Federal Aviation Administration

Standard Operating Procedures And Pilot Monitoring Duties For Flight Deck Crewmembers
 N AC 120-71B

Annotation

General.

Standard operating procedures (SOP) are universally recognized as fundamental to safe aviation operations, yet accidents and incidents continue to occur as a direct result from, or related to, a failure by the flightcrew to follow SOPs, particularly during critical phases of flight.

This advisory circular (AC) provides guidance for the design, development, implementation, evaluation, and updating of SOPs. It emphasizes that SOPs should be clear, comprehensive, and readily available within the manuals used by flight deck crewmembers. Although this AC is directed towards Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 121 and part 135 air carriers, the FAA encourages all air carriers, aircraft operators, pilot schools, and training centers to utilize this guidance. The basis for this guidance is contained in the related regulations and FAA guidance sections of this AC. This AC is not mandatory and does not constitute a regulation. This AC describes an acceptable means, but not the only means, to design, develop, update, and use SOPs.

Effective crew coordination and crew performance depend on the crew’s having a shared mental model of each task. That mental model, in turn, is founded on SOPs. SOPs should serve to provide a consistent, standardized model of each task that must be performed by each crewmember during each phase of flight and during any reasonably anticipated abnormal, non-normal, or emergency situation. SOPs must be kept current and may be individually developed by the operator or by incorporating those procedures found in their aircraft operating manuals into their daily operations. Once established, the SOPs must be applied with consistency and uniformity throughout the operation.

Implementation of any procedure as an SOP is most effective when: