Aircraft Checklists and Operating Manuals

• Study notes generated as requested

Documents

• Checklists and the Aircraft Operating Manual (AOM) are crucial documents for flight operations

Checklists

• All power-driven aircraft (excluding ultra-light aeroplanes) must carry checklists or placards.
• The checklists detail how to operate the aircraft according to limitations in the flight manual.
• All crew members need to stick to them when doing their jobs.

Aircraft Operating Manual (AOM)

• Private operators can make their AOM.
• The AOM has to say which aircraft it is for.
• The AOM needs to include aircraft operating procedures that match those in the aircraft flight manual.
• Also includes:
  • The aircraft performance data if the aircraft flight manual is not onboard.
  • The operator's standard operating procedures.

Operational Flight Data Sheet

• Must be prepared and contain specific information for each take-off by private operators.
• The information includes:
  • Date of flight
  • Aircraft nationality and registration mark
  • Pilot-in-command's name
  • Departure and destination aerodromes
  • Alternate aerodrome (if any)
  • Estimated flight time
  • Fuel endurance
  • Weight of fuel on board
  • Zero fuel weight
  • Take-off weight
  • Centre of gravity of the aircraft
  • Number of people onboard
  • Proposed time of departure
  • Estimated time of arrival
• The pilot-in-command must record the:
  • Flight time
  • Time of departure
  • Time of arrival
  • Aerodrome of arrival on the operational flight data sheet.
• The operator must keep a copy of the flight data sheet for at least 180 days after flight completion.

Passenger Safety

• While passengers are onboard:
  • Safety belts must be fastened
  • Seat backs in the upright position
  • Chair tables stowed
  • Carry-on baggage stowed
  • No emergency exit seat occupied by a person that could affect the safety of others during an evacuation.

Passenger Briefing

• Passengers must receive a safety briefing before take-off, either orally or via audio/visual means.

Elementary Work and Servicing

• Elementary work is maintenance not requiring a maintenance release.
• AME licensed individuals are not the only personnel who can do elementary work, however owner is responsible for authorizing that of others.
• All elementary work must be detailed in the technical record and signed by whoever did the work.

Regulations Regarding Elementary Work

• No private operator shall allow someone to do maintenance of any kind unless they meet certain conditions.
• Conditions:
  • They've been trained and have done that work at least once under AME supervision.
  • They're allowed to do so under a written agreement that specifies the tasks, activities, and conditions.
• Private operators must keep a copy of any written agreement describing the maintenance or elementary work for two years after it ends.

Ground Instruction

• Operators should tailor a ground training program specific to their needs.
• Regulations include personnel requirements, ground instruction

High Altitude Training

• Operators need to train flight crew members about the physiological effects of low-pressure environments for flights above 13,000 feet ASL.
• The training topics includes:
  • Effects on respiration
  • Symptoms and effects of hypoxia
  • Duration of consciousness at various attitudes without supplemental oxygen
  • Effects of gas expansion
  • Gas bubble formation
• Training should cover the causes and effects of rapid or explosive loss of pressurization, along with immediate actions for flight crew.
• The included effects of loss of pressurization include:
  • Increased noise
  • Changes in cabin temperature
  • Cabin fogging
  • Effects on objects near fuselage failure.

Upgrade to Pilot-in-Command

• An effective pilot-in-command is characterized by several traits:
  • Recognizing personal limitations.
  • Recognizing diminished decision-making capabilities in emergencies.
  • Encouraging crew members to question actions.
  • Sensitivity to crew members' problems.
  • Feeling of obligation to discuss personal limitations.
  • Recognizing the need for verbalized plans.
  • Recognizing the captain's role in training.
  • Recognizing the need for a relaxed flight deck.
  • Understanding optimal management styles vary.
  • Emphasizing the captain's responsibility for coordinating cabin crew.

Validity Period and Renewals for Training

• Emergency Procedures, High Altitude Training: valid until the first day of the 37th month after completion; renewed within last 90 days extends validity by 36 months
• PPC & PCC: valid until the first day of the 25th month after training, with a 24 month extension if renewed with 90 days of validity.
• Other Training: valid until the first day of the 13th month after completion; renewed within last 90 days extends validity by 12 months

Flight Time Limits

• Flight time defined as from first movement under own power to rest at end of flight
• Transport category aircraft usually record info automatically
• Manual record is needed for smaller aircraft.

Regulations Regarding Flight Time

• Private operators cannot assign the following, nor may members accept if member's total flight time will exceed:
  • 1,200 hours over 12 consecutive months
  • 300 hours over 90 consecutive days
  • 120 hours over 30 consecutive days
  • 8 hours over 24 consecutive hours if single-pilot IFR

Flight Duty Time

• Begins at the earliest time:
  • A crew member starts duties assigned by an operator
  • Crew reports for a flight.
  • Crew reports for positioning flights.
  • Crew reports as a standby flight crew member.
• Ends when the engines are shut down.

Regulations Regarding Flight Duty

• Cannot exceed 14 consecutive hours/24 consecutive hours
• Or 15 consecutive hours/24 consecutive hours if within the previous 30 consecutive days does not exceed 70 hours, or the rest period before the flight is at least 24 hours

Positioning Flight

• Transfer of flight crew member from one location to another but not travel to/from accommodation

Flight Duty Time and Split Duty Day

• Includes a break during the middle of the flight duty period in a suitable accommodation, allowing the maximum flight duty period to be exceeded.
• Suitable Accommodation: single-occupancy bedroom with minimal noise, ventilation, facilities to control temperature and light or suitable substitution for the site and season.

Regulations Regarding Flight Duty Time and Split Duty Day

• A flight duty period may be extended by half the length of the rest period- maximum of four hours if:
  • Private operator provides notice
  • Private operator provides a rest period > 4 hours in a suitable accommodation
  • Next minimum rest period is increased by an amount of time at least equal to the length of extended flight duty period

Unforeseen Operational Circumstances

• A flight duty period may be extended up to three hours if:
  • Pilot-in-command, consulting other flight crew, considers it safe
  • The extensions are the result of unforeseen events after flight duty period starts
  • The minimum rest period is extended by an amount of time at least the length of the extension
  • Pilot-in-command notifies the private operator on the unforeseen circumstances and and the extent of the extension.
• Operators will retain a copy of the notification for five years.

Definition of Unforeseen Circumstances

• Events such as unexpected weather, equipment malfunction, or air traffic control delay.