Operational Procedures: Checklists, Emergencies and Aerodrome Operations
What you must know
Operational procedures questions cover pre-flight and in-flight checks, aerodrome operations, wake turbulence, runway incursion avoidance, emergency procedures, communications failure and passenger safety. Understand the purpose of checklists - they are read and confirmed, not recalled from memory in normal operations. Know the standard emergency calls, the meaning of MAYDAY and PAN PAN, and the actions on engine failure after take-off, forced landing and precautionary landing. Learn wake turbulence behaviour: it sinks and drifts with the wind, is strongest behind heavy aircraft at low speed, and is avoided by landing beyond the preceding aircraft's touchdown point and by waiting for the wake to dissipate.
Traps in questions
- Believing wake turbulence rises - it descends and spreads.
- Forgetting to note the time and position of the preceding heavy aircraft.
- Using MAYDAY for a situation that is urgent but not distress.
- Assuming a checklist can be improvised; use the approved one.
Worked rule of thumb
Use the "aviate, navigate, communicate" order for every emergency. Example: engine failure after take-off - lower the nose to maintain flying speed, select a landing area ahead, then transmit MAYDAY with position and intentions.
Study approach
Write out the memory items for engine failure, fire and radio failure, then verify each against the approved checklist.