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Commercial pilot · ACS CA.XI.A · Instructor lesson plan

After Landing, Parking, and Securing

Student pack: Train: After Landing, Parking, and Securing · Full lesson: Prepare guide

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1 · Objective

By the end of this lesson your student can explain after landing, parking, and securing in their own words and apply it to a realistic flight, to the ACS standard for CA.XI.A.

Why it matters for safety: Ramp accidents (walking into a propeller, a hand-propped engine, an unsecured airplane in wind) happen after the flight is "over". A commercial pilot is responsible for the passengers until they're safely off the ramp and for leaving the airplane ready and safe for the next pilot.

2 · Assign before the lesson

Pre-work: the free Train pack, After Landing, Parking, and Securing. Park safely, shut down by the checklist, get passengers off the ramp safely, inspect, write up, and secure the airplane.

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Pack: pilotprep.pro/train/cpl/after-landing-parking-and-securing · Full lesson: pilotprep.pro/prepare/cpl/after-landing-parking-and-securing

3 · Teach sequence

Key points to land

  • After landing: keep control, slow to taxi speed, clear the runway and stop beyond the holding-position marking, then the POH after-landing checklist (never while rolling, when it's easy to grab the wrong control). Park where propwash and wingtips won't hit anything, and follow the marshaller: stop (arms crossed overhead), cut engines (a slash across the throat), chocks in, all clear.(Airplane Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-3C), Postflight; AIM 4-3-25)
  • Shut down by your POH checklist, in its order. Before shutdown, at idle, check the magneto grounding: switch momentarily OFF (the engine should start to die) and back to BOTH. If it keeps running with the switch OFF, a P-lead is broken: stop it with mixture cutoff, leave the switch off, treat the propeller as live, and write it up.(Your airplane's POH/AFM)
  • Passengers: keep them seated until the propeller stops, then walk them away from the propeller and other traffic on the ramp.(Airplane Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-3C), Postflight)
  • Do a postflight inspection: leaks, damage, tire wear, oil, fuel for the next flight.(Airplane Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-3C), Postflight)
  • Write up every discrepancy, then decide airworthiness: with an MEL, follow it; without one, 91.213(d) allows flight only if the item isn't required by the type certificate, equipment list or KOEL, 91.205 or another rule, or an AD, and it is removed or deactivated, placarded and recorded, and judged no hazard.(14 CFR 91.213)
  • Secure the airplane: control lock, chocks, tiedowns or hangar, pitot cover, doors locked.(Airplane Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-3C), Postflight)
  • Follow airport security procedures: gate codes, badges, escorting passengers, keeping the ramp gates closed.(Airplane Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-3C), Postflight)

Shutdown and inspection

  • The POH shutdown checklist controls. A typical example: parking brake set, throttle idle (about 1,000 RPM), turbocharger cool-down if applicable, a momentary magneto grounding check, propeller as equipped, avionics and alternator off, mixture idle cutoff, magnetos off and key out, master off.(Your airplane's POH/AFM)
  • Parking brake until the chocks are in, then release it per the POH: never trust it alone for an unattended airplane (pressure bleeds off), and be careful setting it with hot brakes or in freezing conditions.(Airplane Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-3C), Postflight)
  • Walk around: oil, fuel leaks, tires, brakes, damage, bird or hail strikes, lights.(Airplane Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-3C), Postflight)
  • Record discrepancies and servicing needs (oil, fuel, a burned-out light) on the squawk sheet or logbook so the next pilot and maintenance know.(Airplane Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-3C), Postflight)

Passengers, ramp and security

  • Distractions are at their peak after landing (relief, conversation, the passengers): use the checklist, not memory.(Risk Management Handbook (FAA-H-8083-2A))
  • Don't let anyone off until the propeller is stopped; escort passengers across the ramp, away from propellers, fuel trucks and taxiing airplanes.(Airplane Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-3C), Postflight)
  • Follow the airport's security rules: badges, gate codes, escorting non-badged people, closing gates behind you.(Airplane Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-3C), Postflight)

Securing

  • Control lock, chocks, tiedowns at the wing and tail rings at about 45° per the POH (chains with a little slack, about an inch; ropes snug, not loose and not bar-taut; natural-fiber rope shrinks when wet), pitot cover, cowl plugs if used, doors locked.(Airplane Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-3C), Postflight)
  • Park into the wind if strong winds are forecast, or hangar the airplane.(Airplane Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-3C), Postflight)

4 · Ask your student

In order: recall, then understanding, then applying it. Move up only when the answer shows it.

  1. Recall · When may passengers leave the airplane?

    A strong answer: After the propeller has stopped, with you guiding them away from it.

  2. Understand · Why write up a small discrepancy?

    A strong answer: The next pilot and maintenance need to know, and some inoperative items make the airplane unairworthy.

  3. Apply · After a charter, three passengers want to walk straight to the terminal across the ramp. What do you do?

    A strong answer: Keep them by the airplane until it's safe, then escort them by the safe route, away from propellers and taxiing traffic, following the airport's security rules.

Scenarios to talk through

  • You notice a small oil leak on the postflight. What do you do?

    Sound decision: Write it up and tell maintenance before the next flight; don't assume it's normal.

  • Strong winds are forecast overnight. How do you secure the airplane?

    Sound decision: Hangar if possible; otherwise tie down wings and tail into the wind, with the control lock and chocks.

  • The magneto check at shutdown shows the engine keeps running with the key off. What does that mean?

    Sound decision: A P-lead is broken and a magneto is hot: the propeller is live. Stop the engine with mixture cutoff, leave the switch off, write it up, warn everyone, and keep people clear.

5 · Common student errors

  • Unloading passengers with the engine running.

    Why it matters: Propeller strikes.

    How to correct it: Shut down first.

  • Skipping the postflight walk-around.

    Why it matters: Problems go unreported.

    How to correct it: Inspect and write up.

  • Leaving the airplane unsecured.

    Why it matters: Wind damage or theft.

    How to correct it: Lock, chock, tie down.

6 · Completion standard

  • Your student answers each "Ask your student" question in their own words, up to the Apply level, without prompting.
  • They talk through the scenarios and reach a safe, legal decision, explaining why.
  • They complete the pack’s quick check and can say what they flagged.

Area trained? Close out with a practice oral focused on CA.XI.A: pilotprep.pro/exam?exam=CPL&focus=CA.XI.A

7 · References

  • Airplane Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-3C), Postflight
  • 14 CFR 91.213, Inoperative instruments and equipment
  • Risk Management Handbook (FAA-H-8083-2A)
  • Commercial Pilot ACS (FAA-S-ACS-7B), Area XI
  • Your airplane's POH/AFM, Normal Procedures (shutdown)
  • Airman Certification Standards, task CA.XI.A

PilotPrep instructor lesson plan, from the After Landing, Parking, and Securing lesson (checked against current FAA sources 2026-11-13). A study and teaching aid, not FAA guidance; teach to your own judgment and the current ACS.