Sport Pilot (Airplane) Weather Information Lesson Plan
Sport Pilot (Airplane) • PTS Area I, Task C
The Sport Pilot (Airplane) Weather Information 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, Atmospheric Conditions:0:20Part 3, Weather Products:1:15Part 4, Weather Information Risk Management:1:15Part 5, Weather Information 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:
- Regardless of your experience level, weather is likely to be a key factor in your decision-making process.
- A pilot's ability to find and interpret weather is essential to make well-informed decisions.
- Failure to recognize deteriorating weather conditions leads to a exceptionally high mishap and associated lethality rate.
- Weather service to aviation is a joint effort between federal agencies, the military weather services, and other aviation-oriented groups and individuals.
- The National Weather Service operates a network of radar sites for detecting coverage, intensity, and movement of precipitation.
- FAA and DOD radar sites in the western sections of the country supplement the network.
- Local warning radar sites augment the network by operating on an as-needed basis to support warning and forecast programs.
Materials
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Required Materials:
- Writing instrument (pen, marker, etc.).
- Writing surface (paper, whiteboard, etc.).
- Internet connection (computer, tablet, smartphone, etc.).
- Phone (for preflight briefing).
- Personal Weather Minimums Worksheet.
- Airman Certification Standards.
- Student jacket.
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Optional Materials:
- Pilot Operating Handbook, Electronic Flight Bag.
- Instructor endorsement log.
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Reference Materials:
- Icing in the Aviation Environment Supplement.
- Turbulence Supplement.
- Thunderstorms Supplement.
- Mountain Flying Supplement.
- Aviation Fog Supplement.
- Microbursts Supplement.
- Instructor Endorsement Log.
- Weather and Atmosphere Supplement.
- Air Masses and Weather Fronts Supplement.
- Clouds in the Aviation Environment Supplement.
- Aviation Routine Weather Report Supplement.
- Terminal Aerodrome Forecast Supplement.
- Surface Analysis Chart Supplement.
- Winds and Temperatures Aloft Supplement.
- Convective Outlook Supplement.
- In Flight Weather Advisories Supplement.
- Pilot Reports Supplement.
- Personal Weather Minimums Worksheet.
- Preflight Briefing Supplement.
- AOPA's Online Learning Course - Weather or Not Thunderstorm Challenge.
- Fitness for Flight Supplement.
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, Atmospheric Conditions:
- Baseline the discussion with a discussion of:
- Weather and atmosphere.
- Mountain wave.
- Discuss air mass and weather front formation and expected conditions.
- Clouds:
- Introduce cloud base calculations.
- Introduce Turbulence.
- Thunderstorms.
- Microbursts.
- Icing/frost.
- Fog/mist.
- Obstructions to visibility.
- Baseline the discussion with a discussion of:
- Part 3, Weather Products:
- Review Sources of Weather Data.
- Retrieve (3) METAR/SPECI reports from different regions and walk through each element (save for guided scenario).
- Retrieve (3) Terminal Aerodrome Forecasts from different regions and walk through each element (save for guided scenario).
- Discuss how the Graphical Forecasts for Aviation (GFA) tool ties everything together.
- Retrieve the Surface Analysis Chart most appropriate and discuss the graphic, how to interpret each station, and observation/validity times associated.
- Retrieve a Winds and Temperatures Aloft forecast and pick (3) stations along a route of flight.
- Retrieve the Convective Outlook most appropriate and discuss the graphic, how to interpret, and forecast/validity times associated.
- Retrieve (3) AIRMETs/SIGMETs from different regions (if possible) and walk through each AIRMET/SIGMET (save for guided scenario).
- Retrieve (3) PIREPs from different regions (if possible) and walk through each PIREP (save for guided scenario).
- Discuss what weather resources are available on the ground vs. inflight.
- Part 4, Weather Information Risk Management:
- Part 5, Weather Information Guided Scenario(s):
- Lead a guided scenario.
- Complete a personal weather minimums worksheet.
- Conduct a self-briefing:
- Call flight service and request a briefing for a cross-country flight, real or for practice.
- Discuss advantages and disadvantages of each product.
- Review weather equipment capabilities of avionics installed on aircraft, and common equipment across general aviation.
- 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 instructor endorsement records and the student's jacket, as required.
Guided Scenario(s)
- In the climb on a cold day, a pilot enters the clouds and simultaneously notices the outside air temperature is 10°c
- How can the pilot check the outside air temperature?
- If in meteorological conditions, is icing a hazard?
- With the previous METAR/SPECI reports:
- What does the wind information tell us (tie to airport diagrams, takeoff performance, etc.)?
- What does the visibility tell us?
- What does the present weather tell us?
- What does the sky condition tell us?
- What does the temperature/dewpoint tell us (tie to density altitude, hazards, etc.)?
- What do the remarks tell us?
- ATC provides a PIREP to a pilot about to enter the same area.
- What is the pilot required to do?
- What can the pilot decide to do?
- A pilot is planning a cross-country flight, for what reasons would they want to review AIRMETs/SIGMETs?
- How does it affect preflight planning?
- A pilot is planning a local flight, for what reasons would they want to use a surface analysis chart?
- How does it affect preflight planning?
- What are the types of airmasses and fronts depicted?
- What kind of weather would be expected in those frontal areas?
- A pilot is planning a local flight, for what reasons would they want to use a convective outlook?
- How does it affect preflight planning?
- With the previous TAF reports:
- What does the wind information tell us (tie to weather enroute limitations, etc.)?
- What does the visibility tell us?
- What does the present weather tell us?
- What does the sky condition tell us?
- What does the temperature/dewpoint tell us (tie to density altitude, hazards, etc.)?
- What does "FM" or "BECMG" tell us?
- Provided a route of flight that passes near (3) stations:
- What are the winds doing?
- Are the temperatures above or below standard and what are the implications of either?
- What does a temperature inversion look like?
- In those instances of high wind velocities, how does one decifer the three digit wind speed?
- Related scenarios:
Student Actions
- Complete the assigned readings (see content above).
- Complete a personal weather minimums worksheet.
- Complete or review AOPA's Online Learning Course - Weather or Not Thunderstorm Challenge.
- 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) Weather Information Practical Test Standards
- Source: FAA-S-8081-29A, Section 1 - Sport Pilot Airplane.
- Task: WEATHER INFORMATION (ASEL and ASES).
- References: 14 CFR part 91; AC 61-134; FAA-H-8083-25, FAA-H-8083-28; AIM.
- Objective: To determine that the applicant:
Objective Elements 4 PTS Elements
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SP.1: Exhibits knowledge of the elements related to real time weather information appropriate to the specific category/ class aircraft by consulting the weather reports, charts, and forecasts from aeronautical weather reporting sources. -
SP.2: Makes a competent “go/no-go” decision based on available weather information. -
SP.3: Describes the importance of avoiding adverse weather and inadvertent entry into IMC. -
SP.4: Explains courses of action to safely exit from an inadvertent IMC encounter.
Conclusion
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Re-Motivation:
- Weather Information turns weather information into operational decisions that protect aircraft performance, route flexibility, and safe landing options.
- Comparing forecasts, observations, trends, aircraft limitations, and personal minimums helps pilots identify deteriorating conditions before they eliminate safer alternatives.
- Continuous weather monitoring and a willingness to delay, divert, or discontinue a flight are essential expressions of sound aeronautical decision-making.
- Further exploration of Weather Information prepares sport pilots to interpret more complex weather systems and make increasingly confident risk-based decisions.
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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.