FAA-S-8081-187
5. knowledge of development and effective use of a course of training, a syllabus, and a lesson plan; and
6. ability to demonstrate all required procedures and maneuvers to the COMMERCIAL PILOT skill level.
Unsatisfactory Performance If, in the judgment of the examiner, the applicant does not meet the standards of performance of any TASK performed, the associated AREA OF OPERATION is considered unsatisfactory and, therefore, the practical test is failed. The examiner or applicant may discontinue the test at any time when failure of an AREA OF OPERATION makes the applicant ineligible for the certificate or rating sought. The test may be continued only with the consent of the applicant. If the test is discontinued, the applicant is entitled to credit for only those AREAS OF OPERATION satisfactorily performed. However, during the retest and at the discretion of the examiner, any TASK may be re-evaluated, including those previously passed. Specific reasons for disqualification are:
1. failure to perform a procedure or maneuver to the COMMERCIAL PILOT skill level;
2. any action or lack of a ction by the applicant which requires corrective intervention by the examiner to maintain safe flight;
and
3. failure to use proper and effective visual scanning techniques to clear the area before and while performing maneuvers.
When a disapproval notice is issued, the examiner shall record the applicant’s unsatisfactory performance in terms of AREAS OF OPERATION appropriate to the practical test conducted.
Crew Resource Management (CRM) CRM refers to the effective use of all available resources including human, hardware, and information. Human resources includes all groups routinely working with the pilot (or cockpit crew) who are involved in decisions required to operate a flight safely. These groups include, ground crew, chase crew, maintenance personnel, and weather services. CRM is not a single TASK but a set of knowledge and skill competencies that must be evident in all TASKS in this practical test standard as applied to either single pilot or a crew operation.
FAA-S-8081-18 8 Applicant's Use of Checklists Throughout the practical test, the applicant is evaluated on the use of an appropriate checklist. Proper use is dependent on the specific TASK being evaluated. The situation may be such that the use of the checklist, while accomplishing elements of an Objective, would be either unsafe or impractical, especially in a single-pilot operation. In this case, a review of the checklist after the elements have been accomplished would be considered appropriate. Use of a checklist should also take into consideration visual scanning and division of attention at all times.
Use of Distractions During Practical Tests Numerous studies indicate that many accidents have occurred when the pilot has been distracted during critical phases of flight. To evaluate the pilot's ability to utilize proper control technique while dividing attention both inside and/or outside the basket or car, the examiner shall cause a realistic distraction during the flight portion of the practical test to evaluate the applicant's ability to divide attention while maintaining safe flight.
Metric Conversion Initiative To assist the pilots in understanding and using the metric measurement system, the practical test standards refer to the metric equivalent of various altitudes throughout. The inclusion of meters is intended to familiarize pilots with its use. The metric altimeter is arranged in 10 meter increments; therefore, when converting from feet to meters, the exact conversion, being too exact for practical purposes, is rounded to the nearest 10 meter increment or even altitude as necessary.
Flight Instructor Responsibility A commercial lighter-than-air pilot, when exercising flight instructor privileges, is responsible for training pilot applicants to acceptable standards in all TASKS appropriate for the rating sought. Because of the impact of their teaching activities in developing safe, proficient pilots, instructors should exhibit a high level of knowledge, skill, and the ability to impart that knowledge and skill to students. The instructor shall certify that the applicant is:
1. able to exhibit a practical application of the fundamentals of instructing;
2. competent to teach the subject matter, procedures, and maneuvers included in the standards to students with varying backgrounds and levels of experience and ability;
FAA-S-8081-189
3. able to perform the procedures and maneuvers included in the standards to the COMMERCIAL PILOT skill level; and
4. competent to pass the required practical test for issuance of the commercial pilot certificate with the associated category and class ratings, or the addition of a category and/or class rating to a commercial pilot certificate.
Throughout the applicant's training, the instructor is responsible for emphasizing the performance of, and the ability to teach, effective visual scanning and collision avoidance procedures. These areas are covered in AC 90-48, Pilots’ Role in Collision Avoidance; AC 61-21, Flight Training Handbook; AC 61-23, Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge; and the Aeronautical Information Manual.
Instrument Privileges — Airship 14 CFR part 61, section 61.5, states that no person may act as pilot in command of a civil aircraft under instrument flight rules, or in weather conditions less than the minimums prescribed for VFR flight unless, in the case of an airship, they hold a commercial pilot certificate with lighter-than-air category and airship class ratings.
In order to allow an efficient and economical practical test for commercial pilot certification in an airship, the following considerations have been made regarding evaluation of instrument TASKS.
1. If the applicant already holds an instrument rating, instrument TASKS need not be evaluated during the practical test.
However, the examiner shall verify the applicant’s training records to determine that all instrument training in an airship required by regulation has been received and that the training records have been properly endorsed by the instructor giving the training.
2. If the applicant does not hold an instrument rating, t he examiner shall verify the applicant’s logbook to determine that the applicant has been trained in all required instrument operations in an airship required by regulation and that the training records have been properly endorsed by the instructor giving the training. During the practical test, instrument skills shall be evaluated using FAA-S-8081-4, Instrument Rating Practical Test Standards. The examiner shall select appropriate TASKS from AREA OF OPERATION IV and at least one instrument approach TASK from AREA OF OPERATION VI for evaluation during the practical test.
FAA-S-8081-18 SECTION 1
COMMERCIAL PILOT LIGHTER-THAN-AIR — BALLOON Practical Test Standards
FAA-S-8081-181-i
CONTENTS Lighter-Than-Air —Balloon
ADDITIONAL RATING TABLE1-v
CHECKLISTS:
Applicant's Practical Test Checklist (Balloon)1-vii
Examiner's Practical Test Checklist (Balloon)1-ix
AREAS OF OPERATION:
I. FUNDAMENTALS OF INSTRUCTING1-1
A. THE LEARNING PROCESS1-1
B. HUMAN BEHAVIOR1-1
C. THE TEACHING PROCESS1-2
D. TEACHING METHODS1-2
E. CRITIQUE AND EVALUATION1-2
F. FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR CHARACTERISTICS
AND RESPONSIBILITIES1-3
G. PLANNING INSTRUCTIONAL ACTIVITY1-3
II. TECHNICAL SUBJECTS1-4
A. AEROMEDICAL FACTORS1-4
B. VISUAL SCANNING AND COLLISION AVOIDANCE1-4
C. PRINCIPLES OF FLIGHT1-5
D. REGULATIONS AND PUBLICATIONS1-5
E. NATIONAL AIRSPACE SYSTEM1-5
F. LOGBOOK ENTRIES AND CERTIFICATE
ENDORSEMENTS1-6
III. PREFLIGHT PREPARATION1-7
A. CERTIFICATES AND DOCUMENTS1-7
B. WEATHER INFORMATION1-7
C. FLIGHT PLANNING1-8
D. PERFORMANCE AND LIMITATIONS1-8
E. OPERATION OF SYSTEMS1-9
IV. PREFLIGHT LESSON ON A MANEUVER TO BE
PERFORMED IN FLIGHT1-10
MANEUVER LESSON1-10
FAA-S-8081-18 1-ii
V. PREFLIGHT PROCEDURES1-11
A. LAUNCH SITE SELECTION1-11
B. CREW BRIEFING AND PREPARATION1-11
C. LAYOUT AND ASSEMBLY1-12
D. PREFLIGHT INSPECTION1-12
E. INFLATION1-13
F. BASKET/GONDOLA MANAGEMENT1-13
G. PRE-LAUNCH CHECK1-13
VI. AIRPORT OPERATIONS1-14
RADIO COMMUNICATIONS1-14
VII. LAUNCHES AND LANDINGS1-15
A. NORMAL LAUNCH1-15
B. LAUNCH OVER OBSTACLE1-15
C. APPROACH TO LANDING1-16
D. STEEP APPROACH TO LANDING1-16
E. NORMAL LANDING1-17
F. HIGH-WIND LANDING1-17
VIII. PERFORMANCE MANEUVERS1-18
A. ASCENTS1-18
B. ALTITUDE CONTROL (LEVEL FLIGHT)1-18
C. DESCENTS1-18
D. RAPID ASCENT AND DESCENT1-19
E. CONTOUR FLYING (LBH)1-19
F. HIGH ALTITUDE FLIGHT (LBG)1-19
G. OBSTACLE AVOIDANCE (LBH)1-20
H. TETHERING (LBH)1-20
I. WINTER FLYING1-20
J. MOUNTAIN FLYING1-21
IX. NAVIGATION1-22
NAVIGATION1-22
FAA-S-8081-181-iii
X. EMERGENCY OPERATIONS1-23
A. SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT MALFUNCTIONS1-23
B. EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT AND SURVIVAL GEAR1-23
C. WATER LANDING1-23
D. THERMAL FLIGHT1-24
XI. POSTFLIGHT PROCEDURES1-25
A. RECOVERY1-25
B. DEFLATION AND PACK-UP1-25
C. REFUELING (LBH)1-25
FAA-S-8081-181-v Addition of a Lighter-Than-Air/Balloon rating to an existing Commercial Pilot Certificate LEGEND ASE Airplane Single-Engine AME Airplane Multiengine RH Rotorcraft Helicopter RG Rotorcraft Gyroplane G Glider LA Lighter-Than-Air Airship If an applicant holds more than one rating on a commercial pilot certificate and the table indicates both ALL and NONE for a particular AREA OF OPERATION, the NONE entry applies. This is logical since the applicant has satisfactorily accomplished the AREA OF OPERATION on a previous commercial pilot practical test. If an applicant holds a flight instructor certificate, AREAS OF OPERATION I and IV are not required. However, at the discretion of the examiner, the applicant’s competence in all AREAS OF OPERATION may be evaluated.
Required TASKS are indicated by either the TASK letter(s) that apply(s) or an indication that all or none of the TASKS must be tested.
Area of Operation
ASE AME RH RG G LA ALL B,C,F D,E ALL ALL NONE ALL ALL NONE A,C,D ALL ALL B,C,F D,E ALL ALL NONE ALL ALL NONE A,C,D ALL ALL B,C,F D,E ALL ALL NONE ALL ALL NONE ALL ALL NONE B,C D,E NONE ALL NONE ALL ALL NONE A,C,D ALL I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI Rating(s) Held ALL B,C,F D,E ALL ALL NONE ALL ALL NONE A,C,D ALL ALL B,C,F D,E ALL ALL NONE ALL ALL NONE A,C,D ALL
FAA-S-8081-181-vii
APPLICANT'S PRACTICAL TEST CHECKLIST (BALLOON) APPOINTMENT WITH EXAMINER:
EXAMINER’S NAME__________________________ LOCATION _________________________________ DATE/TIME _________________________________
ACCEPTABLE AIRCRAFT Aircraft Documents:
Airworthiness Certficate Registration Certificate Operating Limitations Aircraft Maintenance Records:
Logbook Record of Airworthiness Inspections and AD Compliance Balloon Flight Manual
PERSONAL EQUIPMENT Practical Test Standard Current Aeronautical Chart Computer and Plotter Flight Log Current AIM
PERSONAL RECORDS Identification - Photo/Signature ID Pilot Certificate Current and Appropriate Medical Certificate or Statement Completed FAA Form 8710-1, Airman Certificate and/or Rating Application with Instructor’s Signature AC Form 8080-2, Airman Written Test Report or Computer Test Report Pilot Logbook with Appropriate Instructor Endorsements FAA Form 8060-5, Notice of Disapproval (if applicable) Approved School Graduation Certificate (if applicable) Examiner's Fee (if applicable)
FAA-S-8081-181-ix
EXAMINER'S PRACTICAL TEST CHECKLIST (BALLOON) APPLICANT’S NAME_________________________ LOCATION_________________________________ DATE/TIME ________________________________ I. FUNDAMENTALS OF INSTRUCTING A. The Learning Process B. Human Behavior C. The Teaching Process D. Teaching Methods E. Critique and Evaluation F. Flight Instructor Characteristics and Responsibilities G. Planning Instructional Activity II. TECHNICAL SUBJECTS A. Aeromedical Factors B. Visual Scanning and Collision Avoidance C. Principles of Flight D. Regulations and Publications E. National Airspace System F. Logbook Entries and Certificate Endorsements III. PREFLIGHT PREPARATION A. Certificates and Documents B. Weather Information C. Flight Planning D. Performance and Limitations E. Operation of Systems IV. PREFLIGHT LESSON ON A MANEUVER TO BE
PERFORMED IN FLIGHT Maneuver Lesson
FAA-S-8081-18 1-x V. PREFLIGHT PROCEDURES A. Launch Site Selection B. Crew Briefing and Preparation C. Layout and Assembly D. Preflight Inspection E. Inflation F. Basket/Gondola Management G. Pre-Launch Check VI. AIRPORT OPERATIONS Radio Communications VII. LAUNCHES AND LANDINGS A. Normal Launch B. Launch Over Obstacle C. Approach to Landing D. Steep Approach to Landing E. Normal Landing F. High-Wind Landing VIII. PERFORMANCE MANEUVERS A. Ascents B. Altitude Control (Level Flight) C. Descents D. Rapid Ascent and Descent E. Contour Flying (LBH) F. High Altitude Flight (LBG) G. Obstacle Avoidance (LBH) H. Tethering (LBH) I. Winter Flying J. Mountain Flying IX. NAVIGATION Navigation X. EMERGENCY OPERATIONS A. Systems and Equipment Malfunctions B. Emergency Equipment and Survival Gear C. Water Landing D. Thermal Flight
FAA-S-8081-181-xi XI. POSTFLIGHT PROCEDURES A. Recovery B. Deflation and Pack-up C. Refueling (LBH)