Operational Procedures: Normal, Abnormal and Emergency
Normal operations
Pilot planning must cover mass and balance, performance, fuel and weather. For a non-commercial VFR flight, fuel planning includes taxi fuel, trip fuel, contingency and a final reserve of at least 30 minutes by day. Take-off and landing distances must be compared with the available runway, allowing for wind, slope, temperature and surface. Checklists are used as written; memory items are limited to time-critical emergencies.
Abnormal and emergency
For engine failure after take-off: maintain control, pitch for best glide, select a landing area, attempt a restart only if height and time allow, transmit MAYDAY, secure the aircraft and prepare for a forced landing. For radio failure: squawk 7600, follow the published procedure and land as soon as practicable. Distress is MAYDAY; urgency is PAN PAN. Emergency codes are 7700 for emergency, 7600 for radio failure and 7500 for unlawful interference.
Worked example
An aircraft burns 40 L/h. The trip is 1 h 45 min, taxi is 10 min, and the day VFR final reserve is 30 min. Fuel required = 1 h 45 + 10 min + 30 min = 2 h 25 min. 2.4167 × 40 = 96.7 L, so plan at least 97 L. If the pilot plans only 70 L because the trip is under two hours, the final reserve is not protected.
Traps
Do not treat the final reserve as usable for diversion. Do not delay lowering the nose after engine failure to stretch the glide. MAYDAY is not the same as PAN PAN. Do not assume 7700 gives priority over terrain avoidance; fly the aircraft first.