An SOP for GA? Seriously?

Over the last few months, weve run a series of articles to guide you towards your own personal SOP. The final article of that series is in this issue. But, youd be wise to ask if you really need an SOP for general aviation flying. After all, do you really want to further complicate the process of flying a small plane in IFR? Do you really want to fly, Just like the airline pilots? Part 91 doesnt have that thick book of requirements that impedes (guides?) the pros. Do you really want to trade the liberation and fun of GA flying for that kind of strict regimentation?

Key Takeaways:

• The article explores whether general aviation pilots truly need a personal Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), acknowledging that some prefer the freedom of ad-hoc decision-making.
• While not for everyone, an SOP can be beneficial for pilots who desire more structured guidance, aspire to professional aviation careers, or frequently find themselves indecisive during flight.
• The author, despite not having a codified SOP, implicitly follows an extensive set of unwritten personal procedures, checklists, and self-imposed limitations, suggesting that the underlying principles of an SOP are often applied even without formal documentation.

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