Operational Procedures
Operational Procedures
This domain covers pre-flight preparation, aerodrome operations, fuel management, passenger briefing, emergency procedures, radio failure and use of AIP/NOTAM. The exam tests practical decision-making within KCARs and the aircraft POH.
Core rules
- Pre-flight: weather, NOTAM, AIP, fuel, mass and balance, performance, documents and aircraft serviceability.
- Passenger briefing includes exits, belts, oxygen if fitted, no smoking and emergency instructions.
- Emergencies: memory items for engine failure, fire, forced landing and radio failure; then checklist.
- Fuel: know reserves, contamination checks and tank management. Do not rely on gauge alone.
- Radio failure: maintain VFR, follow the published procedure, land at a suitable aerodrome and notify ATC.
Worked example
A take-off is planned from a 5,000 ft elevation strip at 30°C. ISA temperature at 5,000 ft is about 5°C, so the deviation is 25°C. Using about 120 ft per °C, density altitude is roughly 5,000 + 3,000 = 8,000 ft. Performance charts must then be used; climb and runway margins are significantly reduced. The reasoning is that high density altitude reduces engine power and lift.
Traps
Do not use sea-level performance figures at high density altitude. Do not treat a NOTAM as unimportant. Do not skip the passenger briefing. Do not improvise radio-failure procedures.