Check.
- Dehydration and Nutrition Knowledge Check.
- Hypothermia Knowledge Check.
- Fitness for Flight Knowledge Check.
- Complete relevant interactive scenarios:
- Hypoxia Interactive Scenario.
- Hyperventilation Interactive Scenario.
- Spatial Disorientation Interactive Scenario.
- Vestibular System Interactive Scenario.
- Spatial Disorientation Interactive Scenario.
- Motion Sickness Interactive Scenario.
- Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Interactive Scenario.
- Dehydration and Nutrition Interactive Scenario.
- Hypothermia Interactive Scenario.
- Fitness for Flight Interactive Scenario.
- Complete or review AOPA's Online Learning Course - Do the Right Thing.
- Ask pertinent questions.
- Perform self-assessment, including fitness for flight and personal minimums, as appropriate.
- Make a go/no-go decision, as appropriate.
Airman Certification Standards
Sport Pilot (Airplane) Aeromedical Factors Practical Test Standards
- Source: FAA-S-8081-29A, Section 1 - Sport Pilot Airplane.
- Task: AEROMEDICAL FACTORS (ASEL and ASES).
- References: FAA-H-8083-25; AIM.
- Objective: To determine that the applicant exhibits knowledge of the elements related to aeromedical factors by explaining:
Objective Elements 2 PTS Elements
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SP.1: -
SP.2: The symptoms, causes, effects, and corrective actions of at least three (3) of the following—
Conclusion
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Re-Motivation:
- Aeromedical Factors demonstrates that safe performance depends on recognizing personal, physiological, and environmental limitations before they compromise judgment or aircraft control.
- Honest self-assessment and early recognition of symptoms, stressors, medication effects, fatigue, and changing conditions give pilots time to reduce risk before it becomes an emergency.
- Applying fitness-for-flight habits and sound aeronautical decision-making makes human-factor awareness a practical part of every preflight and in-flight decision.
- Further study of Aeromedical Factors helps sport pilots build the resilience, awareness, and judgment needed for increasingly demanding operations.
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Closure:
- Advise students that this lesson will be used as a starting point for the next lesson.
- Assign study materials for the next lesson.