Aircraft Operations, Flight Crew and Operator Responsibilities
What this domain tests
This section covers the operator's air operator certificate and exposition, the commander's authority, crew duty and fatigue rules, fuel and weather planning, performance, documents and MEL use. It tests who is responsible for what: the operator designs and controls the operation; the commander directs the flight.
Responsibilities
- The operator holds the AOC and must operate within its specifications, operations manual and approved procedures.
- The commander has final authority for the flight and may deviate in an emergency, but must report the deviation.
- Flight crew must be licensed, current and trained for the type and operation.
- Fuel, weather, alternate and performance planning must meet the applicable Part 91, 121 or 135 requirements.
- The MEL may be used only as authorised; it does not permit flight with an unsafe condition.
Worked example
A scheduled flight faces deteriorating weather at destination. The commander decides to divert, although the operator's schedule pressure favours continuing. The commander's authority supports the safety decision. The operator must still support the diversion with fuel, crew duty and maintenance arrangements, and the commander reports the deviation if the rules require it.
Traps that cost marks
Believing the AOC automatically covers a new aircraft type; assuming the commander can ignore the operations manual without justification; counting only flight time for duty limits; and treating the MEL as a general permission to fly with defects.