Operational Procedures
Operational Procedures tests SOPs, fuel management, abnormal and emergency handling, and the disciplined use of checklists and briefings.
Standard operating procedures
- Checklists are challenge–response and are read at the correct phase; do not skip them.
- Stabilized approach criteria are operator-defined-often 1,000 ft in IMC and 500 ft in VMC.
- Brief takeoff, departure, approach and missed approach; assign callouts.
Fuel and alternates
- Fuel plan: taxi, trip, contingency (for example 5%), alternate, final reserve (30 minutes) and extra. Final reserve is not usable for planning.
- An alternate is required when destination weather is below defined minima; check fuel to alternate.
Emergencies and abnormal operations
- Engine failure after takeoff: maintain control, pitch for V2, identify, verify, feather or shut down, then plan.
- Rejected takeoff: decision speed V1; act before V1 and continue after.
- Emergency descent: oxygen masks, transponder 7700 and notify ATC.
Worked example
Trip fuel 1,000 kg, contingency 5% = 50 kg, alternate 200 kg, final reserve 250 kg and taxi 20 kg. Total required = 1,520 kg. If fuel on board is 1,480 kg, the flight cannot depart as planned; reduce payload or refuel.
Traps
- Using final reserve as trip fuel.
- Delaying the V1 decision.
- Forgetting to brief the missed approach.