It's fair to note that the most important part of a pilot's job is not the flight itself, but the methods and procedures that ensure flight safety. This is called Standard Operating Procedures (or SOP for short), and they play a critical role in civil aviation.

To write this article, among other sources, the methodical guide of the pilot-instructor Denis Okan "Recommendations for the development and implementation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOP)" was also used - subscribe to his channel if you haven't done it yet.

Standard Operating Procedures are considered the basis for safe flight execution. The effectiveness of the interaction of flight crew members during the flight depends on how uniformly and correctly pilots understand the model of each procedure execution. And these models are, in turn, based on SOPs.

Without SOPs, pilots and airlines could face serious problems. Standard Operating Procedures serve as a framework for the members of the airline's flight crews, they ensure flight safety, efficiency, and consistency of actions in various situations. SOPs also help to reduce the likelihood of human-factor related errors, which are one of the main causes of aviation incidents.

Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) are not just a guide for the crew's actions. They provide a systematic approach to safety and efficiency, excluding randomness and minimizing the risk of emergency situations, including Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT), especially during critical stages such as approach and landing.

First and foremost, the effectiveness of interaction among flight crew members during flight depends on how uniformly and correctly pilots understand the model of each procedure execution. These two keywords form the foundation of these models, which are based on SOPs.

But the primary and most crucial role of SOPs is providing clear understanding of the situation to each pilot. They allow each crew member to:

This approach ensures clear understanding of the current situation and confidence that all crew members have an up-to-date understanding of the flight, enhancing situational awareness.

Knowing one's responsibilities and understanding what actions a pilot expects from a colleague, as well as the ability to communicate effectively, are proven ways to eliminate errors and improve work efficiency. This fosters close communication and cooperation among crew members and facilitates interaction.

If a pilot deviates from the SOPs for any reason, this reduces the effectiveness of mutual control and increases the likelihood of errors. It is at this stage that it is important to understand why this happens.

Among the most common problems noted are deviations from established procedures in crew operations, as well as the lack of appropriate procedures.

In Russia, all aircraft operators ("airlines") must have SOPs in accordance with the regulatory requirements of the Federal Air Transport Agency (FATA).

However, the content and format of SOPs can vary from company to company. Despite this, all of them must meet the minimum safety standards set by aviation regulators.

SOP is the main document for flight operations by crews, therefore it is an integral part of the company's Flight Operations Manual (FOM) and is developed in accordance with the recommendations of FATA (Rosaviation), as set out in the document "Recommendations to operators on the development of effective SOPs".

Sometimes SOPs can vary significantly from each other, and occasionally such a document may not exist in the company at all. In such a case, only a brief brochure about differences from the FCOM of a specific type of aircraft is issued.

Proper execution of SOPs helps ensure the safety and efficiency of flights. This provides predictability of actions, which is extremely important in complex and stressful situations when quick and accurate decisions are vitally important.

At the same time, for many years, deficiencies in SOPs, both in content and in their execution by pilots, have been one of the main factors threatening flight safety, causing aviation incidents.

Today, it's hard to find "bad" SOPs, because in each company a large number of competent people are involved in their development, and if changes are needed, they are promptly brought up for discussion. This does not mean that there is nothing to improve, quite the contrary, SOPs are a living document, and revisions are carried out every six months for possible amendments.

SOPs not only help shape the image of flight, but also play an important role in flight monitoring. The use of SOPs allows you to control the actions of the crew, ensuring safety and predictability.

The monitoring pilot, or "pilot monitoring," is the second crew member in the cockpit who assists the pilot flying in performing his duties. This includes monitoring and verifying the correct execution of SOPs.

We have already talked enough about monitoring (you can read more here, here, and also here and here in Russian), and we will soon bring all the information together here in the form of a good article.

Thus, SOPs play a critical role in civil aviation, ensuring safety, efficiency, and predictability of flights. Without them, the world of aviation would be a significantly more dangerous place.

Every aircraft pilot-in-command, co-pilot, and airline operate within these important standards to ensure that every time you board a plane, your flight goes smoothly and safely.

Name of arcticle: Standard Operating Procedures
Release date: 6/1/2023
Acrticle author: Georgii Kurbatskii