As part of obtaining an Air Operator Certificate (AOC), the National Aviation Authority (NAA) requires specific contents to be included in the Company Operations Manual. These requirements may come from regulations published by the NAA or from separate documents, like the UK CAA publication CAP 789, which offers guidance for operators. A key element of this guidance is the necessity for companies to detail their fuel policies in the Operations Manual.
The Company Operations Manual should reflect the national guidelines of the State of Registration and may include policies on various fuel-related topics. These topics typically cover minimum dispatch fuel requirements and procedures for resolving disputes between the Commander and the Dispatcher regarding fuel amounts. Additionally, there should be clear guidelines for verifying fuel uplift and reconciling any discrepancies.
Companies must also address fuel uplift beyond basic flight plan needs due to factors like weather, expected delays, or airspace congestion. Other important areas include policies about Minimum Equipment List (MEL) requirements, fuel penalties, and contingency fuel amounts. It’s essential to outline the actions to take when Final Reserve Fuel levels are reached and specify when a fuel emergency, such as PAN or MAYDAY, should be declared.
Furthermore, the manual should provide details on fuel monitoring, recording policies, and criteria for single-engine taxi operations. It should also cover what actions to take if there is insufficient fuel to continue the flight as planned, including options for changing the alternate airport, adjusting the flight route, or altering airspeed. By outlining these policies clearly, the company ensures safety and compliance in fuel management.
