Six practical habits
Confirm eligibility
Check approvals, long-range navigation, communications, surveillance and survival requirements.
Verify every coordinate
Cross-check the operational flight plan, clearance and active route independently.
Protect navigation integrity
Monitor both long-range systems, RNP status and waypoint sequencing.
Manage data link
Confirm log-on, message status, clearance meaning and voice backup.
Plan weather deviations
Brief fuel, offset, communication and contingency considerations before deviation.
Practise the abnormal
Know the applicable communication, navigation, medical and diversion procedures.
Build redundancy before coast-out
Oceanic and remote operations may rely on performance-based navigation, long-range communications and surveillance with limited immediate support. Eligibility is a combination of aircraft equipment, serviceability, operational approval and crew preparation.
Complete independent route and coordinate checks before entry. Confirm the active RNP value where required, both long-range navigation systems, communication log-on and the next reporting or clearance point.
Treat messages as clearances
CPDLC reduces some voice limitations but does not remove the need to read the complete message, resolve ambiguity and verify the FMS change. Distinguish requests, clearances, reports and system messages.
Monitor data-link and surveillance status. If capability changes, tell ATC promptly so the appropriate separation and communication method can be applied.
Brief the difficult day
Weather deviations, turbulence, medical events and equipment failures are harder when alternates and communications are distant. Brief the applicable regional contingency procedures and avoid inventing a generic manoeuvre.
Keep fuel, equal-time points, alternates and destination conditions current. The earlier the crew recognises a deteriorating plan, the more options remain.
- 01Qualifyapprovals, equipment, serviceability and crew preparation
- 02Verifyclearance, coordinates, RNP value and communications status
- 03Monitornavigation, data link, fuel, weather and next action
- 04Contingencyapply regional procedure and communicate capability promptly
Operational summary only. Apply the current approved procedure and see references below.
Final flight-deck prompt
Final flight-deck promptIf one long-range navigation or communication system failed now, what approval, separation and route assumptions would change?
