Private Pilot Lesson Plans
- Tizi
- May 29, 2024
- 5 min read
Updated: Mar 15
"Tower, be advised, student pilot solo inbound" - Student Pilot on Solo Cross Country
STAGE 1: Introduction to Flight and High Altitude Maneuvers
Lesson 1: Familiarization Ground: 2.0 Flight: 1.0
GROUND
Airplane Model / Engine
IMSAFE Checklist
ARROW Checklist
Weight & Balance
U.S. Citizenship Verification and Endorsement
Single-pilot taxi operations (AC 91-73B)
FLIGHT
Scenario-Based Training: Patrol over the Practice Area
Preflight Inspection
Taxiing
Checklist Execution
Normal Takeoff
Four forces of flight
Use of flaps (drag and lift)
Medium Bank Turns
Normal Approach
Normal Landing
Posflight
Lectures:
Attachments:
Lesson 2: Slow Flight Characteristics Ground: 2.0 Flight: 1.0 / 0.3 IFR
GROUND
Engine (starter and stages)
The Power Required curve for straight/level flight
The Landing Phase - use of flaps and threshold speed
Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) (Review AC 61-134)
Slow Flight
Power off stalls
FLIGHT
Scenario-Based Training: Low Speed Patrol for photography
Preflight Inspection
Normal Takeoff
Trimming
Pre-maneuver Checklist
Maneuver Checklist
Slow Flight
Power Off Stalls
Normal Landing
Postflight Inspection
Attachements:
Lesson 3: Stalls and Steep Turns Ground: 1.5 Flight: 1.0
GROUND
Stability / Controllability / Maneuverability
Spins (PEAR)
Steep Turns (Components of Lift, G Forces)
Unusual Attitudes
Power On Stalls
FLIGHT
Preflight Inspection
Normal Takeoff
Trimming
Pre-maneuver Checklist
Maneuver Checklist
Steep Turns
Power On Stalls
Normal Landing
Postflight Inspection
Lesson 4: Review of Stage 1 Ground: 1.5 Flight: 1.0 / 0.3 IFR
GROUND
METARs
TAFs
Fronts
VFR Sectional
Last sanity check: "Are we good to go"?
The FAA Compliance Program
FLIGHT
Preflight Inspection
Normal Takeoff
Trimming
Pre-maneuver Checklist
Maneuver Checklist
Slow flight
Steep Turns
Power Off Stalls
Power On Stalls
Normal Landing
Postflight Inspection
Lesson 5: Stage Check Ground: 1.5 Flight: 1.0 / 0.3 IFR
STAGE 2: Low Altitude Maneuvers and Landings
Lesson 1: Effects of Wind Ground: 2.0 Flight: 1.0 / 0.3 IFR
GROUND
Minimum Altitudes (91.119)
Congested areas
1,000 FT above highest obstacle
2,000 FT away from all obstacles
Non-congested areas
500 FT above the surface
500 FT away from all persons, vessel, vehicle, or structure
Overall
Sufficient altitude for emergency landing without undue hazard to persons or property on the gorund.
The effects of wind
Visual Flying and Instrument Cross-checking
Turns around a point
S-Turns
The Pilot in Command (Review CFRs 91.3, 91.109)
FLIGHT
Scenario-Based Training: Search and Rescue over Hazard
Turns around a point
Rectangular pattern
S-Turns
Lesson 2: The Traffic Pattern Ground: 2.0 Flight: 1.0
GROUND
Aircraft Turning Tendencies
The geometry of the traffic pattern
The Steps of a traffic pattern landing
Flares and touchdown techniques
Medical Certificates (review CFR 61.23)
Currency vs. Proficiency (review CFR 61.57 and Proficiency and the Private Pilot)
Flying with broken stuff... Inoperative Equipment
FLIGHT
Scenario-Based Training: Investigate airport surroundings and obstacles
Transit to non-towered field
Traffic pattern operations
Landings (touch and go)
Lesson 3.x: Traffic Pattern Practice Ground: 1.5 Flight: 1.0 / 0.3 IFR
This lesson repeats until the student is solid on landings.
FLIGHT
Traffic pattern operations
Landings (touch and go)
Go-arounds
Radio calls
Lesson 4A: Ground Reference Maneuver Review Ground: 1.5 Flight: 1.0
FLIGHT
Scenario-Based Training: Search and Rescue over Hazard
Turns around a point
Rectangular pattern
S-Turns
Lesson 4B: Pattern Emergencies CFI discretion - This is a higher risk flight. Please execute with experienced pilot, only.
GROUND
Rejected Takeoff
Impossible Turn (Vx and Vy)
Engine out from downwind
Forward Slips
Effects of Slips and Skids on turns, stalls, and spins
FLIGHT
Scenario-Based Training: Investigate how safe the airport is
Preferable KLHW with open tower
Rejected Takeoff
Impossible Turn (Vx and Vy)
Engine out from downwind
Forward Slips
Lesson 5A: Pre-solo Verification & Exam Ground: 1.5 Flight: ~1.0
GROUND
Pre-solo exam
Endorsements completed
FLIGHT
Traffic pattern operations
Landings (touch and go)
Go-arounds
Radio calls
Lesson 5B: First Solo (0.5 hrs) Ground: ~0.5 Flight: ~0.5
GROUND
Verification of all documentation
Decision on location and type of operation
Formal Weather Briefing
FLIGHT
3 Landings and 1 Go-around with instructor
3 landings (FULL STOP TAXI BACK) without instructor
Lesson 5C: Further Solo (1.5 hrs) Ground: ~0.5 Flight: 1.5
Lesson 6: Stage Check Ground: 2.0 Flight: 1.0 / 0.3 IFR
STAGE 3: Cross Country
Lesson 1A: Short-Field, Soft-Field, Cross-Winds Ground: 1.5 Flight: 1.0
GROUND
Theory of Short Field and Soft Field Takeoffs
Theory of Short Field and Soft Field Landings
Review of Vx and Vy
Factors affecting Takeoff and Landing Performance
FLIGHT
Short field take off
Short field landing
Soft field take off
Soft field landing
Cross-wind take off
Cross wind landing
Lesson 1B: Student Solo (Practice Area ) Ground: 1.5 Flight: 1.0
GROUND
Review of documentation, endorsements
FLIGHT
At student's comfort level
Steep turns
Slow flight
Landing at another familiar airport
Lesson 2: Student Solo (Nearby airport) Ground: 1.5 Flight: 1.0
Repeat of lesson 1 (can be dual or solo)
Lesson 3: Introduction to Cross Country (expect pain, sorry.) Ground: 3.0 Flight: 2.0
GROUND
Definition of Cross Country
Nature and purpose of VFR Flight Plans
Nature and purpose of Flight Service Stations
Confusion with VFR Flight Following (ATC)
How to do a Navigation Log
Methods of navigation (Visual, GPS, VOR)
FLIGHT
Cross Country Flight (Round robin)
In-flight navigation log performance verifications
Simulated IFR
Lost procedures
Parking at a Fixed-Based Operator (FBO)
Lesson 4: Student Solo XC (same route as lesson 3) Ground: 1.0 Flight: 2.0
Nominal flight as lesson 3 (same airport)
Lesson 5A: Dual Long XC Ground: 1.5 Flight: 3.0
GROUND
Definition of Cross Country
Nature and purpose of VFR Flight Plans
Nature and purpose of Flight Service Stations
Confusion with VFR Flight Following (ATC)
How to do a Navigation Log
Methods of navigation (Visual, GPS, VOR)
FLIGHT
Cross Country Flight (Round robin)
In-flight navigation log performance verifications
Simulated IFR
Lost procedures
Parking at a Fixed-Based Operator (FBO)
Lesson 5B: Solo Long XC Ground: 0.5 Flight: 3.0
Same route as previous lesson.
Lesson 5C Continued: Remaining XC Time Ground: A/R per each flight Flight: A/R to complete XC time
As required to complete XC time
Lesson 6: Stage Check
STAGE 4: Checkride Prep
Lesson 1: Checkride Prep (All maneuvers/landings) Ground: 1.0 Flight: 1.5
GROUND
Theory of Short Field and Soft Field Takeoffs
Theory of Short Field and Soft Field Landings
Review of Vx and Vy
Factors affecting Takeoff and Landing Performance
FLIGHT
Short field take off
Short field landing
Soft field take off
Soft field landing
Cross-wind take off
Cross wind landing
Lesson 2A: Dual Night Flight Ground: 1.0 Flight: 1.5
GROUND
Recognize FAA requirements compared to other countries
Understand the definition(s) of night time
Identify the required personal equipment
Understand night time minimum equipmentrequired
Recognize the ease of identifying aircraft and cities
Familiarize with airport lighting
Discuss psychology and imagination concerning night flight
Understand Night visual illusions
Operations with and without landing lights
FLIGHT
Night visual illusions
Black hole at KCWV or KTBR
Use of night lights
Airport lights
Landings with and without landing lights
Over-water CFIT experiment
Lesson 2B: Dual Night XC Ground: 1.0 Flight: 1.5
GROUND
Review of night illusions
Review of XC plan
FLIGHT
Night XC
NAVLOG performance checks
Pilotage
Lesson 3: Dual/Solo Night XC (Recommend dual) Ground: 1.5 Flight: 2.0
GROUND
Review of night illusions
Review of XC plan
FLIGHT
Night XC
NAVLOG performance checks
Pilotage
Lesson 4: Solo Practice Ground: 1.5 Flight: 1.0
GROUND
Endorsements
Documentation
FLIGHT
High and low altitude maneuvers
Takeoffs/landings
Lesson 5x: Checkride Prep Ground: A/R Flight: A/R
Full checkride simulation
Lesson 5: Stage Check
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