Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Taxiing & Sailing Lesson Plan
Commercial Pilot (Airplane) • ACS Area II, Task E
The Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Taxiing and Sailing (ASES, AMES) Lesson Plan covers the knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with taxiing and Sailing operations, including runway incursion avoidance.
Introduction
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Schedule
Topic:Time:Attention/Motivator:0:05Part 1, Lesson Introduction:0:05Part 2, Preflight Considerations:0:15Part 3, Taxiing & Sailing Considerations:0:15Part 4, Taxiing & Sailing Procedures:0:15Part 5, Taxiing & Sailing 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:
- Having just started the aircraft and completed the required checklists, the pilot is ready to put the aircraft in motion
- Taxiing is that movement of an aircraft while on the ground, under its own power
- Taxiing is accomplished primarily through the use of the rudder and brakes however, pilots are also required to mitigate the impacts of wind.
- Since movement on an airport's surface involves coordination, clearances requirements/coordination are required to operate
- With the basics in mind, pilots execute Taxi Procedures as they move about an airport's surface area
- While the movement of the aircraft is our primary concern, there remain some checklist items we must accomplish to prepare/close-out an operation
- Finally, while taxiing seems straight forward, it can also be an art, with best practices that can help pilots
- Once your engine has started you must be aware of what you're doing and keep a visual scan, your "flight" has begun
- It may be required initially to tow the aircraft before engines are started to be safe
Materials
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Required Materials:
- Writing instrument (pen, marker, etc.).
- Writing surface (paper, whiteboard, etc.).
- Chart Supplement U.S.
- Airport Diagram.
- Internet-enabled device (to review NOTAMS).
- Airman Certification Standards.
- Student jacket.
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Optional Materials:
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Reference Materials:
- Taxiing Supplement.
- Visual Scanning and Collision Avoidance Supplement.
- Instructor Endorsement Log.
- Chart Supplement U S Supplement
- Airport Diagram Supplement.
- Notice to Airmen Supplement.
- Airport Markings and Signs Supplement.
- Airport Lighting Supplement.
- Aircraft Lighting Supplement.
- Radio Communications Supplement.
- Aeronautical Decision Making Supplement.
- AOPA's Online Learning Course - Runway Safety.
- Fitness for Flight Supplement.
- Chart Supplements.
- Risk Management Handbook.
- Airplane Flying Handbook.
- Seaplane, Skiplane, and Float/ski Equipped Helicopter Operations Handbook.
- Pilot Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge.
- Flight Deck Management Supplement.
- Approach and Landing Supplement.
- Right of Way Supplement.
- Test-taking Guidance.
- Test Guides.
- The Checkride 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, Preflight Considerations:
- Review Chart Supplement, U.S., as it pertains to taxiing
- Review Airport Diagrams, as it pertains to taxiing
- Review Notice to Airman, as it pertains to taxiing
- Part 3, Taxiing & Sailing Considerations:
- Discuss taxi fundamentals operating practices.
- Review taxiing operations at night.
- Review low visibility taxi operations.
- Review airport markings, signs, airport lighting, including runway status lighting systems.
- Review visual indicators for wind.
- Review aircraft lighting, as it pertains to taxiing
- Review visual scanning and collision avoidance.
- Part 4, Taxiing Procedures:
- Discuss taxi checklists.
- Discuss clearance requirements.
- Discuss taxi procedures.
- Discuss steering and braking.
- Discuss wind impacts on taxi.
- Review radio procedures for towered and non-towered airports
- Review confirmation/expectation bias.
- Part 5, Taxiing Guided Scenario(s).
- Part 6, 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)
- Have student find an airport diagram of a local airport
- Review the airport diagram symbology
- What information does the Chart Supplement provide regarding taxi operations?
- What information do Notice to Airmen (NOTAMS) provide regarding taxi operations?
- Highlight hot spots
- Provide a simulated taxi clearance that includes turns, crossing/holding short of runways, etc. Simulated taxi clearance should cover taxiing to an active runway as well as from (post-landing)
- What radio calls are required to comply with the air traffic control clearance?
- Provide environmentals such as wind
- How would a pilot determine wind direction and speed while on the airport, utilizing visual and non-visual means?
- Who has the right-of-way at an intersection (towered/non-towered airports)
- How will flight controls change in turns relative to the environmentals provided?
- Have the student describe the anticipated markings and signs related to taxiway identification and runway identification
- Discuss airport lighting for night operations
- Discuss procedures and mitigations during low visibility taxi operations
- Discuss checklist usage before, during, and after taxiing
- Discuss distractions, unexpected instructions/changes, expectation bias, and what constitutes a runway incursion
- Related scenarios:
- Night Operations
- Aids: None
Student Actions
- Complete the assigned readings (see content above).
- Complete or review AOPA's Online Learning Course - Runway Safety.
- 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) Taxiing and Sailing (ASES, AMES) Airman Certification Standards
- Objective: To determine whether the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with taxiing and Sailing operations, including runway incursion avoidance
- References: AC 91-73; AIM; Chart Supplements; 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-8083-25 (Pilot Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge); POH/AFM.
Knowledge 6 ACS Elements
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CA.II.E.K1: Airport information resources, including Chart Supplements, Airport diagram, and appropriate references. -
CA.II.E.K2: -
CA.II.E.K3: -
CA.II.E.K4: -
CA.II.E.K5: -
CA.II.E.K6: Procedures for:-
CA.II.E.K6a: Appropriate flight deck activities during taxiing or sailing. -
CA.II.E.K6b: Radio communications at towered and nontowered seaplane bases.
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Risk Management 5 ACS Elements
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CA.II.E.R1: -
CA.II.E.R2: -
CA.II.E.R3: Low visibility taxi and sailing operations. -
CA.II.E.R4:
Skills 10 ACS Elements
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CA.II.E.S1: Receive and correctly read back clearances/instructions, if applicable. -
CA.II.E.S2: Use an Airport diagram or taxi chart during taxi, if published. -
CA.II.E.S3: -
CA.II.E.S4: Depart the dock/mooring buoy or beach/ramp in a safe manner, considering wind, current, traffic, and hazards. -
CA.II.E.S5: Complete the appropriate checklist(s). -
CA.II.E.S6: Position the flight controls, flaps, doors, water rudders, and power correctly for the existing conditions to follow the desired course while sailing and to prevent or correct for porpoising and skipping during step taxi. -
CA.II.E.S7: Exhibit procedures for steering and maneuvering while maintaining proper situational awareness and desired orientation, path, and position while taxiing using idle, plow, or step taxi technique, as appropriate. -
CA.II.E.S8: Plan and follow the most favorable taxi or sailing course for current conditions. -
CA.II.E.S9: Abide by right-of-way rules, maintain positive airplane control, proper speed, and separation between other aircraft, vessels, and persons. -
CA.II.E.S10: Comply with applicable taxi elements in Task D if the practical test is conducted in an amphibious airplane.
Conclusion
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Re-Motivation:
- Taxiing and Sailing requires pilots to integrate aircraft control with wind, water, shoreline, traffic, and surface-condition awareness.
- Evaluating landing areas, obstacles, currents, waves, aircraft limitations, and available escape options helps pilots protect safety where conditions can change quickly.
- Deliberate planning, coordinated control inputs, and conservative decision-making turn specialized seaplane procedures into repeatable operational habits.
- Continued practice with Taxiing and Sailing prepares commercial pilots for more varied water environments and increasingly complex seaplane operations.
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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