Operational Procedures
Operational Procedures tests standard flows, radio phraseology and emergency handling: the actions that turn knowledge into a safe flight.
Normal operations
Before flight: weather, NOTAM, W&B, fuel, documents, aircraft inspection. On the ground: taxi clearance, hold-short instructions, run-up, takeoff briefing. Wake turbulence is strongest behind heavy aircraft; rotate before and land after their flight path, and avoid the upwind vortex. Runway incursions are prevented by clear readbacks and sterile cockpit below 10,000 ft.
Emergencies
Engine failure after takeoff: maintain control, establish best glide, select a field, attempt restart (fuel, mixture, carb heat, mags), then Mayday. Fire: shut off fuel and electrical, use extinguisher, land as soon as possible. Radio failure: squawk 7600, follow the published procedure; 7700 for emergency, 7500 for hijack. ELT transmits on 121.5; test only in the first five minutes of the hour.
Radio
Use standard phraseology: 'Mayday' for distress, 'Pan-Pan' for urgency. Read back clearances, hold-short instructions and runway assignments. Position reports include identification, position, altitude and next position/ETA.
Worked example
After takeoff at 500 ft, the engine runs rough and loses power. Roll wings level, lower the nose to best glide, choose a landing area within reach, and run the restart check: fuel selector on, mixture rich, carb heat on, mags both, primer locked. If no restart, transmit Mayday on 121.5, squawk 7700 if able, and brief passengers. Do not turn back to the runway unless altitude and turn radius clearly allow it.
Traps
Saying 'Mayday' for a non-urgent problem; forgetting to read back a hold-short instruction; testing the ELT outside the permitted window; and turning back after an engine failure without a guaranteed glide path.