Section 3
Standard Operating Procedures
Flight Operations Manual
CONTENTS
Standard Operating Procedures
3.0 Standard Operating Procedures
3.1 General
Passenger procedures
3.2 Flight and duty time limitations
3.3 Pre-departure
3.4 Departure
3.5 Enroute
3.6 Arrival
3.7 After landing and securing
3.8 Automation Protocols, (D)RVSM, MNPS, RNAV, LNAV
3.0 Standard Operating Procedures
3.1 General
Spectacular or stunt flying is prohibited. Simulated abnormal/emergency procedures with passengers aboard is prohibited
Passengers will not be onboard or boarded during fueling operations. “Hot’ refueling is prohibited.
Passengers
· It is the captain’s responsibility to positively identify each passenger and to ensure all manifested passengers are accounted for.
· The flight crew must call scheduling and leave a message prior to departure of any changes to the passenger manifest
· Boarding passengers: It is the captain’s responsibility to ensure passengers are boarded safely. Do not allow passengers to wander around the hangar and ramp area unescorted.
· All baggage and packages must be positively identified prior to stowing in the baggage area
Admission to the flight deck:
· When above 10’000 feet, passengers may be admitted to the flight deck at the captain’s discretion.
· When below 10,000’ the flight deck should be limited to:
o Flight crew members
o FAA inspector or designated check airmen
o Factory or instructor pilot
o Aviation maintenance technician
In all cases, the captain is responsible for briefing flight deck guests on sterile cockpit protocol, flight deck controls and switch safety protocols and evacuation procedures.
· Sick or injured passengers and crew members must be reported using the FltPlan.com SMS hazard reporting tool as soon as possible.
· Passengers requiring medical supervision must be accompanied by a doctor, nurse or paramedic. This person will be responsible for, and capable of providing enroute care and attention. The patient and/or the medical team is responsible for arranging ground transportation and any additional services required by the passenger.
· Infants and young children must be transported in approved automotive safety seat as described in FAR 121.311.
· Passenger cabin safety and emergency evacuation familiarization training for company frequent flyers will be the responsibility of the Chief Pilot or his/her designee.
3.2 Flight and duty time limitations
Flight crewmembers will notify the Chief Pilot and scheduling/dispatch, if it appears they will exceed flight time limitations.
Scheduling and/or the dispatcher is responsible for establishing schedules and crew assignments consistent with good operating policy and within the following restrictions:
1. Definitions
· Domestic FLIGHT duty time is defined to commence 1 hour (60 min) prior to scheduled takeoff and terminate ½ hour (30 min) after final shutdown.
· International FLIGHT duty time is defined to commence 11/2 hours (90 min) minimum prior to scheduled takeoff and terminate 1 hour (60 min) after final shutdown for flights originating and/or terminating outside the Continental United States or Canada.
o If the crew requires more than 11/2 hours prior, Scheduling should be informed during the pre-trip briefing.
· FLIGHT time is defined to commence at takeoff and terminate upon landing.
o Flight Time will be used by Maintenance to log airframe / engine time and by scheduling for trip planning and limitations.
· BLOCK time is defined to commence at engine start and terminate at engine shutdown.
o Block Time will be used by flight crew to log pilot time.
2. Flight Time Limitations
The schedule is predicated on flight time. Scheduled flight time that exceeds 8 hours must be conducted with a functioning autopilot and FMS and must comply with the following restrictions:
o Scheduled flight time over 8 hours will be limited to 4 legs.
o Scheduled flight time over 10 hours will be limited to 2 legs.
o Scheduled flight time will never exceed 12 hours for a two pilot crew
o Scheduled flight time will not exceed 14 hours for an augmented crew..
No pilot may fly more than 85 hours, block time, in any calendar month or more than 40 hours, block time, in any 6 consecutive days.
· Since pilots log block time it is their responsibility to inform scheduling when approaching these limits.
3. Flight Duty Time Limitations
· Normally, crews will not be scheduled for more than 14 hours of continuous duty.
o exceptions are noted in paragraph 4 and 6.
· Scheduled meetings and administrative duties before a flight is included in the flight duty time for a crew that day.
· Operational Delay - the flight crew may extend a duty day, which incurs an operational delay, to not more than 15 hours.
· For Alert Crew flight duty time limitations see paragraph 9 below
4. Extended Duty Day Limitations
· Extended duty day / with crew rest - 16 hours of flight duty may be scheduled provided the flight meets the following criteria:
o There is a minimum 4 hours of crew rest scheduled. This four-hour period does not include transportation or mealtime.
o See paragraph 11 regarding day room use
· International flight extended duty day - 15 hours of flight duty may be scheduled for international flights that meet the following criteria:
o The flight has a maximum of 2 legs
o The flight has a cabin attendant assigned
5. Administrative Duty Time
Duty time devoted to collateral duty assignments, trip preparation, expense reports or other administrative tasks is considered administrative duty time.
6. Crew Rest / Off Duty Periods
· The crew rest / off duty period of 10 hours is required between scheduled duty except as noted below
· The crew rest / off duty period of 12 hours is required when:
o When scheduled to fly more than 8 hours Flight Time or
more than 14 hours Flight Duty Time.
o When flights transverse 4 or more time zones.
o Once in a time zone for 24 hours the minimum rest period, 10 hours, will apply.
o When flights occur during the period of Circadian Low,
0200 to 0600 local, at the point of departure.
· Crew Rest at the end of a trip that crosses 4 or more time zones should be 36 hours (which includes two 8 hour sleep periods) before being scheduled again.
7. Simulator Training
No pilot will be scheduled to fly for 24 hours after simulator training.
8. AUGMENTED FLIGHT CREW / 3 PILOTS
An Augmented Flight Crew may be Scheduled for 14 hours of Flight Time and
18 hours of Flight Duty Time provided that:
· The flight is conducted with a functioning Autopilot and FMS
· The flight is limited to 3 legs
· The passengers agree to the resting pilots use of a reclining cabin seat
· The flight has a cabin attendant assigned
9. ALERT CREW ASSIGNMENTS
ALERT CREW STATUS:
Due to the unscheduled nature of on-demand transportation, the flight crew may be called in for a trip if he/she is not on a guaranteed day off or vacation.
· Crews are expected to report for duty within two hours of notification of an unscheduled flight. Crewmembers will advise Scheduling if they are unable to report within two hours.
Two pilots, not on a guaranteed off time may be assigned alert status for a given weekend or potential trip.
Flight Duty starts when the phone call is received and is limited to the following:
Call received between 0800 and 1200 Eastern - 14 hours
Call received between 1200 and 1500 Eastern - 10 hours
Call received between 1500 and 1800 Eastern - 8 hours
Alert days will be logged as pilot workdays.
Crewmembers may switch alert assignments among themselves but scheduling must be notified in order to know who the on call crew is.
10. CONSECUTIVE DAYS SCHEDULED
Flight crews will not normally be scheduled for more than 6 consecutive duty days. Training days are considered scheduled duty days.
Flight crewmembers that have been scheduled for more than 6 consecutive duty days will be compensated as follows:
6 days - 1 day off
7 to 9 days - 2 days off
10 or more days - 3 days off
11. DAY ROOMS
Utilization of day rooms may be approved at the discretion of the Chief Pilot with concurrence of the flight crew. The following guidelines apply:
· Scheduling will reserve a day room on those days when the flight duty day will exceed 12 hours and on those days when a layover is 8 hours or longer from scheduled landing through next scheduled takeoff.
· Scheduling will reserve day room on extended duty days requiring crew rest.
· Ordinarily a flight crew may request a day room if the lay-over is 5 hours from scheduled landing through next scheduled takeoff or longer and at any time the crew feels fatigue will affect flight safety.
· Whenever the flight crew obtains a day room Scheduling will be notified.
12. FATIGUE
The relationship between fatigue and flight safety will be considered the main factor in determining flight and duty limitations. It is the responsibility of each flight crewmember to advise the Chief Pilot when nearing his or her natural limitations.
3.3 PRE-DEPARTURE
1. Reporting for Duty
Crewmembers will report for duty sufficiently in advance of scheduled flight time to prepare a flight plan, to study enroute and terminal weather, and to preflight and prepare the aircraft prior to departure. These duties will be initiated a minimum of:
· 1 hour prior to scheduled takeoff time for domestic and Canadian flights
· 1½ hours prior to scheduled takeoff time for International flights,
Conditions such as weather, airport or aircraft condition may require additional preparation time and flight crews will consider this when reporting for duty.
Pilots will not hesitate to delay a flight if it is considered appropriate to recheck weather or manage any other circumstances, which may affect the safety of the flight.
2. Trip Sheet
Flight crewmembers will obtain the schedule trip sheet from scheduling for their assigned flight and check it for the following information:
1) departure times and destinations of each trip leg;
2) name and number of passengers;
3) meal/catering requests;
4) ground transportation or other passenger requirements;
5) passenger contact number; and,
6) crew hotel reservations.
3. Navigation charts and documents
It is the responsibility of both pilots assigned to ensure the aircraft’s required documents, checklists, manuals navigation charts and approach plates are current and onboard.
4. Logbook
The captain will obtain the assigned aircraft logbook from maintenance and check it for the following:
1) Maintenance history and write-ups
2) Outstanding MEL conditions
3) Fuel on board
5. Weather Briefing
The captain and/or first officer will obtain a weather briefing prior to every flight. This brief will include the following minimum information:
1) destination current and forecast weather
2) alternate current and forecast weather
3) enroute weather and winds at altitude
4) SIGMETS
5) NOTAMS
6. Destination Weather Not Available
Subject to the captain’s discretion, when no official weather is available, a flight may be dispatched on the basis of weather reported at surrounding stations.
A suitable alternate with weather reporting and forecasting must be available and the aircraft must be fueled to meet FAR alternate guidelines.
7. Flight Planning
· All flights will be documented and assessed using the FltPlan.com Flight Risk Assessment Tool (FRAT).
o Any FRAT score greater than 25 must be approved by the Chief Pilot
· Flight crews will do all flight planning and route selection on the basis of safety, passenger comfort and aircraft performance, weight and balance and efficiency. Optimum altitudes based on fuel economy will be utilized wherever possible. The captain will check all flight plans, computer or manual, for accuracy.
8. Alternate Requirements
· Destination Alternate: A destination alternate will be planned for and included on ALL flight plans - IFR or VFR.
The weather forecast at the selected destination alternate will meet the published air carrier alternate weather requirements on the approach plate for the alternate airport for the ETA This approach must be operational and not “NOTAM” out of service.
· Departure Alternate: A departure alternate will be included in the IFR Flight Plan when the reported visibility at the departure airport is less than that required for an approach.
The weather at the selected departure alternate will meet the published air carrier alternate weather requirements on the approach plate for the alternate airport.
The departure alternate will be within 30 minutes flying time with one engine inoperative.
9. VFR Flight
Company aircraft will not fly a VFR leg segment unless the weather is currently and forecast to be at least 5,000 ft. and 5 miles visibility enroute and at the destination.
· A VFR flight plan will be filed and ATC communication maintained throughout the flight.
· When departing from an airport where it is not possible to receive an IFR clearance prior to takeoff, flights may depart under VFR providing that the ceiling is at least 5,000 feet and the visibility is at least 3 miles.
10. Flight Plan Filing
Company aircraft are normally required to operate on IFR Flight Plans. An IFR flight plan will be filed and a clearance received for each leg of every flight.
Flight plans are normally filed by the following methods:
1) FltPlan.com;
2) DUATS
3) FSS via phone.
11. Fuel Planning, Ordering and Testing
Utilizing the flight planning data available, the captain will ascertain that the fuel planning for each flight segment is correct.
Each flight segment includes the following:
1) taxi and takeoff;
2) enroute (include climb and descent);
3) approach and landing;
4) alternate, and;
5) 45 minute reserve (at long range cruise).
In no event will a flight be planned so as to land with less than the 45-minute reserve stated above. This reserve will not be less than the following minimum indicated fuel quantities:
· Company aircraft: xxxx lbs.
Special consideration will be given to extra fuel necessary for extended APU run, departure delays, adverse weather, altitude restrictions and ATC re-routes or holds.
· It is the responsibility of the captain to inform the FBO or fueling agent of the desired fuel load in sufficient time to refuel the aircraft prior to departure time. After fueling, the captain must ensure that the proper fuel load is on board.
The FBO/Handler should be asked if the truck fuel is tested daily. If there is any doubt regarding the quality or security of the fuel, the captain will have the fuel tested. Fuel test kits are located in the (aircraft specific).
12. Aircraft Stock and Catering Guidelines
Information on passenger catering requests and special aircraft stock considerations can be obtained through the scheduler or trip sheet.
13. Communicating With Operations
Flight crews should relay any departure time or passenger changes to scheduling by phone or AFIS.
14. External Aircraft Preflight
It is the responsibility of the captain to determine the airworthiness of the aircraft by ensuring that an adequate preflight inspection has been made prior to flight.