STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES
MidCoast Aviation Services, LLC
Reidsville Municipal Airport
STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES
MidCoast Aviation Services has developed operating procedures in this document to meet or exceed the
requirements of the Federal Aviation Administration standards for flight and ground training required
by the FAA for Part 141 Pilot Schools. The goal of the school is to safely train safe pilots in safe
aircraft.
Enrollment
When a student enrolls in any approved training course they will be furnished a copy of the following:
A. Certificate of Enrollment containing the name of the course and the date of the enrollment
B. Copy of the training syllabus
C. Copy of this document containing safety procedures and practices developed by the school
to describe the use of school facilities and operation of the aircraft. These procedures
include training on at the following information:
1. Weather minimums required by the school for dual and solo flights
2. Procedures for starting and taxiing aircraft on the ramp
3. Fire precautions and procedures
4. Redispatch procedures after unprogrammed landings on and off airport
5. Aircraft discrepancies and approval for return to service
6. Securing aircraft when not in use
7. Fuel reserves necessary for local and cross-country flights
8. Avoidance of other aircraft on ground and in flight
9. Minimum altitudes limitations and simulated emergency landing instructions
10. Description of and instructions for use of assigned practice areas
D. The school will maintain a monthly listing of each person enrolled in each training course.
This information will be made available as required.
E. Upon graduation from an approved course each student will receive a graduation certificate.
1. Certificate will contain the name and certificate number of the school
2. Name of the graduating student
3. Course of training for certificate issued
4. Date of graduation
5. Statement that student has satisfactorily completed each required stage of the
course and the tests for the course
6. Certification by the Chief Flight Instructor
7. Statement showing the cross-country training received in the course
8. Certificate will have unique alphanumeric code specific to the student
Training Records
The school will create and maintain a current and accurate record of the participation of each
student enrolled in an approved course of training that contains the following information:
A. Date student enrolled
B. Chronological log of student’s course attendance, subjects, and flight
operations covered in the training, and names and grades of all tests taken by
the student
C. Date of graduation, termination, or transfer to another school.
D. Standard student logbooks do not qualify for records required by the school
E. Graduation, termination, or transfer records must be certified by the Chief
Instructor
F. Records will be retained for one year from the date of graduation, termination,
or transfer
G. Copies of training records will be available to all students upon request
H. All records will be kept in either locked filing cabinets or a cabinet in a locked
office of the school at the Reidsville Municipal Airport.
I. GROUND OPERATION PROCEDURES
A. General Safety Precautions
Should a fire occur in an aircraft on the ramp, at the fuel pumps, or in the vicinity of the
FBO building a fire extinguisher is available at the self-serve fuel pumps at the
Emergency Fuel Shutoff Switch and inside the lobby of the FBO building at Reidsville
Municipal Airport.
Notify the following:
1.
2.
3.
4.
The Reidsville Fire Department should be notified by calling 911,
Reidsville Police Department call 911
John Cheney, Reidsville Airport Authority, 912-237-0455 Cell
Airport Terminal Building FBO 912-557-6315 phone forwards to Chief
Flight Instructor Robert Smith 912-682-9635 Cell after hours
Should a fire occur in an aircraft at another airport call 911 for assistance after moving
all people to a safe distance from the fire.
Physical location of the Reidsville Municipal Airport:
1451 Airport Road, Reidsville, GA 30453
B. Aircraft Parking
Aircraft shall be locked and tied down or put back in hangers when training is
completed for the day. Keys shall be returned to the office.
When parked at airports other than Reidsville Municipal Airport, aircraft shall be locked
and tied down or chocked on at least one wheel.
C. Operations around people or other aircraft
Before engine start the Pilot in Command (PIC) will ensure that all aircraft propellers
are clear, and nearby personnel are aware of the impending start. All aircraft will be
started using the approved checklist in the aircraft. Additionally, ensure that the rotating
beacon is on and people are clear.
Aircraft shall taxi only on approved taxiways, at a speed no greater than a fast walk.
Nose wheels should be on yellow taxi lines.
No passengers should board or deplane while the engine is running.
D. Fueling procedures
Aircraft should land with minimum of one hour fuel on board. When the pilot in
command is a student pilot, a minimum of one and one half hours of fuel shall be on
board. This requirement is for local and cross-country flights both solo and dual. There
is no excuse for fuel exhaustion.
Fueling may be done at the RVJ self-serve pumps by the PIC with a credit card from the
school or with a personal credit card if after hours. Renters should keep all receipts for
reimbursement.
When at other airports, the PIC may refuel or have the plane refueled by qualified
airport personnel. Upon presentation of the receipt for the fuel a credit will be given to
the student/renters account by the school.
II. Flight Operations
For all flight operations, both on the ground and in the air special attention shall be paid to
avoid contact with other aircraft on the ground and in the air. The PIC shall always practice
safe operation of the aircraft for traffic avoidance using all resources available including
passengers, other pilots, and instructors.
A. Aircraft
All aircraft used by the school is a civil aircraft registered in the United States. Aircraft
are certificated with standard airworthiness certificates or special airworthiness
certificates in the case of our light sport aircraft.
All aircraft are maintained and inspected in accordance with requirements for aircraft
operated for hire under Part 91, subpart E, of the Federal Aviation Regulations.
Each aircraft has two pilot stations with engine-power controls that can be easily reached
and operated in a normal manner from both pilot stations (for flight training).
Aircraft used for instrument flight training are equipped, maintained, and certified for
IFR operations both enroute and instrument approach procedures. This allows us to train
instrument students in the control and precision maneuvering of aircraft solely by
reference to the instruments.
Each aircraft used for solo and dual flight training has pretakeoff and prelanding
checklists; and a pilot’s operating handbook (POH or Flight Manual) furnished by the
manufacturer on board. Students may obtain copies of these documents to study.
B. Flight Training Areas
See Attachment A: Sectional Chart designation of Training Areas.
Training Areas identified on the charts are free of terrain hazards, obstacles, and have
large open grass or hay fields that may be used for emergency landings if required.
Training Areas shown will be used for basic and commercial flight maneuvers for the
type training being conducted. These may include Ground Reference maneuvers,
Performance Maneuvers of Stalls and Steep Turns, Simulated Forced landings, Slow
Flight, and simulated IMC with flight by reference to instruments.
Commercial Maneuvers such as Lazy Eights, Eights on Pylons, Chandelles, and others
may be conducted in the Training Areas.
Clearing turns in the air and checking for other aircraft on the ground and in flight is
required at all times. Special attention to looking for other traffic in the training areas is
required at all times.
C. Flight Training Altitudes
The minimum enroute altitude for flight operations outside the RVJ Airport Area is 1000
feet above the Maximum Elevation Figures listed on sectional charts for each latitudelongitude square, unless the Federal Air Regulations or Air Traffic Control directs higher
altitudes. These minimum altitudes do not apply for Ground Reference Maneuvers or
Simulated Forced Landings conducted in the Training Areas.
Arrival and Traffic Pattern Altitudes will be flown as recommended by FAA procedures
or as directed by ATC.
When approaching to land at an airport without an operating control tower in Class G
Airspace each pilot must make all turns to the left unless the airport displays approved
light signals or visual markings indicating that turns should be made to the right, in
which case the pilot must make all turns to the right.
Simulated Forced Landing (SFL) Altitudes: SFL will not be flown below 500 feet AGL
unless the SFL is flown to a prepared landing surface such as a runway. SFL may be
practiced in sparsely populated areas if the area has been thoroughly studied during
preflight planning and all obstacles may be avoided. Local area charts used for planning
SFLs will have all obstructions highlighted and the most current information annotated
on the chart. SFL procedures conducted within gliding distance of a prepared landing
surface may be continued below 500 feet AGL, and include low approaches, touch and
go practice, stop and go, or full stop landings.
Ground Reference Maneuvers: The minimum altitude for Ground Reference Maneuvers
is 600 feet AGL. Ground reference maneuvers shall be practiced between 600 and 1000
AGL.
Maneuvers may not be practiced on airways or over congested areas. Stall recovery and
approach to stall must be completed at least 2000 feet AGL in a single engine plane and
at least 3000 feet AGL in a multi-engine aircraft.
D. Approved airports for student training
Approved public use airports for student training shall include the following:
Sylvania, GA
Claxton, GA
Augusta AGS and DNL, GA
Columbia CAE and CUB, SC
Waycross, GA
Savannah, GA
Metter, GA
Macon MCN and MAC, GA
Dublin, GA
Vidalia, GA
Reidsville, GA
Eastman, GA
Ft. Stewart, GA
All airports must have at least one runway or takeoff area that allows training aircraft to
make normal takeoffs or landings under the following conditions at maximum
certificated takeoff gross weight:
1. Under wind conditions of not more than 5 miles per hour;
2. At temperatures in the operating area equal to the mean high temperature for
the hottest month of the year;
3. If applicable, with the powerplant operation, and landing gear and flap
operation recommended by the manufacturer; and
4. In the case of a takeoff –
a. With smooth transition from liftoff to the best rate of climb speed
without exceptional piloting skills or techniques; and
b. Clearing all obstacles in the takeoff flight path by at least 50 feet.
5. Each airport must have a traffic direction indicator when:
a. The airport does not have an operating control tower; and
b. UNICOM advisories are not available.
6. Each airport used for night flights must have runway lights
E. Flight Weather Conditions
Solo flights shall not be conducted with winds in excess of 15 (fifteen) knots with a 5
(five) knot crosswind component. Visibility must be 3 statute miles and a ceiling of at
least 2000 feet AGL. Instructors may have the authority to alter limitations based on
individual students’ progress and proficiency. Flight instructors shall review the current
weather conditions and flight planning for each solo flight by a student.
Dual flights with an instructor and student day or night shall be conducted according to
VFR weather minimums for the class of airspace in which flight training is being
conducted.
Solo flights by student pilots are required to have surface visibility of 3 statute miles
during daylight hours or 5 statute miles at night.
All flights, solo and dual in the Training Areas shall adhere to the VFR weather
minimums for Class G Airspace from surface to 1200 feet AGL; and VFR weather
minimums for Class E Airspace above 1200 feet AGL
F.
Pilot Criteria
Only qualified and current pilots shall be allowed use of the aircraft. Prior to each flight
a review of the pilot’s records shall be made to include the following:
1. Copy of Medical
2. Copy of Flight Review
3. Signed Rental Agreement
4. Copy of Driver License or a government issued picture ID
5. Copy of Pilot License
6. Proof of citizenship by birth certificate or US Passport
Additionally, each student pilot, certificated pilot, or school instructor shall meet the
following qualifications:
Prior to receiving authorization to train students in flight training courses each instructor
assigned to a training course must satisfactorily complete the following tasks
administered by the Chief Instructor, Assistant Chief, or check instructor:
1. Accomplish a review of and receive a briefing on the objectives and
standards of that training course; and
2. Accomplish an initial proficiency check in each aircraft used in that
training course in which that person provides training; and
3. Every 12 calendar months after the month in which the person last
completed a proficiency check, must complete a recurrent
proficiency check in the aircraft in which the person trains students.
Instructor Pilots Checkout by Chief Instructor
The Chief Instructor shall check out all flight instructors employed by the school on the
following areas:
1. Preflight Procedures
2. Checklist Usage
3. Radio Communication
4. ATC Compliance
5. Slow Flight
6. Power-Off Stall Recovery
7. Spin Awareness
8. Unusual Attitude Recovery
9. Autopilot Operations
10. GPS Operations and Limitations
11. Simulated Engine Failure
12. Emergency Landing Procedures
13. Power Off landing
14. Manual Gear Extension
15. Two Normal Landings
16. Instrument Approach Procedures
Solo Student Pilots
Student pilots must provide proof of citizenship and complete a pre-solo exam,
obtain a student pilot certificate and third class medical certificate.
All student pilot solo flights must be authorized by a certificated flight instructor,
who is present at that airport, has reviewed the weather conditions, and approved
the flight.
Before soloing all student pilots must have flown at least one hour in the
previous 21 days.
Renter Pilots
1. Must have an annual flight review conducted by the school.
2. IPC conducted by an approved school instructor within the previous
six months for IFR flights.
3. Must be night current for day and night flights.
4. Flown at least one hour in a school aircraft in the previous ninety days
or be checked out by a school instructor.
5. Any authorized school instructor may conduct proficiency flights for
renter pilots.
III. Accident/Incident Procedures
A. Pilot in command actions, if not incapacitated
1. Remove passengers to a safe area
2. Secure assistance – local police, fire, ambulance, 911
3. Prepare signals, if in a remote area
4. Preserve integrity of the site for investigators
5. Notify:
a) Bobby Smith 912-682-9635,
b) MidCoast Aviation Office 912-557-6315,
c) Gene Long 912-271-9190,
d) Lance Lanning 321-246-8483.
6. Report known details, including those that must be passed on to the NTSB or
the FAA within a timely manner.
7. Make no statements about the accident to anyone other than official
representatives of the FAA or NTSB.
B. Flight School Actions
1. Make sure all available resources have been directed to the accident site to
render assistance to all persons
2. Ensure the FAA or NTSB has been given timely notice of the accident in
accordance with applicable regulations
3. Advise company legal counsel of the basic facts
4. Notify company insurance carrier as to the name of the aircraft owner, time
and place of the accident, injuries, damage, and security measures taken
5. Determine whether a company executive should go to the scene of the
accident
6. Notify next of kin of those aboard the aircraft
7. Prepare to handle inquiries from the press. Responses should be limited to
statements confirming aircraft ownership and how the aircraft is used. There
should be no attempt to speculate as to the cause of the accident.
C. Redispatch Procedures after Unprogrammed Landings On and Off Airports
1. In case of a precautionary or emergency landing the pilot in command should
notify the flight school of the location and condition of the passengers and of the
aircraft as soon as practical.
2. Before attempting to fly or move the aircraft the flight school shall be notified
and a qualified mechanic shall inspect the aircraft.
3. No attempt to move the aircraft should be made until redispatched by the
school.
IV. Maintenance Procedures
A. MidCoast Aviation, L.L.C. aircraft are scheduled for 50-hour oil changes, 100-hour
inspections, and 24-month Pitot-static and Transponder checks. The log sheet on the
aircraft dispatch case and the status board in the office reflect when the next
inspection/oil change is due.
B. MidCoast Aviation, L.L.C. aircraft will not be rented or used for instruction when
the engine has reached the manufacturers recommended TBO.
C.
MidCoast Aviation, L.L.C. aircraft will have the maintenance performed by an FAA
approved A&P with IA. Flight school personnel will monitor the maintenance for
compliance with all FAA regulations including:
1.
2.
3.
4.
All Airworthiness Directives and Service Bulletins.
Oil analysis is performed at least at every 100-hour inspection.
Only FAA approved replacement parts are used.
All maintenance shall be recorded in the logbooks.
D. Pilots or students may report aircraft discrepancies on the log sheet, on the
dispatch sheet, on the status board or report verbally to the Chief Flight Instructor,
Assistant Chief Flight Instructor, or maintenance personnel.
1. Prior to dispatch authorized school personnel are to ensure that all
discrepancies or squawks are addressed.
2. Any discrepancy requiring maintenance shall be repaired, the aircraft flown on
a check flight as required by 91.407 (b) and(c) by the Chief Flight Instructor
or the Assistant Chief Flight Instructor, and the logbooks entries made by
maintenance personnel prior to dispatch.
3. School approved maintenance personnel shall determine if a check flight is
required per 91.407 (b) and (c) after discrepancies or repairs have been
completed. For example, a failed interior light bulb change may not require a
check flight.
V. Security Procedures
A. Aircraft keys shall not be left in the plane. All aircraft must be locked
and the keys shall be kept in the dispatch case in a locked office at the
school.
B. Positive identification of all pilots and their credentials shall be
performed by school personnel prior to aircraft dispatch.
C. Student Pilots shall have limited access to the aircraft keys until the student has
completed the pre-solo written test, received a student pilot certificate and medical
exam, and has been signed off to solo by their CFI.
D. Suspicious activity shall be reported to the appropriate law
enforcement authority, local Police Department, Georgia State Patrol,
The Federal Aviation Administration, and where necessary The Transportation
Security Administration.
E. All flight school personnel and pilots who regularly use the aircraft
will be on the lookout for suspicious activity. Examples include but are
not limited to:
1. Transient aircraft with unusual modifications
2. Persons loitering for extended periods in the vicinity of parked
aircraft or in pilot lounges.
3. Pilots who appear to be under the control of another person
4. Persons wishing to rent aircraft without presenting the proper
credentials or identification
5. Persons who present the apparently valid credentials but who do not
display a corresponding level of aviation knowledge
6. Any pilot who makes threats or statements inconsistent with normal
aircraft use
7. Events or circumstances that do not fit the pattern of lawful, normal
activity at an airport
F. For further investigation flight school personnel shall contact the:
1. U.S. Department of Homeland Security 866-247-3287
2. Savannah Office of TSA 912-963-4902
3. Federal Bureau of Investigation 912-231-2055
4. Federal Aviation Administration Hazardous Materials 404-305-6830
Physical Location of the School
1451 Airport Road
Reidsville, GA 30453