Flight Operations
Core concepts
Flight operations questions test standard operating discipline: preflight planning, takeoff and landing data computation, fuel policy, alternates, and in-flight decision-making. The candidate must understand the operational flight plan, the meaning of contingency fuel, final reserve, and additional fuel, and when a destination alternate is required. Know the takeoff decision speed logic (V1, VR, V2) and how V1 changes with weight, runway, and contamination. Understand stabilized approach criteria, missed-approach execution, and the go-around decision. Also know ETOPS/EDTO concepts at a general level: diversion time, adequate airports, and the equal-time point. Crew duty and rest limitations belong here as operational constraints.
Traps in questions
A frequent trap is treating V1 as a fixed speed - it varies with weight and conditions and represents the last point to stop. Another is confusing minimum fuel with emergency fuel: declaring minimum fuel is advisory, while Mayday fuel implies landing may be imminent. Questions about alternates often hinge on weather at destination plus-one hour before to plus-one hour after ETA.
Worked example / rule of thumb
For fuel questions, build the stack bottom-up: taxi + trip + contingency + alternate + final reserve + additional = block fuel. If any layer is missing, the plan is invalid. Rule of thumb: final reserve is inviolable; contingency is planned, not guaranteed.