Sport Pilot (Helicopter) After Landing, Parking, and Securing Lesson Plan
Sport Pilot (Helicopter) • ACS Area IX, Task A
The Sport Pilot (Helicopter) After Landing, Parking, and Securing Lesson Plan covers the knowledge, risk management, and skills required by FAA-S-ACS-26.
Introduction
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Schedule
Topic:Time:Attention/Motivator:0:05Part 1, Lesson Introduction:0:05Part 2, Knowledge Elements:0:20Part 3, Risk Management:0:15Part 4, Skill Development:0:30Part 5, Guided Scenario(s):0:20Part 6, Lesson Conclusion:0:05Remotivation/Closure:0:05Total Ground Time:0:00
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Attention Getter:
- Present a helicopter scenario in which the outcome depends on sound after-landing, parking, and securing knowledge, risk management, and technique.
- Ask the student to identify the earliest decision or control input that determines a safe outcome.
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Motivator:
- To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with after landing, parking, and securing procedures.
Materials
Required Materials:
- Writing instrument and instructional surface.
- FAA-S-ACS-26, Sport Pilot for Helicopter - Simplified Flight Controls 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, Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs), and electronic flight bag, as applicable.
- Helicopter, cockpit procedures trainer, or approved training device, as appropriate.
Reference Materials:
- Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Airman Certification Standards (ACS).
- Helicopter Flying Handbook.
- Risk Management Handbook.
- Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge.
- Task references: FAA-H-8083-2, FAA-H-8083-21, FAA-H-8083-25; POH/RFM
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 IX, Task A, and the Airman Certification Standards.
- State the lesson objective: To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with after landing, parking, and securing procedures.
- Part 2, Knowledge Elements:
- Explain and assess the student's understanding of helicopter-simplified flight controls shutdown, securing, and postflight inspection. (SH.IX.A.K1)
- Explain and assess the student's understanding of documenting in-flight/postflight discrepancies. (SH.IX.A.K2)
- Part 3, Risk Management:
- Use a helicopter scenario to have the student identify, assess, and mitigate risks associated with activities and distractions. (SH.IX.A.R1)
- Use a helicopter scenario to have the student identify, assess, and mitigate risks associated with parking the helicopter-simplified flight controls in a congested area. (SH.IX.A.R2)
- Use a helicopter scenario to have the student identify, assess, and mitigate risks associated with airport specific security procedures. (SH.IX.A.R3)
- Use a helicopter scenario to have the student identify, assess, and mitigate risks associated with disembark passengers safely and monitor passenger movement while on the ramp, as applicable. (SH.IX.A.R4)
- Require the student to verbalize trigger points for discontinuing or modifying the operation.
- Part 4, Skill Development:
- Demonstrate, then coach the student to minimize the hazardous effects of rotor downwash during hovering. (SH.IX.A.S1)
- Demonstrate, then coach the student to park in an appropriate area, considering the safety of nearby persons and property. (SH.IX.A.S2)
- Demonstrate, then coach the student to complete the appropriate checklist(s). (SH.IX.A.S3)
- Demonstrate, then coach the student to conduct a postflight inspection and document discrepancies and servicing requirements, if any. (SH.IX.A.S4)
- Demonstrate, then coach the student to secure the helicopter-simplified flight controls. (SH.IX.A.S5)
- 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.
Guided Scenario(s)
- After landing at a congested unfamiliar airport, require the student to select an appropriate parking location, manage rotor downwash, supervise passenger movement, complete shutdown and postflight procedures, document discrepancies, and secure the helicopter.
- Ask the student to identify and mitigate distractions, congestion, security requirements, unsafe passenger movement, and hazards to nearby persons or property.
- Require the student to brief and execute the applicable checklist, postflight inspection, discrepancy documentation, and securing procedures while remaining within the POH/RFM and local requirements.
- 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.
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.
Airman Certification Standards
Sport Pilot (Helicopter) Night Operations Airman Certification Standards
- Area of Operation IX: Night Operations.
- Task A: Night Operations.
- Objective: To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with after landing, parking, and securing procedures.
- References: FAA-H-8083-2, FAA-H-8083-21, FAA-H-8083-25; POH/RFM
- Sport Pilot (Helicopter) After Landing, Parking, and Securing Lesson Plan.
Knowledge 2 ACS Elements
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SH.IX.A.K1: Helicopter-simplified flight controls shutdown, securing, and postflight inspection. -
SH.IX.A.K2: Documenting in-flight/postflight discrepancies.
Risk Management 4 ACS Elements
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SH.IX.A.R1: Activities and distractions. -
SH.IX.A.R2: Parking the helicopter-simplified flight controls in a congested area. -
SH.IX.A.R3: Airport specific security procedures. -
SH.IX.A.R4: Disembark passengers safely and monitor passenger movement while on the ramp, as applicable.
Skills 5 ACS Elements
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SH.IX.A.S1: Minimize the hazardous effects of rotor downwash during hovering. -
SH.IX.A.S2: Park in an appropriate area, considering the safety of nearby persons and property. -
SH.IX.A.S3: Complete the appropriate checklist(s). -
SH.IX.A.S4: Conduct a postflight inspection and document discrepancies and servicing requirements, if any. -
SH.IX.A.S5: Secure the helicopter-simplified flight controls.
Conclusion
Re-Motivation:
- Consistent after-landing, parking, and securing performance protects people, property, and the helicopter while completing the flight professionally.
Closure:
- Advise students that this lesson will be used as a starting point for the next lesson.
- Assign study materials for the next lesson.