Operational Requirements and Flight Operations
Annex 6 and the Operator
Annex 6 (Parts I, II and III) governs operation of aircraft. Key concepts: the Air Operator Certificate (AOC), the operations manual, minimum equipment list (MEL), operational flight plan, fuel policy, crew complement and flight/duty time limitations, and the operator's safety management system. The PIC has final authority over the aircraft (Chicago Article 1 and Annex 6), including the discretion to divert or refuse a flight in an emergency.
Fuel, Weather and Dispatch
Know the fuel policy components: taxi fuel, trip fuel, contingency, alternate fuel, final reserve and additional fuel. Weather minima - take-off, approach and landing - are set by the operator and approved by the State, but never below the published minima. Dispatch and in-flight decisions require an alternate aerodrome when the destination forecast requires it. Dangerous goods carriage is governed by Annex 18 and the Technical Instructions; the pilot must be notified of the nature and location of dangerous goods on board.
Traps and Rule of Thumb
Traps: assuming the AOC covers all aircraft types (it lists them); thinking the MEL permits flight with any defect (it permits only listed items under stated conditions); and confusing flight time limitations with duty time limitations.
Rule of thumb: If a defect is not in the MEL, the aircraft is not dispatchable under that MEL - it must be rectified or the flight cancelled.