Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

This course is designed to meet the requirements of Federal Aviation Regulations - 14 CFR Parts 61.123(c) & 61.125(b) for obtaining endorsement for taking the FAA Commercial Pilot knowledge test. This course will also provide the information required by 14 CFR Part 141 appendix D (3)(b) to complete the ground training needed to obtain a Commercial Pilot Rotorcraft Helicopter Certificate. Lectures, discussions, videos, handouts, and written tests will provide the student with the necessary information. Class participants will be expected to invest time outside of class to accomplish mastery of course content. Students who miss a class session must consult with the instructor prior to attendance at the next class session. Material missed by students during an allowed absence will be made available to them as determined by the instructor. In extreme cases, syllabus deviations may be allowed with the approval of the Chief Flight Instructor.

Upon successful completion of this course the student should be able to:

1. Apply for, take, and pass the FAA Commercial Pilot knowledge test.
2. Plan and explain the execution of a flight typical for a Commercial Pilot Certificate holder.

At the beginning of the course, the instructor will explain the methods used to evaluate and record student progress, and the criteria for assigning a course grade. The instructor will initiate a progress folder for each student, issue an enrollment certificate to each student, log each ground lesson in the student's progress folder and issue graduation certificates upon successful completion of the course. Evaluation methods may include one or more of the following: Tests and quizzes, attendance, and participation, class assignments, class projects. The instructor will immediately grade each stage and final exam, and if necessary, have students complete a review and retake of the exam, until a minimum score of 70% is achieved. The instructor will issue a disenrollment notice to any student who fails to meet the Part 141 progress requirements. Students so affected must consult with the instructor concerning options available.

The remaining page of this Course Content and Outcome Guide presents the competencies, skills, concepts and themes which are designed to result in the outcomes listed above.
Course Content and Outcome Guides are prepared by the Aviation Science Subject Area Curriculum Committee and approved by College management.
FAR 61.125 (b) and FAR 141 appendix D (3) (b) include the following aeronautical knowledge areas:

1. Applicable Federal Aviation Regulations of this chapter that relate to commercial pilot privileges, limitations, and flight operations;
2. Accident reporting requirements of the National Transportation Safety Board;
3. Basic aerodynamics and the principles of flight;
4. Meteorology to include recognition of critical weather situations, windshear recognition and avoidance, and the use of aeronautical weather reports and forecasts;
5. Safe and efficient operation of aircraft;
6. Weight and balance computations;
7. Use of performance charts;
8. Significance and effects of exceeding aircraft performance limitations;
9. Use of aeronautical charts and a magnetic compass for pilotage and dead reckoning;
10. Use of air navigation facilities;
11. Aeronautical decision making and judgment;
12. Principles and functions of aircraft systems;
13. Maneuvers, procedures, and emergency operations appropriate to the aircraft;
14. Night and high-altitude operations;
15. Procedures for operating within the National Airspace System;