Instrument Rating Cross Country Flight Planning Lesson Plan

Instrument Rating • ACS Area I, Task C

The Instrument Rating Cross-Country Flight Planning covers the knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with planning an IFR cross-country and filing an IFR flight plan.

Instrument Rating Cross Country Flight Planning Lesson Plan

Introduction

  • Schedule

    Topic:
    Time:
    Attention/Motivator:
    0:05
    Part 1, Lesson Introduction:
    0:05
    Part 2, Cross-Country Preparation:
    0:45
    Part 3, Flight Planning Factors:
    0:10
    Part 4, Completing a Flight Plan:
    0:10
    Part 5, Contingencies:
    0:15
    Part 6, Cross-Country Flight Planning Guided Scenario(s):
    0:20
    Part 7, Lesson Conclusion:
    0:05
    Remotivation/Closure:
    0:05
    Total Ground Time:
    0:00

  • Attention Getter:

  • Motivator:

    • Flight planning is the process in which a pilot prepares for an upcoming flight
      • While often associated with completing a navigation log for a cross-country, flight planning is a process that must be conducted even for local flights in the traffic pattern
    • It is a descriptive process therefore involving more than one type of navigation
    • If no wind information is available, plan using statistical winds, make them headwinds to be conservative in your fuel planning
    • Pilots will chose a route of flight and select cruise altitude based on a variety of factors
Instrument Rating Cross Country Flight Planning Lesson Plan

Materials

Instrument Rating Cross Country Flight Planning Lesson Plan

Instructor Actions

Instrument Rating Cross Country Flight Planning Lesson Plan

Guided Scenario(s)

  • Complete a flight log
  • Related scenarios:
Instrument Rating Cross Country Flight Planning Lesson Plan

Student Actions

Instrument Rating Cross Country Flight Planning Lesson Plan

Airman Certification Standards

Instrument Rating Cross-Country Flight Planning Airman Certification Standards

Knowledge 5 ACS Elements
  • IR.I.C.K1:
    Route planning, including consideration of:.
  • IR.I.C.K2:
    Altitude selection accounting for terrain and obstacles, glide distance of airplane, IFR cruising altitudes, effect of wind, and oxygen requirements.
  • IR.I.C.K3:
    Calculating:.
    • IR.I.C.K3a: Time, climb and descent rates, course, distance, heading, true airspeed, and groundspeed.
    • IR.I.C.K3b: Estimated time of arrival to include conversion to universal coordinated time (UTC).
    • IR.I.C.K3c: Fuel requirements, including reserve.
  • IR.I.C.K4:
    Elements of an IFR flight plan.
  • IR.I.C.K5:
    Procedures for activating and closing an IFR flight plan in controlled and uncontrolled airspace.
Risk Management 7 ACS Elements
  • IR.I.C.R1:
    Pilot.
  • IR.I.C.R2:
    Aircraft.
  • IR.I.C.R3:
    Environment (e.g., weather, airports, airspace, terrain, obstacles).
  • IR.I.C.R4:
    External pressures.
  • IR.I.C.R5:
    Limitations of air traffic control (ATC) services.
  • IR.I.C.R6:
    Limitations of electronic planning applications and programs.
  • IR.I.C.R7:
    Fuel planning.
Skills 6 ACS Elements
  • IR.I.C.S1:
    Prepare, present, and explain a cross-country flight plan assigned by the evaluator including a risk analysis based on real time weather, which includes calculating time en route and fuel considering factors such as power settings, operating altitude, wind, fuel reserve requirements, and weight and balance requirements.
  • IR.I.C.S2:
    Recalculate fuel reserves based on a scenario provided by the evaluator.
  • IR.I.C.S3:
    Create a navigation plan and simulate filing an IFR flight plan.
  • IR.I.C.S4:
    Interpret departure, arrival, en route, and approach procedures with reference to appropriate and current charts.
  • IR.I.C.S5:
    Recognize simulated wing contamination due to airframe icing and demonstrate knowledge of the adverse effects of airframe icing during pre-takeoff, takeoff, cruise, and landing phases of flight as well as the corrective actions.
  • IR.I.C.S6:
    Apply pertinent information from appropriate and current aeronautical charts, Chart Supplements; Notices to Air Missions (NOTAMs) relative to airport, runway and taxiway closures; and other flight publications.
Instrument Rating Cross Country Flight Planning Lesson Plan

Conclusion

  • Re-Motivation:

    • Cross Country Flight Planning develops the procedural discipline, instrument interpretation, and aircraft control required when outside visual references are limited or unavailable.
    • Cross-checking instruments, anticipating clearances, monitoring navigation performance, and recognizing deviations early preserve situational awareness and safe margins.
    • Accurate communication, checklist use, workload management, and timely missed-approach or alternate decisions connect technical proficiency with sound instrument-flight judgment.
    • Continued practice with Cross Country Flight Planning prepares instrument pilots for more complex procedures, system failures, and real-world IFR decision-making.

  • Closure:

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