Improving Safety in Part 91 Flying Through SOPs

Part 91 operators can learn something important from how commercial pilots work.

Monday, December 29, 2025 at 11:00 AM ET

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Pilots in the cockpit [Credit: Shutterstock]

Key Takeaways:

Commercial aviation's significantly lower accident rate is attributed to standardized decision-making through Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), a practice often lacking in general aviation (GA).
SOPs, defined by the FAA as essential step-by-step guides, ensure consistent, predictable, and safe operations, fostering a shared mental model among crews and reducing workload.
For single-pilot GA, adopting tailored SOPs is crucial as they act as a "virtual co-pilot," reducing reliance on memory and personal minimums, providing hard guidelines, and ultimately enhancing safety and professionalism.