Chapter

10

Special Operational Procedures and Hazards

Operating Procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	. .	.	.	145
Aeroplane Operating Matters - Type Related				145
Minimum Equipment List (MEL) and Master Minimum Equipment List (MMEL)				145
MEL - Operator’s Responsibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	. . . .146
MEL - Commander’s Responsibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	.	.	.	146
Ground De-icing and Anti-icing Procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .146
The Clean Aircraft Concept				147
Bird Strike Risk and Avoidance				149
Hazard to Aeroplanes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	. .	.	.	149
Bird Strike Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	. .	.	.	149
Incompatible Land Use Around Airports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	.	.	.	149
Noise Abatement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	. .	.	.	150
Questions.				155
Answers.				156

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10 Special Operational Procedures and Hazards

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Special Operational Procedures and Hazards 10

Operating Procedures

All non-type related policies; instructions and procedures needed for a safe operation are to be included under the heading ‘Operating Procedures’ in Part A of the OM. This is to include:

•De-icing and anti-icing on the ground.

•Adverse and potentially hazardous atmospheric conditions.

•Wake turbulence.

•Incapacitation of crew members.

•Use of the Minimum Equipment and Configuration Deviation List(s).

•Security.

•Handling of accidents and occurrences.

Also under the ‘Operating Procedures’ heading will be detailed policy and procedures for the use of:

•Altitude alerting systems.

•Ground Proximity Warning Systems.

•TCAS/ACAS.

Aeroplane Operating Matters - Type Related

All type related instructions and procedures needed for a safe operation are included in Part B of the OM. The procedures will take into account any differences between types, variants or individual aeroplanes used by the operator. The following items are specifically included under this heading in OM Part B:

•Abnormal and emergency procedures.

•Configuration Deviation List.

•Minimum Equipment List.

•Emergency evacuation procedures.

Minimum Equipment List (MEL) and Master Minimum Equipment List (MMEL)

The MEL is applicable (can be used) up to the commencement of flight. This now implies that it can be used during the taxi and up to the point of commencement of flight. If there is a conflict between any airworthiness directive and the MEL, the airworthiness directive will override.

The following definitions are required knowledge:

•Commencement of flight: The point when an aeroplane begins to move under its own power for the purpose of preparing to take-off.

•Inoperative: The equipment does not accomplish its intended purpose or is not consistently functioning within its design tolerances or limits. Some equipments have been designed to be ‘fault tolerant’ and are monitored by computers which transmit a fault message to a centralized computer for the purpose of maintenance. This does not necessarily mean that the equipment is inoperative.

Special Operational Procedures and Hazards 10

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10 Special Operational Procedures and Hazards

MEL - Operator’s Responsibility

Hazards and Procedures Operational Special 10

The operator is required to establish an MEL for each type of aeroplane used in the operation. The MEL is to be approved by the Authority. The MEL is to be based on, but must not be less restrictive than, the MMEL which has been accepted by the Authority. Unless permitted by the Authority, aeroplanes are only permitted to be operated in accordance with the MEL. Where granted, no such Authority permission will permit operations outside the constraints of the MMEL.

MEL - Commander’s Responsibility

The commander is required to make a decision whether or not to accept an aeroplane with unserviceabilities allowed by the Configuration Deviation List (CDL) or the MEL.

Ground De-icing and Anti-icing Procedures

Ice will form on the airframe if there is:

•Water in a liquid state.

•Ambient air temperature below 0°C.

•Airframe temperature below 0°C.

The following types of weather conditions and definitions are required knowledge:

•Drizzle: Fairly uniform precipitation composed exclusively of fine drops (diameter less than 0.5 mm) very close together. Drizzle appears to float while following air currents although unlike fog, drizzle falls to the ground.

•Fog and Ground Fog: A visible aggregate of minute water particles (droplets) in the air reducing the horizontal visibility at the Earth’s surface to less than 1 km.

•Freezing Fog: A fog formed by supercooled water droplets which freeze upon contact with exposed objects and form a coating of rime/clear ice.

•Freezing Rain/Drizzle: Rain or drizzle in the form of supercooled water droplets which freeze upon impact with the surface.

•Frost: Referred to as ‘hoar frost’. A deposit of ice having a crystalline appearance assuming the form of scales, needles or fans. Frost is formed by sublimation (when water vapour is deposited on a surface whose temperature is at below zero).

•Rain: Liquid precipitation, in the form of drops of more than 0.5 mm in diameter or smaller drops which in contrast to drizzle, are more widely separated.

•Rime: A deposit of ice formed by freezing of supercooled water droplets on objects at temperature below or slightly above freezing point. It is composed of grains separated by air, sometimes adorned by crystalline branches.

•Slush: Water saturated snow which with a heel-and-toe slap-down motion against the ground will be displaced with a splatter.

•Snow: Precipitation of snow crystals mostly branched in the form of six-pointed stars. The crystals are isolated or agglomerated to form snowflakes.

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