Flight Preparation and Procedures Notes

  • Operating Procedures 8.1.TOC outlines various aspects of flight preparation, including flight planning, documentation, and crew briefings.

  • It emphasizes the Pilot in Command's (PIC) responsibility for safety, compliance, and efficiency.

  • The PIC is responsible for ensuring the aircraft is airworthy, appropriate manuals are available, and weather conditions are suitable for a safe takeoff and departure.

  • Minimum flight altitudes, airport usability, aerodrome operating minima, meteorological information, fuel and oil quantities, mass and center of gravity, ATS flight plans, and operational flight plans are outlined.

  • Aircraft Technical Logs, dispatch briefings, crew briefings, and necessary documents for flight are also covered.

  • Aircraft should not be flown lower than published MSA, MRA, MORA, or MOCA unless under ATS surveillance, during instrument approaches, during climb after departure, following engine inoperative procedures, conducting visual approach, or when diverting.

  • The net takeoff flight path should clear obstacles by at least 35 FT, considering aircraft weight, airport pressure altitude, ambient temperature, wind component, runway surface conditions, and aircraft performance.

  • Safe altitudes for the enroute portion are published in Jeppesen FD Pro, Operational Flight Plan (OFP), and Enroute Diversion Guides (EDG).

  • Separation from obstacles and terrain must be maintained within 10 NM of track on airways, and 20 NM off airways.

  • Grid MORA values clear obstacles and terrain within one degree of Latitude and Longitude, with vertical clearances of 1,000 FT up to 5,000 FT elevation and 2,000 FT above 5,000 FT.

  • MRA on the OFP provides terrain and obstacle clearance 10 NM either side of the route centerline, with clearances of 1,000 FT up to 5,000 FT AMSL and 2,000 FT above.

  • Corrections to safe altitude are required based on terrain elevation and wind speed, with increments ranging from 500 FT to 2,500 FT.

  • Digital EDG brings aircraft to the 25 NM MSA of a diversion airport, with solutions computed considering terrain profile, aircraft weight, ISA deviation, oxygen system capacity, and fuel jettison capability.

  • Vertical terrain clearance is specified for Jeppesen Grid MORA, OFP MRA, and D-EDG MRA, with wind corrections required in high terrain areas.

  • The lowest MRA displayed on the D-EDG diversion track is 10,000 FT.

  • Diversion procedures involve selecting the LOCK icon at the diversion waypoint, programming an FMC track, and descending to depicted safe altitudes.

  • Weather avoidance can be performed within 20 NM of track, with terrain clearance achieved via ATC radar vectoring or Grid MORA.

  • EDG Preflight checks, backup outputs, and text formats are also specified

  • Paper EDG procedures, MRA derivations, windspeed increments, and fuel jettisoning are clarified.

  • MSA on approach charts provides 300 M or 1,000 FT obstacle clearance within a 25 NM radius.

  • Low Temperature Altimetry corrections are required when ambient temperature is at or below ISA −15°C, with corrections to MORA/MRA and MSA/TAA using specific tables and calculators.

  • Correction examples for enroute altitudes and MSA/TAA examples, rounding procedures, and validity of the vertical profile FPA are provided.

  • Aircraft performance is not required to correct all engine acceleration height, but missed approach corrections should be based on temperature, per Table B.

  • Usability of Airports covers airfield identifiers, signage, and the selection of adequate and suitable airports based on performance requirements, ARFF category, pavement strength, and meteorological conditions.

  • Aircraft Pavement Bearing Strength is assessed based on ACN/PCN relationship, with normal and overload operations defined, and emergency diversions considered regardless of ACN/PCN evaluation.

  • Airport categories (A, B, C, X) are defined with competency requirements for PICs, including physical entry, simulator exercise, audio-visual presentation, and self-briefing.

  • LINE OP, PE, AV, SIM, AB and SB definitions are included as part of airport categories of airports.

  • Airfield Fire/Crash Facilities levels of Rescue and Fire Fighting services (RFF) normally available at an airport be expressed as a category between 1 and 10 is recommended by ICAO and sets Company Policy on minimum RFF categories.

  • Aerodrome Operating Minima covers general policy (CPA produced operational information has overriding authority), destinations instrument approach aid, and the use of GNSS

  • System Minima, Aircraft RNP AR APCH Capability Approval, meteorological Visibility, conversion factors from visibility to RVR, and Takeoff Minima (lower take off minima approvals, published takeoff minima not available), Australia and Canada takeoff minima are outlined.

  • Takeoff Alternate Aerodrome distances and policies specify flight time and location to alternate field, as well as filing the takeoff alternate on the ATS Flight Plan, forecast weather conditions and ensuring one-engine inoperative flight consideration.

  • Flight planning includes minima to be used, definitions for cloud conditions and periods, what to when assessing aerodrome operating minima's and isolated aerodromes with associated restrictions.

  • Planning Minima is set for Takeoff Alternate Aerodrome, Destination Alternate, and EDTO En-route Alternate Aerodromes, this includes tables on ceilings and visibilities for two or more and single approaches (US/Canada and general).

  • Planning Requirements for Adequate En-route Airports state flight restrictions based on the number of engines, fuel and distance form the adequate airport.

  • Provides a Flight Planning Minima Summary.

  • Effect of Failed or Downgraded Ground Equipment includes likely impact on landing minima, use of digital aids and a missed approach shall be flown if visual contact with the landing runway environment is not established.

  • Meteorological Information covers system used for weather reporting conditions. Flight Crews responsibility for the in-flight monitoring. D-ATIS, and Auto Updates functions. Automatic Weather Observation System (AWOS). Weather Decotes. Pilot Reports and SNOWTAM reports.

  • Quantities of Fuel and Oil is summarized. Fuel Policy on flight planning (Taxi Fuel, Trip Fuel, Contingency Fuel, Destination Holding Fuel, Additional Fuel, Alternate Fuel, Final Reserve Fuel, Minimum Reserve Fuel, Minimum Diversion Fuel, Fuel Required) is explained. Information on Tankering Fuel, Extra Fuel and Discretionary Fuel is provided, along with an an OFP Cost Index (CI). Adjustment OFP Fuel Required, Fuel Tankering General. and Oil Quantity are specified.

  • Mass and Center of Gravity is explained. PIC should ensure each flight a Load and Trim sheet is prepared and complies wit aircraft weight and CG limitations. Payload Priorities, Passenger and Baggage Weights, loading instructions A standard Weight of 16KG, Crew weights and loadsheet are specified. Centralised Load Control (CLC), Two-Loadsheet Process are defined. Checking the Digital load sheet, Digital Loadsheet Backup Procedures and Loadsheet terminology are covered.