Operational Procedures
Operational Procedures tests the routine and emergency actions that keep a VFR flight legal and safe: preflight, fuel, passenger briefing, radio failure, diversion and checklists.
Preflight and documents
Check weather, NOTAMs, AIP supplements, mass and balance, fuel, oil, tyres, control locks and documents. File a flight plan where required; carry the licence, medical, C of R, C of A and radio licence.
Fuel planning
Use usable fuel, not total. Plan trip fuel, contingency, alternate and final reserve. Include taxi, climb and any holding. If the margin is small, refuel or reduce load; do not plan to 'just make it'.
Emergencies
Engine failure: establish glide, select a field, attempt restart, mayday. Fire: shut off fuel/electrics, use extinguisher, land. Radio failure: squawk 7600, follow the AIP/clearance procedure, remain VFR. Passenger briefing covers belts, doors, exits and sick bags.
Worked example
Trip 2.1 h at 33 L/h = 69.3 L. Reserve 45 min = 24.8 L. Taxi 4 L. Total = 98.1 L. Usable fuel 100 L leaves 1.9 L, which is below a sensible 5% margin; refuel or reduce payload.
Traps
Using total instead of usable fuel; forgetting climb fuel; assuming a radio-failure clearance; skipping the passenger briefing; improvising an emergency checklist instead of using the approved one.