Flight Check Briefing Guide



A flight check briefing is mandatory and serves many purposes. Its main focus is to discuss the functional aspects of the flight check and to put the candidate at ease. It is usually delivered following the introduction and administrative phase and prior to the ground assessment phase of the flight check.

Candidates are briefed individually unless paired together as a crew. Seat substitutes are encouraged to join the briefing. Time should be taken during and following the flight check briefing to address any questions the candidate may have.

Use the animation techniques seen during the ACP course.

       

A. Initial Contact.

45 seconds are needed to establish a rapport that says "I am available, rested, in a good mood." Shake hands, state your name, make eye contact. Candidates need to know they will be able to express their competency in a fair and effective way. Stop and reflect if you are about to enter the briefing room in a hurry, upset, tired, sick or worried. Such powerful non-verbal messages unwillingly sent to candidates have a negative effect that will be remembered for a long time.

B. Eligibility and Readiness.

Confirm the crew's eligibility by reviewing the required documentation, such as:

Then enquire about the candidate's readiness/fitness to undertake a PPC. "How do you feel today? Are you ready?" By agreeing to proceed with the Flight Check, the candidates declare themselves fit.

C. Purpose of the PPC, Crew Position & Seat Assignment.

The purpose of the PPC must be stated and agreed upon by the candidate.

Although there is no differentiation in performance expectations, the candidate’s crew duty position (i.e., pilot-in-command, second-in-command) must be established. Downgrading from PIC to SIC once the test begins is prohibited. Note: In a commercial air service, the status of the crewmember must be linked to the privileges of their licence. For example, a holder of a Commercial Pilot Licence cannot act as pilot-in-command on an aircraft requiring more than one pilot. Therefore, at best, they could only conduct a second-in-command PPC.

D. Safe Checking Practices.

  1. Aircraft: Any restrictions or limits imposed on manoeuvres conducted in the aircraft to ensure safety must be followed. These may be provided by the operator or adopted from the safe flight checking practices detailed in this document.
  2. Simulated Emergencies and Abnormals
    1. Simulator
      1. The crew should treat all malfunctions as real.
      2. ACP will not correct a secondary state caused by the pilots' incorrect or inappropriate action or response.
    2. Aircraft
      1. The manner in which simulated emergencies and abnormal situations will be discussed and coordinated by the ACP.
      2. Procedures detailed in an operator’s SOPs are to be respected.
      3. As a minimum, all such events are to be preceded by the word “simulated”.
      4. An abnormal or emergency situation caused by an incorrect or inappropriate action or response on the part of the candidate(s) will be corrected by the ACP.
  3. Simulated Compound Emergencies and Abnormals
    1. The ACP will not introduce multiple unrelated emergencies while airborne (simulator or aircraft).
    2. The candidate is expected to take corrective action on secondary failures resulting from the primary emergency or abnormal.
  4. Actual Malfunction
    1. Simulator: The ACP will advise the crew immediately.
    2. Aircraft: The PPC will be discontinued and the malfunction dealt with prior to resuming (if possible) the flight check.
  5. Simulator Safety Briefing: Knowledge of escape procedures and safety devices must be briefed by the ACP or the simulator operator.

E. Special Authorization Considerations.

Any initial certification Special Authorization(s) (formerly known as Ops Specs) items that will be required to be performed during the PPC must be established.

F. Planned Script (or Action Plan) & Weather.

  1. Review the script.
  2. Simulator/Aircraft Differences. Training on differences between the simulator and the aircraft is a required element of a training program. Some examples of this are cockpit configuration warning and alert display systems, FMS databases, electronic monitoring systems, etc.
  3. Operational Restrictions – Aircraft or Simulator. Any operational restrictions, not preventing the use of the aircraft or simulator for a PPC, should be reviewed.
  4. Start Position
    1. Simulator. The ACP will specify whether the PPC will begin as a first, second or through flight setup.
    2. Aircraft’s geographic location (i.e., gate, FBO etc.) will be briefed. A reference chart should be used.
  5. Simulator Operation. The candidate(s) should be briefed that the PPC will be conducted in real time as much as possible but that re-positioning or position freezes are permitted.
  6. Weather
    1. Simulator. Set in accordance with the flight test exercise. In general, weather during approaches will be at or below approach limits. The individual or crew must determine if the weather is suitable.
    2. Aircraft. The ACP may defer briefing the actual weather conditions to the pre-flight brief phase of the flight check.
    3. Adequate Visual Reference During Approach
      1. Simulator. The landing pilot will be expected to land if the required visual references are present, otherwise a missed approach will be carried out.
      2. Aircraft. Notwithstanding an operator’s training procedures, if the ACP does not report "field in sight" at the appropriate minimums, the candidate is expected to execute a missed approach.

G. Performance Standards and Outcomes.

  1. The aircraft or simulator is to be operated in accordance with aircraft flight manual (AFM), helicopter flight manual (HFM), SOPs and other appropriate documents.
  2. The ACP will verify that the candidate(s) is familiar with the existence and content of the applicable Pilot Proficiency Check and Aircraft Type Rating - Flight Test Guide. TP14727
  3. Possible Outcomes. The concept of jeopardy should be mentioned which will result in one of the following outcomes:
    1. successful attempt, the PPC will be issued or renewed
    2. unsuccessful attempt, the PPC will not be issued or renewed
    3. incomplete attempt

H. Roles.

  1. Who's who. Advise the candidates of all your roles as ACP, ATC, Maintenance, Operational Control, Flight Attendent, or Load Specialist.
  2. Airborne: The role of the ACP in regard to crew duties if he/she occupies a flight crew position.
  3. Transferring Controls: Notwithstanding an operator’s SOPs, the method of transferring control from one pilot to the other must be established. The most common method is by the pilot flying stating "You have control” and the pilot monitoring stating “I have control”.
  4. Note Taking. The candidate(s) should be briefed that the ACP will be taking notes during the flight check.
  5. Candidate Errors. Remind the candidate(s) not to dwell on a mistake or error but to focus on the present and future. "Unless I stop the evaluation, you are flying towards a successful PPC. Errors are a normal aspect of flight operations and this is recognized by Transport Canada in the application of threat and error management (TEM) techniques."

I. Time Issues.

The candidate should be assured that ultimately, the ACP is responsible for the management of time. The candidate should never feel pressured to rush due to schedule constraints, but must respond to any simulated abnormality or emergency with the proper level of haste. When the candidate(s) requires more time to complete procedures, checklist or briefing, they should make a request for a speed reduction, hold clearance or delaying vector. The ACP will make every effort to accommodate requests of this nature.

J. Above All: SOP.

Ask:

  1. "Do you have any questions?"
  2. "Do you understand the content and objectives of the PPC?"
  3. "Has this flight check briefing prepared you for today’s event?"

The last item will be the remembered above all others. Emphasize on the need for the candidate(s) to demonstrate their SOP knowledge and compliance.