Operator Supervision and Certification — Page 31, Lesson 48

I want to walk you through the structure of the Operations Manual — the OM — because this is the single most important document you will use as a professional pilot. It is the operator's rulebook, and Subpart P of EU-OPS lays down exactly what must be in it. The OM is provided for the guidance of all personnel engaged in the operation. That means you, the flight crew, the cabin crew, the dispatchers, the ground staff — everyone whose work touches the operation. It is divided into four parts, and I want you to remember that division because each part serves a completely different purpose. Part A is called General and Basic Information. This is the administrative backbone. It covers things like how the OM itself is administered and controlled, the organisation of the company and who is responsible for what, how operational control and supervision work, and the quality system. It also lays down crew composition rules, qualification requirements, crew health precautions, and flight time limitations. You will find the standard operating procedures here, along with policies on dangerous goods and weapons, security, how to handle, notify, and report occurrences, the rules of the air that the operator adopts, and leasing arrangements. So Part A is the 'who, what, and how we run the company' section. Part B is Aeroplane Operating Matters. This is the part you will live with in the cockpit. It contains general information and units of measurement, the aircraft limitations, normal procedures, abnormal and emergency procedures, performance data, flight planning guidance, mass and balance information, and loading instructions. It also includes the Configuration Deviation List, or CDL, and the Minimum Equipment List, the MEL. Survival and emergency equipment, including oxygen, is covered here, along with emergency evacuation procedures and detailed descriptions of the aeroplane systems. So Part B is the technical and procedural manual for the specific aircraft type. Part C is Route and Aerodrome Instructions and Information. This is where you will find the aerodrome operating minima — the minimum weather conditions required to take off or land at a particular airport — and any special instructions for calculating those minima. It also contains special data relating to the aerodromes used as part of the operation. So if there is a unique procedure at a particular airport, it lives in Part C. Part D is Training. The regulation states that all personnel are required to be competent to carry out their duties. This section details the training method and the requirements to ensure that every person — including you — is competent. It tells you what training you need, how it is delivered, and how the operator verifies that you are qualified to do your job. So to summarise: Part A is the company's general rules and organisation, Part B is the aircraft-specific operating data, Part C is the route and airport information, and Part D is the training syllabus. As a pilot, you will refer to all four parts, but Part B and Part C will be your daily references in flight operations.