Sport Pilot (Helicopter) Confined Area Operations Lesson Plan

Sport Pilot (Helicopter) • ACS Area V, Task F

The Sport Pilot (Helicopter) Confined Area Operations Lesson Plan covers the knowledge, risk management, and skills required by FAA-S-ACS-26.

Sport Pilot (Helicopter) Confined Area Operations Lesson Plan

Introduction

  • Schedule

    Topic:
    Time:
    Attention/Motivator:
    0:05
    Part 1, Lesson Introduction:
    0:05
    Part 2, Knowledge Elements:
    0:20
    Part 3, Risk Management:
    0:15
    Part 4, Skill Development:
    0:30
    Part 5, Guided Scenario(s):
    0:20
    Part 6, Lesson Conclusion:
    0:05
    Remotivation/Closure:
    0:05
    Total Ground Time:
    0:00

  • Attention Getter:

    • Present a helicopter scenario in which the outcome depends on sound confined area operations knowledge, risk management, and technique.
    • Ask the student to identify the earliest decision or control input that determines a safe outcome.

  • Motivator:

    • To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with confined area operations.

Help Us Grow

Enjoy CFI Notebook? A one-time donation helps us create more high-quality lessons, quizzes, scenarios, graphics, and interactive tools.

One-Time Donation
Sport Pilot (Helicopter) Confined Area Operations Lesson Plan

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, NOTAMs, and electronic flight bag, as applicable.
    • Helicopter, cockpit procedures trainer, or approved training device, as appropriate.

  • Reference Materials:

Sport Pilot (Helicopter) Confined Area Operations Lesson Plan

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 V, Task F, and the Airman Certification Standards.
    • State the lesson objective: To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with confined area operations.
  • Part 2, Knowledge Elements:
    • Explain and discuss SH.V.F.K1: Effects of wind, weight, temperature, and density altitude.
    • Explain and discuss SH.V.F.K2: Situations when a confined area approach and landing is recommended and factors related to landing performance including H/V diagram information, as applicable.
    • Explain and discuss SH.V.F.K3: High and low reconnaissance, including takeoff and departure planning.
    • Explain and discuss SH.V.F.K4: Power requirements versus power available for the departure or arrival profile(s).
  • Part 3, Risk Management:
    • Use a helicopter scenario to have the student identify, assess, and mitigate SH.V.F.R1: Selection of approach path, termination point and departure path based on aircraft performance and limitations, wind, and availability of alternate sites.
    • Use a helicopter scenario to have the student identify, assess, and mitigate SH.V.F.R2: Effects of:
    • Use a helicopter scenario to have the student identify, assess, and mitigate SH.V.F.R2a: Wind Direction
    • Use a helicopter scenario to have the student identify, assess, and mitigate SH.V.F.R2b: Windshear
    • Use a helicopter scenario to have the student identify, assess, and mitigate SH.V.F.R2c: Turbulence
    • Use a helicopter scenario to have the student identify, assess, and mitigate SH.V.F.R3: H/V diagram information, as applicable.
    • Use a helicopter scenario to have the student identify, assess, and mitigate SH.V.F.R4: Go-around.
    • Use a helicopter scenario to have the student identify, assess, and mitigate SH.V.F.R5: Forced landing during the maneuver.
    • Use a helicopter scenario to have the student identify, assess, and mitigate SH.V.F.R6: Landing surface.
    • Use a helicopter scenario to have the student identify, assess, and mitigate SH.V.F.R7: Dynamic rollover.
    • Use a helicopter scenario to have the student identify, assess, and mitigate SH.V.F.R8: Ground resonance, as applicable.
    • Use a helicopter scenario to have the student identify, assess, and mitigate SH.V.F.R9: Low rotor rpm, as applicable.
    • Use a helicopter scenario to have the student identify, assess, and mitigate SH.V.F.R10: Loss of tail rotor effectiveness (LTE), as applicable.
    • Use a helicopter scenario to have the student identify, assess, and mitigate SH.V.F.R11: Collision hazards.
    • Use a helicopter scenario to have the student identify, assess, and mitigate SH.V.F.R12: Vortex ring state (VRS).
    • Use a helicopter scenario to have the student identify, assess, and mitigate SH.V.F.R13: Aircraft limitations.
    • Use a helicopter scenario to have the student identify, assess, and mitigate SH.V.F.R14: Distractions, task prioritization, loss of situational awareness, or disorientation.
    • Use a helicopter scenario to have the student identify, assess, and mitigate SH.V.F.R15: Power requirements versus power available for the departure or arrival profile(s).
    • Require the student to verbalize trigger points for discontinuing or modifying the operation.
  • Part 4, Skill Development:
    • Demonstrate, then coach the student to SH.V.F.S1: Complete the appropriate checklist(s).
    • Demonstrate, then coach the student to SH.V.F.S2: Make radio calls as appropriate.
    • Demonstrate, then coach the student to SH.V.F.S3: Confirm power available meets or exceeds the power required for the selected arrival or departure profile(s).
    • Demonstrate, then coach the student to SH.V.F.S4: Determine wind direction with or without visible wind direction indicators.
    • Demonstrate, then coach the student to SH.V.F.S5: Accomplish a proper high and low reconnaissance of the confined landing area.
    • Demonstrate, then coach the student to SH.V.F.S6: Select a suitable approach path, termination point, and departure path.
    • Demonstrate, then coach the student to SH.V.F.S7: Track the selected approach path at an acceptable approach angle and rate of closure to the termination point.
    • Demonstrate, then coach the student to SH.V.F.S8: Continually evaluate the suitability of the confined landing area and termination point.
    • Demonstrate, then coach the student to SH.V.F.S9: Maintain powerplant and main rotor(s) (Nr) speed within normal limits.
    • Demonstrate, then coach the student to SH.V.F.S10: Accomplish a proper ground reconnaissance.
    • Demonstrate, then coach the student to SH.V.F.S11: Terminate in a hover or on the surface, as appropriate.
    • Demonstrate, then coach the student to SH.V.F.S12: Select a suitable takeoff point, considers factors affecting takeoff and climb performance under various conditions.
    • Demonstrate, then coach the student to SH.V.F.S13: Use single-pilot resource management (SRM) or crew resource management (CRM), as appropriate.
    • 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.
Sport Pilot (Helicopter) Confined Area Operations Lesson Plan

Guided Scenario(s)

  • During a planned helicopter flight, conditions require the student to apply the knowledge and procedures associated with confined area operations.
  • Ask the student to identify hazards, including Selection of approach path, termination point and departure path based on aircraft performance and limitations, wind, and availability of alternate sites., and explain how each risk will be controlled.
  • Require the student to brief, perform, or explain how to Complete the appropriate checklist(s)., as appropriate to the task and training environment.
  • 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.
Sport Pilot (Helicopter) Confined Area Operations Lesson Plan

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.
Sport Pilot (Helicopter) Confined Area Operations Lesson Plan

Airman Certification Standards

Sport Pilot (Helicopter) Confined Area Operations Airman Certification Standards

  • Area of Operation V: Takeoffs Landings And Go Arounds.
  • Task F: Confined Area Operations.
  • Objective: To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with confined area operations.
  • References: AIM; FAA-H-8083-2, FAA-H-8083-21, FAA-H-8083-25; POH/RFM
  • Sport Pilot (Helicopter) Confined Area Operations Lesson Plan.
Knowledge 4 ACS Elements
  • SH.V.F.K1:
    Effects of wind, weight, temperature, and density altitude.
  • SH.V.F.K2:
    Situations when a confined area approach and landing is recommended and factors related to landing performance including H/V diagram information, as applicable.
  • SH.V.F.K3:
    High and low reconnaissance, including takeoff and departure planning.
  • SH.V.F.K4:
    Power requirements versus power available for the departure or arrival profile(s).
Risk Management 15 ACS Elements
  • SH.V.F.R1:
    Selection of approach path, termination point and departure path based on aircraft performance and limitations, wind, and availability of alternate sites.
  • SH.V.F.R2:
    Effects of:
    • SH.V.F.R2a:
      Wind Direction
    • SH.V.F.R2b:
      Windshear
    • SH.V.F.R2c:
      Turbulence
  • SH.V.F.R3:
    H/V diagram information, as applicable.
  • SH.V.F.R4:
    Go-around.
  • SH.V.F.R5:
    Forced landing during the maneuver.
  • SH.V.F.R6:
    Landing surface.
  • SH.V.F.R7:
    Dynamic rollover.
  • SH.V.F.R8:
    Ground resonance, as applicable.
  • SH.V.F.R9:
    Low rotor rpm, as applicable.
  • SH.V.F.R10:
    Loss of tail rotor effectiveness (LTE), as applicable.
  • SH.V.F.R11:
    Collision hazards.
  • SH.V.F.R12:
    Vortex ring state (VRS).
  • SH.V.F.R13:
    Aircraft limitations.
  • SH.V.F.R14:
    Distractions, task prioritization, loss of situational awareness, or disorientation.
  • SH.V.F.R15:
    Power requirements versus power available for the departure or arrival profile(s).
Skills 13 ACS Elements
  • SH.V.F.S1:
    Complete the appropriate checklist(s).
  • SH.V.F.S2:
    Make radio calls as appropriate.
  • SH.V.F.S3:
    Confirm power available meets or exceeds the power required for the selected arrival or departure profile(s).
  • SH.V.F.S4:
    Determine wind direction with or without visible wind direction indicators.
  • SH.V.F.S5:
    Accomplish a proper high and low reconnaissance of the confined landing area.
  • SH.V.F.S6:
    Select a suitable approach path, termination point, and departure path.
  • SH.V.F.S7:
    Track the selected approach path at an acceptable approach angle and rate of closure to the termination point.
  • SH.V.F.S8:
    Continually evaluate the suitability of the confined landing area and termination point.
  • SH.V.F.S9:
    Maintain powerplant and main rotor(s) (Nr) speed within normal limits.
  • SH.V.F.S10:
    Accomplish a proper ground reconnaissance.
  • SH.V.F.S11:
    Terminate in a hover or on the surface, as appropriate.
  • SH.V.F.S12:
    Select a suitable takeoff point, considers factors affecting takeoff and climb performance under various conditions.
  • SH.V.F.S13:
    Use single-pilot resource management (SRM) or crew resource management (CRM), as appropriate.
Sport Pilot (Helicopter) Confined Area Operations Lesson Plan

Conclusion

  • Re-Motivation:

    • Consistent confined area operations performance protects the helicopter's limited margins and supports sound pilot-in-command decisions.

  • Closure:

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