Normal Operational Procedures: Pre-flight, Departure, Cruise, Arrival
This domain checks that you can sequence a normal flight and know which document or limit governs each phase.
Pre-flight
Operational flight plan and ATC flight plan filed; weather and NOTAM review; AIP/route documents; mass and balance within envelope; performance (take-off, climb, landing, obstacle); fuel per policy; MEL/CDL status; documents on board; crew qualification and FTL check; security check of the aircraft. The commander confirms the aircraft is airworthy and the flight can be conducted safely.
Departure
Before start: clearance, beacon, engine start. Taxi: routing, holding points, sterile flight deck below 10,000 ft. Before take-off: take-off briefing with emergency turn/engine failure actions, V1/VR/V2, thrust setting, and rejected take-off decision. Between V1 and VR the take-off is continued after a failure.
Cruise
Fuel checks against plan at waypoints, position reporting, weather avoidance, RVSM altimetry checks, ETOPS/alternate considerations, and monitoring of system states. Any diversion decision is made early rather than at the destination.
Arrival
Approach briefing (type, minima, missed approach, taxi plan), descent and energy management, holding fuel, stabilised approach criteria (typically fully configured and stable by 1,000 ft IMC or 500 ft VMC), landing, and go-around as a normal manoeuvre.
Worked example
On an ILS with the aircraft still 25 kt fast and not fully configured at 1,000 ft in IMC, the stabilised approach criteria are not met: the correct response is a go-around and a re-brief, not a continued approach to minima.
Traps that cost marks
Treating the final reserve as part of trip fuel; forgetting the go-around as a routine option; ignoring fuel checks in cruise because the FMS figure "looks right".