Operational Procedures
Operational procedures questions test disciplined execution: pre-flight, taxi, take-off, departure, cruise, approach, landing and emergencies. Know the purpose of checklists and the discipline of read-do versus do-read items; know the content of a passenger briefing; and understand the actions for engine failure after take-off, forced landing, fire, and radio failure. Learn standard VFR procedures: altimeter setting, transponder use, position reporting, and joining the circuit. Understand the difference between an emergency and an urgency and the priority each gives you.
Traps: candidates memorise actions but forget the order - for example, forgetting to establish best glide speed and select a field before attempting a restart. Others confuse the actions for an engine fire in flight (shut down and use the extinguisher) with an engine fire on the ground (stop and evacuate). Radio failure procedures in VFR are often misremembered; know the light signals and the rule to remain VFR and land at the nearest suitable aerodrome.
Worked example: engine failure after take-off below a safe height - lower the nose to maintain flying speed, land ahead within the available area, and do not attempt a turn back to the runway. Above safe height - establish best glide, select a field, attempt a restart, then transmit MAYDAY. Rule of thumb: aviate, navigate, communicate, in that order. Checklists exist to prevent omission; use them even when you think you remember the drill.