What is an SOP? A Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) provides a flight crew with a step by step guide to effectively and safely carry out operations. A particular SOP must not only achieve the task at hand but also be understood by a crew of various backgrounds and experience within the organisation. Rangwala Building Materials Ebook. SOP's can also be developed as time goes by to incorporate improvements based on experience, accidents, near misses or innovations from other manufacturers or operators to suit the needs of a particular organisation.

SOP's should not be designed too detailed and exhaustive that the pilot does not provide any form of cognition to the process and not be too relaxed where the crew have too options to decide between. Of note, a Checklist is generally carried out as a part of an overall procedure; for example it would be a companies SOP to conduct the Landing checklist after the Landing gear is confirmed down and locked on finals during the approach. Retrieved from on the 2 Oct 2009.