Aircraft Operations and Operator Obligations
Operator duties
ICAO Annex 6 covers operation of aircraft. Operators must have an operations manual, a minimum equipment list (MEL), fuel policy, mass and balance control, and crew duty/rest limitations. The operator is responsible for the safe conduct of the flight, even where the pilot in command has final authority. Know the difference between the operator and the PIC: the PIC has final authority over the aircraft; the operator sets the policy and provides resources.
Fuel and MEL
Fuel policy must include taxi, trip, reserve, contingency and alternate fuel. The MEL allows dispatch with certain equipment inoperative, subject to conditions; it is not a licence to ignore airworthiness. Performance requirements (take-off, landing, obstacle clearance) must be met before dispatch.
Traps
- Assuming the PIC alone is responsible for operational policy.
- Treating the MEL as permission to fly anything unserviceable.
- Forgetting reserve fuel in fuel calculations.
- Confusing duty time with flight time.
Worked example
A flight plans with fuel for trip plus alternate but omits contingency fuel. The dispatch is non-compliant: fuel policy must include contingency and final reserve. Rule of thumb: operator = policy and resources; PIC = final authority in flight.