Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Preflight Assessment Lesson Plan
Commercial Pilot (Airplane) • ACS Area II, Task A
The Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Preflight Assessment covers the knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with preparation for safe flight.
Introduction
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Schedule
Topic:Time:Attention/Motivator:0:05Part 1, Lesson Introduction:0:05Part 2, Review Airworthiness:0:15Part 3, Aircraft Preflight:0:15Part 4, Review Pilot Self-Assessments:0:15Part 5, Other Assessment Considerations:0:10Part 6, Preflight Assessment Guided Scenario(s):0:20Part 7, Lesson Conclusion:0:20Remotivation/Closure:0:05Total Ground Time:0:00
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Attention-Getter:
- Research a 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:
- Aeronautical Decision-Making is the systematic approach to consistently determine the best decision in response to a given set of circumstances
- Safe flying requires the effective integration of three separate sets of skills:
- Most noticeable are the basic stick-and-rudder skills needed to control the airplane
- Next are skills related to the proficient operation of aircraft systems
- Last but not least, are Aeronautical Decision-Making (ADM) skills
- ADM is an ever evolving systematic approach to the mental process (risk and stress management) used by pilots to consistently determine the best course of action in response to a given set of circumstances
- An understanding of the decision-making process provides a pilot with a foundation for developing ADM skills
- While these models guide pilots help prevent facing the consequences of improper decision-making, decision-making in a dynamic environment provides unique challenges each flight
- To maintain readiness for dynamic situations, pilots must continuously practice maintaining situational awareness to their surroundings
- Two defining elements of ADM are hazard and risk
- While the FAA strives to eliminate errors through technology, training, systems, and improved flight safety programs, one fact remains: humans make errors
- There is an element of risk in every flight, and therefore, pilots must apply the principles of risk management throughout the ADM process
Materials
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Required Materials:
- Writing instrument (pen, marker, etc.).
- Writing surface (paper, whiteboard, etc.).
- Aircraft.
- Airman Certification Standards.
- Student jacket.
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Optional Materials:
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Reference Materials:
- Aeronautical Decision Making Supplement.
- Fitness for Flight Supplement.
- Instructor Endorsement Log.
- Airworthiness Supplement.
- Aircraft Components and Structure Supplement.
- Ground Procedures Supplement.
- Taxiing Supplement.
- Airport Markings and Signs Supplement.
- Risk Management Handbook.
- Airplane Flying Handbook.
- Seaplane, Skiplane, and Float/ski Equipped Helicopter Operations Handbook.
- Checklist Usage in Aviation Supplement.
- Test-taking Guidance.
- Test Guides.
- The Checkride Supplement.
Instructor Actions
- Before the lesson, review reference materials.
- Step 1, Lesson Introduction:
- Review the lesson plan, including the attention and motivator.
- Review the airman certification standards.
- Part 1, Review Airworthiness:
- Review the definition and how to determine airworthiness (introduced on airworthiness-requirements lesson plan).
- Review roles and responsibilities of the owner and operator assuming they are not the same individual or entity (introduced on airworthiness-requirements lesson plan).
- Review the documents required for an aircraft to be considered airworthy (introduced on airworthiness-requirements lesson plan).
- Review airworthiness documents in the context of the acronym "ARROW" or "airworthiness certificate, registration certificate, radio certificate, operating handbook, and weight and balance
- Contrast the responsibility for maintaining airworthiness and the determination of airworthiness
- Step 3, Aircraft Preflight:
- Review Review Aircraft Components and Structure (introduced on operation of aircraft systems lesson plan)
- Review the conduct of a preflight check, using a approved school or POH checklist.
- Discuss case studies.
- Step 4, Review Pilot Self-Assessments:
- Perform self-assessment, including fitness for flight and personal minimums, for actual flight or a scenario given by the instructor (introduced on human factors lesson plan).
- Part 2, Other Assessment Considerations:
- Mission scenario
- External pressures
- Monitoring situation
- Introduce aviation security concerns for local airport and in general
- Part 3, Guided Scenario
- Part 4, 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)
- The pilot is flying to a family wedding, but is behind schedule. The pilot is renting their usual aircraft, but notices the airworthiness certificate is missing from the aircraft. However, quickly looking through their phone, the pilot is able to find a photo of the airworthiness certificate that is completely legible. The pilot conducts a thorough preflight and flies to the wedding without incident...
- Was the aircraft airworthy?
- Was a photo of the airworthiness certificate sufficient?
- Should the pilot have done anything differently? What?
- The pilot discoveres some dents on the aircraft. Is the aircraft safe to fly?
- How does surface deformation hazards differ between monocoque and semi-monocoque designs?
- Is it skin damage, or impact formers as well?
- Is there deformation affecting a large portion of the aircraft, or is it in a localized area?
- Related scenarios:
- None
Student Actions
- Complete the assigned readings (see content above).
- 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
Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Preflight Assessment Airman Certification Standards
- Objective: To determine whether the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with preparation for safe flight
- References: FAA-H-8083-2 (Risk Management Handbook), FAA-H-8083-3 (Airplane Flying Handbook), FAA-H-8083-23 (Seaplane, Skiplane, and Float/Ski Equipped Helicopter Operations Handbook), FAA-H-8033-25 (Pilot Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge), FAA-h_8083-28; POH/AFM.
Knowledge 4 ACS Elements
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CA.II.A.K1: -
CA.II.A.K2: -
CA.II.A.K3: Airplane preflight inspection, including:-
CA.II.A.K3a: Which items should be inspected. -
CA.II.A.K3b: The reasons for checking each item. -
CA.II.A.K3c: How to detect possible defects. -
CA.II.A.K3d: The associated regulations.
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CA.II.A.K4: Environmental factors, including weather, terrain, route selection, and obstructions.
Risk Management 5 ACS Elements
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CA.II.A.R1: -
CA.II.A.R2: -
CA.II.A.R3: Environment (e.g., weather, airports, airspace, terrain, obstacles). -
CA.II.A.R4: External pressures. -
CA.II.A.R5:
Skills 4 ACS Elements
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CA.II.A.S1: Inspect the airplane with reference to an appropriate checklist. -
CA.II.A.S2: Verify the airplane is in condition for safe flight and conforms to its type design. -
CA.II.A.S3: Perform self-assessment. -
CA.II.A.S4: Continue to assess the environment for safe flight.
Conclusion
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Re-Motivation:
- Preflight Assessment reinforces that safe flight depends on disciplined preparation, positive aircraft control, and attention to detail before and after the airborne portion of a flight.
- Checklists, clear communication, traffic awareness, configuration verification, and early recognition of discrepancies prevent routine ground tasks from creating avoidable hazards.
- Managing distractions and continuously confirming aircraft position, condition, and readiness turn standard procedures into effective risk controls.
- Continued practice with Preflight Assessment prepares commercial pilots for busier environments, unfamiliar aircraft, and more complex operations later in training.
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Closure:
- The FAA provides test-taking guidance and test guides on its website.
- To learn more about preparing for the practical test, visit the checkride page.
- Advise students that this lesson will be used as a starting point for the next lesson
- Assign study materials for the next lesson