Operational Planning and Regulatory Considerations
This domain tests whether you can dispatch legally: the weather, alternates, MEL, mass and balance and crew rules that must all be satisfied before flight.
Regulatory framework
- ICAO Annex 6 sets performance classes and broad requirements; national rules add detail.
- Dispatch requires satisfactory weather, an alternate where required, fuel, MEL status, weight and balance, NOTAMs, AIP data and crew duty limits.
- Takeoff alternates, destination alternates and ETOPS alternates have different selection criteria.
- Forecasts must be valid for the relevant window; TEMPO, BECMG and PROB groups change the decision.
Planning checks
- Destination forecast at ETA ±1 hour must be above the applicable minima.
- An alternate must have a usable approach, runway and lighting, and its forecast must also be above minima.
- Declared distances and runway condition must match the performance calculation.
- MEL items carry operational conditions that may restrict route, altitude or time.
Worked example
Destination TAF: BKN 1,200 ft, 4 km, with PROB30 TEMPO 600 ft and 1,500 m. ILS minima are 200 ft and 550 m. The main forecast is fine, but the PROB30 falls inside the ETA window, so an alternate must be carried; check that alternate's forecast at ETA ±1 hour.
Traps
- Using a TAF outside its validity period.
- Dismissing a PROB30 that falls inside the ETA window.
- Missing NOTAM runway closures or unserviceable navaids.
- Assuming an MEL item is a free pass with no conditions.