Commercial Pilot (Airplane) National Airspace System Lesson Plan
Commercial Pilot (Airplane) • ACS Area I, Task E
The Commercial Pilot (Airplane) National Airspace System Lesson Plan covers the knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with National Airspace System (NAS) operations under VFR as a private pilot.
Introduction
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Schedule
Topic:Time:Attention/Motivator:0:05Part 1, Lesson Introduction:0:05Part 2, Airspace Overview:0:10Part 3, Class Alpha Airspace:0:10Part 4, Class Bravo Airspace:0:10Part 5, Class Charlie Airspace:0:10Part 6, Class Delta Airspace:0:10Part 7, Class Echo Airspace:0:10Part 8, Class Golf Airspace:0:10Part 9, Special Use Airspace:0:15Part 10, Other Airspace:0:15Part 11, Special Procedures:0:05Part 12, Review Equipment:0:10Part 13, National Airspace System Guided Scenario(s):0:20Part 14, 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 airspace in training or typical operating area
- Relate similar personal experiences
- Consider incorporating a case study as a guided scenario
- Research and present a mishap case study:
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Motivator:
- The National Airspace System (NAS) is the network of United States airspace, air navigation facilities, services, airports, regulations, procedures, technical information, human resources, and material shared jointly between the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the military.
- The national airspace system is divided into categories and further classified by complexity, density, nature of operations, level of safety required, and national and public interest.
- The FAA designs rules, regulations, and procedures pilots must follow depending on the airspace they operate within.
- Airspace is generally charted to identify its location, hours of operation, altitudes, etc.
- Nationally, the airspace is monitored and publicly displayed using the Operational Information System.
Materials
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Required Materials:
- Writing instrument (pen, marker, etc.).
- Writing surface (paper, whiteboard, etc.).
- Sectional chart.
- Chart Supplement, U.S.
- Airman Certification Standards.
- Student jacket.
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Optional Materials:
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Reference Materials:
- Instructor Endorsement Log.
- Visual Flight Rules Supplement.
- Special VFR Supplement.
- Controlled Airspace Supplement.
- Class Golf Airspace Supplement.
- Special Use Airspace Supplement.
- Other Airspace Supplement.
- Review Special Awareness Training.
- Transponder Supplement.
- Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast Supplement.
- AOPA's Online Learning Course - Know Before You Go: Navigating Today's Airspace.
- Fitness for Flight Supplement.
- Federal Aviation Regulations Part 71.
- Federal Aviation Regulations Part 91.
- Federal Aviation Regulations Part 93.
- Aeronautical Information Manual.
- Risk Management Handbook.
- Airplane Flying Handbook.
- Pilot Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge.
- National Airspace System Supplement.
- Navigation Charts Supplement.
Instructor Actions
- Before the lesson, review reference materials.
- Part 1, Introduce the lesson:
- Review the lesson plan, including the attention and motivator.
- Review the airman certification standards.
- Part 2, Airspace Overview:
- Review or review basic VFR weather minimums.
- Review the two airspace categories (regulatory and non-regulatory).
- Review the four types of airspace (controlled, uncontrolled, special use, and other) and which are regulatory vs. not.
- Review basic VFR weather minimums for all airspaces and altitudes.
- Review special VFR requirements and procedures.
- Part 3, Review Class Alpha airspace information:
- Review Class Alpha airspace air traffic services.
- Review Class Alpha airspace dimensions.
- Review Class Alpha airspace depiction (include symbology/airport data information).
- Review Class Alpha airspace operating rules & pilot/equipment requirements (requirements, limitations and phraseology).
- Review Class Alpha ATC authorizations and deviations.
- Part 4, Review Class Bravo airspace information:
- Review Class Bravo airspace air traffic services.
- Review Class Bravo airspace dimensions.
- Review Class Bravo airspace depiction (include symbology/airport data information).
- Review Class Bravo airspace operating rules & pilot/equipment requirements (requirements, limitations and phraseology).
- Review Class Bravo ATC authorizations and deviations.
- Part 5, Review Class Charlie airspace information:
- Review Class Charlie airspace air traffic services.
- Review Class Charlie airspace dimensions.
- Review Class Charlie airspace depiction (include symbology/airport data information).
- Review Class Charlie airspace operating rules & pilot/equipment requirements (requirements, limitations and phraseology).
- Review Class Charlie ATC authorizations and deviations.
- Review secondary/satellite airports.
- Part 6, Review Class Delta airspace information:
- Review Class Delta airspace air traffic services.
- Review Class Delta airspace dimensions.
- Review Class Delta airspace depiction (include symbology/airport data information).
- Review Class Delta airspace operating rules & pilot/equipment requirements (requirements, limitations and phraseology).
- Review Class Delta ATC authorizations and deviations.
- Review weather observations and reporting.
- Part 7, Review Class Echo airspace information:
- Review Class Echo airspace air traffic services.
- Review Class Echo airspace dimensions.
- Review Class Echo airspace depiction (include symbology/airport data information).
- Review Class Echo airspace operating rules & pilot/equipment requirements (requirements, limitations and phraseology).
- Review Class Echo functions.
- Review weather observations and reporting.
- Part 8, Review Class Golf airspace information:
- Review Class Golf airspace air traffic services.
- Review Class Golf airspace dimensions.
- Review Class Golf airspace depiction (include symbology/airport data information).
- Review Class Golf airspace operating rules & pilot/equipment requirements (requirements, limitations and phraseology).
- Review Class Golf airspace considerations.
- Review weather observations and reporting.
- Part 9, Review Special use airspace requirements, limitations, and chart symbology:
- Review prohibited airspace.
- Review restricted airspace.
- Review national security areas.
- Review military operating areas.
- Review alert areas.
- Review controlled firing areas.
- Review warning areas.
- Part 10, Review Other airspace requirements, limitations, and chart symbology:
- Review wildlife & recreational areas.
- Review terminal radar service areas.
- Review airport advisory areas & services.
- Review military training routes.
- Review parachute jump aircraft areas.
- Review temporary flight restrictions (identifying and operating within).
- Review published VFR routes.
- Review air defense identification zones.
- Review Special Air Traffic Rules (SATRs) and Special Flight Rules Areas (SFRAs).
- Review weather reconnaissance areas.
- Review aircraft hazard areas.
- Part 11, Review Special Awareness Training.
- Part 12, Review Equipment:
- Briefly Review the purpose and function of a transponder (discussed fully in operation of systems lesson plan).
- Briefly Review the purpose and function of a Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) equipment (discussed fully in operation of systems lesson plan).
- Briefly Review Reduced Vertical Separation Minima (RVSM) airspace (discussed fully in radio communications, navigation systems/Facilities, and radar services lesson plans).
- Part 13, guided scenario:
- Part 14, Lesson Conclusion:
- 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)
- Chose a random series of courses across a sectional, crossing different types and classes of airspace
- Assume a pilot is flying each leg
- Discuss entry requirements
- Discuss equipment requirements
- Discuss radio procedures, as appropriate
- Discuss VFR weather minimums to operate
- Ask the student how to communicate with FSS while enroute
- Point out symbols across the route and have the student interpret
- Discuss how to find special use airspace, especially temporary flight restrictions
- Related scenarios:
Student Actions
- Complete the assigned readings (see content above).
- Complete or review AOPA's Online Learning Course - Know Before You Go: Navigating Today's Airspace.
- Ask pertinent questions
- Perform self-assessment, including fitness for flight and personal minimums, as appropriate.
- Make a go/no-go decision, as appropriate
- Complete Special Awareness Training.
Airman Certification Standards
Commercial Pilot (Airplane) National Airspace System Airman Certification Standards
- Objective: To determine whether the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with National Airspace System (NAS) operations under VFR as a commercial pilot
- References: 14 CFR parts 71, 91, 93; AIM; FAA-H-8083-2 (Risk Management Handbook), FAA-H-8083-3 (Airplane Flying Handbook), FAA-H-8083-25 (Pilot Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge); VFR Navigation Charts
Knowledge 4 ACS Elements
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CA.I.E.K1: -
CA.I.E.K2: -
CA.I.E.K3: -
CA.I.E.K4:
Risk Management 1 ACS Element
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CA.I.E.R1: Various classes and types of airspace.
Skills 3 ACS Elements
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CA.I.E.S1: Identify and comply with the requirements for basic VFR weather minimums and flying in particular classes of airspace. -
CA.I.E.S2: Correctly identify airspace and operate in accordance with associated communication and equipment requirements. -
CA.I.E.S3: Identify the requirements for operating in SUA or within a TFR. Identify and comply with special air traffic rules (SATR) and SFRA operations, if applicable.
Conclusion
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Re-Motivation:
- National Airspace System gives pilots the shared procedures, terminology, and situational awareness needed to operate predictably with other aircraft and air traffic services.
- Accurate interpretation, concise communication, proper readbacks, and early clarification reduce ambiguity before it becomes an airspace, runway, or traffic conflict.
- Combining outside scanning, airport and airspace knowledge, chart use, and disciplined cockpit workload supports safe decisions in controlled and uncontrolled environments.
- Continued practice with National Airspace System prepares commercial pilots for busier airspace, more complex clearances, and increasingly demanding flight 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