In this episode of the VSL Aviation Podcast, FAA Designated Pilot Examiner Seth Lake continues the CFI Airman Certification Standards (ACS) series with a deep dive into **Area of Operation I, Task C: Course Development, Lesson Plans, and Classroom Training Techniques.**
Preparing for your initial CFI checkride involves more than memorizing the Fundamentals of Instruction (FOIs). You need to demonstrate that you can actually teach.
We'll break down the knowledge, risk management, and skill elements of Task C using the FAA Aviation Instructor's Handbook, explain how they apply to real-world flight instruction, and explore the significant overlap between FOI Task C and Area of Operation IV, Task A (Preflight Lesson on a Maneuver).
**Topics covered include:**
- What the CFI ACS actually requires during your practical test
- Developing effective ground and maneuver lesson plans
- The four steps of the teaching process
- Essential instructor skills and student assessment
- Performance-based vs. decision-based objectives
- Teaching methods, including guided discussion and demonstration-performance
- E-learning, simulators, and instructional aids
- Integrated flight instruction and problem-based learning
- Building flexible lesson plans that work for your students
- Preparing a maneuver lesson that satisfies multiple ACS requirements
Throughout the episode, we'll use practical examples involving steep turns, aerodynamics, student assessment, and real-world training scenarios.
**Resources:**
📘 ACE Guide – Interactive FAA handbooks, ACS documents, and aviation references: https://vsl.aero/aceguide
📚 FAA Aviation Instructor's Handbook (FAA-H-8083-9)
✈️ FAA Flight Instructor Airplane ACS (FAA-S-ACS-25)
💬 Join the VSL Aviation Discord community: https://discord.com/invite/YcMkkNA7QX
This is Part 3 of our CFI ACS Fundamentals of Instruction series. Check out the previous episodes for additional discussions of the FOIs.
**About VSL Aviation**
Seth Lake is an FAA Designated Pilot Examiner, airline pilot, and military instructor/evaluator pilot. The VSL Aviation Podcast focuses on practical aviation education, FAA certification standards, flight instruction, and checkride preparation.
#CFI #CFICheckride #CFIACS #FlightInstructor #aviationeducation
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction – CFI ACS Part 3
02:39 Understanding FOI Task C and Checkride Requirements
05:30 How Task C Connects to the Preflight Maneuver Lesson
10:00 Developing an Effective CFI Lesson Plan
18:46 The Four Steps of the Teaching Process
23:00 Four Essential Skills of an Instructor
34:38 Course of Training and Lesson Preparation
36:02 Performance-Based vs. Decision-Based Objectives
40:12 Organizing Your Lesson Material
42:55 Training Delivery and Teaching Methods
47:21 Guided Discussion, Demonstration, and Practice
52:28 E-Learning and Flight Simulation Devices
57:23 Instructional Aids and Training Technology
1:01:14 Integrated Flight Instruction
1:03:06 Problem-Based Learning and Real-World Scenarios
1:06:26 Syllabi, Lesson Plans, and Flexibility
1:11:20 Risk Management and Final Checkride Preparation
