Operational Procedures
Standard operating procedures
This domain covers how flights are actually run: pre-flight preparation, aerodrome operating minima, take-off and landing performance, fuel policy, alternates, and the use of checklists. Know the difference between normal, abnormal and emergency checklists, and why memory items exist only for time-critical situations. Know the meaning of V1, VR, V2, VREF and VMC, and the conditions that require a take-off alternate.
Aerodrome and approach considerations
Understand runway incursion avoidance, hot spots, low-visibility procedures, and the requirements for instrument approaches. Know the categories of precision approach and the minima associated with each. Questions often test whether a pilot may commence an approach when the weather is below minima - the answer depends on the reported weather, the approach type and the operator's rules, not on the pilot's optimism.
Traps
Examiners test the order of actions: for example, whether to check the weather before or after calculating performance, and when to set the altimeter. Another trap is confusing decision altitude (with a glide path) and decision height (radio altimeter based), and applying company minima when the published minima are higher.
Worked example / rule of thumb
Rule of thumb: the most restrictive minimum applies - published approach minima, operator minima, or aircraft limitation. For fuel, plan to land with the required reserve intact, and treat any in-flight change as a reason to re-plan rather than press on.
Study strategy
Rehearse the flight sequence as a timeline: planning, pre-flight, taxi, departure, cruise, approach, landing, shutdown.