Operational Procedures
Operational Procedures
This domain tests normal and emergency procedures: pre-flight inspection, passenger briefing, engine failure, fire, forced landing, ELT use, winter operations, wake turbulence and runway incursion avoidance. Answers usually hinge on prioritising aircraft control.
Core rules
- Pre-flight: check documents, fuel, oil, control freedom, tires, brakes, pitot heat and weather. Brief passengers on exits, belts and emergency actions.
- Engine failure: maintain control, establish best glide, select a landing area, attempt restart only if altitude permits, then secure and broadcast. Do not turn back to the runway below a safe altitude.
- Fire: shut off fuel and electrics as directed, use the extinguisher, land as soon as possible.
- ELT: activate after a forced landing if able; listen for 121.5 MHz. Test only during the first five minutes of the hour.
- Wake turbulence: stay above and upwind of a preceding heavy aircraft; land beyond its touchdown point.
Worked example
At 500 ft AGL after take-off, the engine fails. You lower the nose to maintain flying speed, choose a field within the glide cone, and do not attempt a 180° return - the turn would likely stall or overshoot. You broadcast MAYDAY, attempt restart only if time and altitude allow, then secure the aircraft for the forced landing.
Traps that cost marks
The “impossible turn” back to the runway, delaying aircraft control to troubleshoot, and forgetting to brief passengers are common. Also avoid taxiing across a hold-short line without clearance.