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:

• A personal Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for General Aviation (GA) is not universally needed; many pilots safely operate using sound judgment and ad-hoc decision-making.
• However, an SOP can be beneficial for pilots seeking extra guidance, pre-made decisions, personal limitations, or those who are less decisive in the air.
• The author, while not having a formal SOP, utilizes many unwritten personal procedures and limitations, demonstrating that the underlying principles of an SOP are valuable even if not formally documented for all.

Key takeaways sponsored by Aviator Pro | Start Your Training ->

See a mistake? Contact us.