PILIPINAS AIRWAYS

BASIC OPERATIONS MANUAL

2005-2006

 

 

PREAMBLE

 

This manual shall provide operational guidelines for the orderly management of Pilipinas Airways Virtual Airline. This shall serve as basis for matters concerning flight operations and a reference for pilots with regard to their tenure.

 

 

 

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

 

                BASE – See Domicile

                BLOCK TIME – See Flight Time

                CAPTAIN – A regular line pilot assigned by the VA to discharge the duties and responsibilities of a pilot in command of an aircraft; who has personal and overall responsibility or the proper operation and monitoring of all flight controls and instruments of an aircraft while under way; including but not limited to those involving take-off, landing and navigation of such aircraft; who, by virtue of his training, experience and demonstrated competence, is fully qualified in all phases necessary for proper operation of the aircraft while under way; and to whom the VA assigns such other duties and responsibilities appropriate to a pilot entrusted with command of VA Aircraft.

                VA AIRCRAFT – Any aircraft owned, leased or operated by the VA irrespective of contractual arrangements or country of registry.

                DOMESTIC OPERATIONS – Flight operations of the VA which are conducted within the territorial limits of the Philippines.

DOMICILE – Any location designated by the VA as a base or place of residence for pilots in consideration of operational requirements.

EQUIPMENT – A specific and distinct type of VA aircraft

FIRST OFFICER – A regular line pilot whose duties include those of a Captain’s but is limited to domestic operations and scheduled operations (i.e. Unqualified to fly ferry flights, charter flights etc.). He must have attained the minimum experience level required by the VA for appointment as First Officer.

FLIGHT – The operation of an aircraft or a series of flight legs which results in an aircraft moving from a point of origin over a specified route to a point of final destination.

FLIGHT LEG – The operation of an aircraft from any one take-off to the next landing.

FLIGHT SERVICE STATION (FSS) – A station that could be reached by either telephone or radio, manned by a VA officer detailed with providing flight planning services.

FLIGHT SIMULATOR (FS) – Flight Simulator version 2002 up to the latest version.

FLIGHT TIME (or Block Time, or Block to Block)

FLIGHT VIDEO – Video recorded through Flight Simulator’s video recording function and used by the VA for evaluation purposes.

INSTRUCTOR PILOT – A pilot designated by the VA to instruct student pilots, Limited First officers and upgrading piots.

LINE CHECK PILOT – A pilot who is assigned to perform check pilot duties.

LINE FLYING – The performance of active crew member duties in connection with productive flights of the VA.

LIMITED FIRST OFFICER – A line pilot whose duties include that of a First Officer but is limited to flying fourteen (14) hours of monitored flying time initially before conducting any further unmonitored flight.

MANAGEMENT PILOT – A pilot occupying a managerial or supervisory position established by the VA.

MONITORED FLIGHT TIME – Flight time under the supervision of online VA ATC

OFFICIAL DUTY – The period between the time a pilot is required by the VA to report for any duty associated and/or connected with his employment until he or she is finally relieved of all such duties at his domicile.

QUARTER – The period from the first day of, up to and including the last day of the calendar month succeeding the month that follows the beginning calendar month; a period of a total of three (3) months.

RECURRENT TRAINING or PROFICIENCY CHECKS – Training courses or proficiency checks required periodically of all pilots in their respective equipment.

REGIONAL OPERATIONS – Flight operations of the VA conducted within the South East Asian region.

REGULAR LINE PILOT – A pilot in the employ of the VA assigned to perform regular cockpit crew duties in the equipment and position he is qualified for.

RIGHT SEAT DIRECT PROGRAM – Pilipinas Airways VA pilot training program.

RP-CAR – Civil Air Regulations of the Philippines

TOUR OF FLIGHT DUTY – The period between the time a pilot is required by the VA to report prior to making a particular flight or series of flights (preflight reporting time) until he is finally relieved of all such duties after the termination of that flight or series of flights (i.e., 15 minutes after on-block).

TRIP – A series of flights and/or flight legs from and return to the home base

UNMONITORED FLIGHT TIME – Flight time without the supervision of online VA ATC

VIRTUAL AIRLINE (VA) – Pilipinas Airways Virtual Airline Management

VIRTUAL AIRLINE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL (VA ATC) – Pilipinas Airways Philippine Air Traffic Supervisory Service

 

 

 

ARTICLE II

PILOT APPPLICATION PROCESS

 

Pilots who wish to apply as a line pilot for the VA should satisfy the following requirements in order to be accepted into the Right Seat Direct program:

A.     VA applicants must have a minimum of twenty-five (25) hours total flying time logged in the flight simulator or, if the applicant cannot produce a copy of his or her FS logbook, he or she must show competence in basic flying skills through the submission of a flight video in any type of fixed-wing aircraft demonstrating:

1)      Normal takeoff

2)      Flight around the standard traffic pattern including:

a.       One touch and go

b.      One missed approach

3)      Stall recovery

4)      Normal landing

B.     VA applicants must also pass a written exam to be given by the head of flight personnel.

C.     In the event an applicant exhibits above average flying skills and exceptional aviation knowledge through the requirements stated in sub-sections B and C, he or she may be exempted from undergoing the VA’s regular training program and may then become a Limited First Officer given that he or she has passed all VA requirements on equipment transitioning.

 

 

 

ARTICLE III

RANKING OF PILOTS

 

                        The ranking and compensation of pilots employed by the VA shall be as stated in ANNEX “A” of this manual.

 

 

 

ARTICLE IV

SCHEDULING OF PILOTS

 

Section 1 – Flight Assignment

Scheduling of pilots shall be as follows:

A.     The VA shall prepare quarterly pilot flight assignment schedules based on the master schedule so as to permit pilots to fly their average flight time as contemplated in Section 2 (Quarterly Flight Time) of this Article. Such quarterly schedule shall be published at least forty-eight (48) hours before its effectivity. When operational requirements so warrant, including but not limited to pilot movements due to promotions or filling of vacancies, the quarterly schedule may be revised as necessary at the VA’s discretion. Quarterly pilot flight assignments shall be disseminated through the VA’s Flight Operations group e-mail.

B.     Pilots will be allowed to bid for flights given that the bid is made at least forty-eight (48) hours before actual time of departure (ATD).  The bid, upon submission will be redirected to the head of flight personnel.

Section 2 – Quarterly Flight Time

It is understood that the VA shall endeavor to schedule pilots to fly at least eighteen (18) hours monitored and six (6) hours unmonitored (Flight Time) per quarter for regional and domestic operations. However, pilots may be scheduled to fly up to the maximum time allowed by RP-CAR when operational requirements so demand such as but not limited to expansion of services, crew training requirements, and others.

 

 

 

ARTICLE V

EXECUTION OF FLIGHT DUTIES

 

Section 1 – Filing and Opening of Flight Plans

            In order to provide as much Air Traffic Control supervision on VA flight operation as possible, the following measures are to be taken:

A.     Upon receiving the quarterly flight assignment schedules, it is the pilot’s responsibility to file a flight plan at least twenty-four (24) hours before the ATD of each scheduled flight at the VA’s Flight Operations department.

B.     Once flight plans are filed at the VA’s Flight Operations department, the opening of these plans can be done immediately through the airport’s Clearance Delivery service or FSS on the day of the flight.

Section 2 – Preflight, In-flight and Post-flight Reporting

            Aside from ATC radio communications, specific reports to Pilipinas Airways Flight Operations are to be accomplished in certain periods during the flight process in order to facilitate close monitoring of every flight’s progress. These reports are as follows:

A.     Preflight reports are to be done via radio at the most convenient time during the preflight preparation. The report should include:

1)      Aircraft Registration

2)      Pilot in Command

3)      Block fuel and additional fuel requested (If any)

4)      Aircraft Remarks (If any)

B.     In-flight reports are to be done via radio as soon as practicable after departure. The report should consist of:

1)      Doors closed time, pushback time, off-blocks time, airborne time, ETA for destination

2)      Number of passengers over number of infants aboard

3)      Reason for delay (If delay occurs)

4)      Aircraft Remarks (If any)

C.     Post-flight reports are to be accomplished as soon as engines are shut down and once the aircraft is secured. The report should comprise of:

1)      Touchdown time, on-blocks time

2)      Fuel remaining

3)      Aircraft Remarks (If any)

Section 3- Cancellations

  1. A pilot may cancel a flight in his quarterly flight schedule without acquiring any penalties whatsoever provided that the cancellation is made at least four (4) hours before the ATD. Once VA Flight Operations is notified of such a cancellation, the VA reserves the right to call upon reserve pilots to man the flight if it deems necessary.
  2. In the event a flight is cancelled without prior notice of at least twenty-four (24) hours from the pilot due to any reason whatsoever apart from operational matters, the pilot would be penalized by prohibiting him or her from flying the next succeeding flight in his schedule with the services of online VA ATC.

 

 

 

ARTICLE VI

TRAINING AND QUALIFICATION

 

Section 1 – Training Program

            The training program for pilots and requirements for release to line flying shall be as follows:

A.     Newly hired pilots, regardless of type-rating, who have met the minimum total flying time of at least twenty-five (25) hours prior to entering the VA, would have to undergo further instruction through the VA’s Right Seat Direct Program whereat, upon completion of the course, trainees would be eligible to proceed directly to line flying as 2nd Group Limited First Officers. Once this status has been attained, Limited First Officers are initially required to fly no less than fourteen (14) hours monitored before flying their further ten (10) hours of either monitored or unmonitored flight time during the quarter. After completing which, they may then assume normal line flying duty as Regular Line Pilots (i.e. First Officers).

B.     Regular Line Pilots or any pilot transitioning to another equipment are simply required to pass a written exam specified for the type of aircraft they intend to transition to and submit a flight video of a normal operational flight in that aircraft beginning from preflight preparations to the securing of aircraft after engine shutdown.

Section 3 – Refresher and Recurrent Courses

A.     The VA, acting in the best interest of aviation standards, shall maintain such system-wide refresher and recurrent courses as are deemed necessary and advisable to ensure that the proficiency of pilots is in accordance with applicable regulations and required standards of operation, and their knowledge of developments and changes in such regulations and required standards are kept.

B.     Proficiency checks are to be conducted once every six (6) months and these would include the following measures being taken:

1)   The VA would advise line pilots to undergo a Self-Instruction Recurrent Course based on pilot self-study and would supplement them with VA certified review material that corresponds with the pilot’s equipment. After which, they are then assessed through a written exam based on the aircraft systems and the aircraft’s normal and abnormal operating procedures.

2)   Pilots would also have to submit a flight video that demonstrates proficiency in handling normal and abnormal operating procedures for the equipment. The video should contain a recording of a complete normal operational flight followed by a series of drills on abnormal procedures.

C.     1)   Should a pilot fail to satisfy minimum standards for a proficiency check

required by the VA (BS overall assessment), the pilot may be placed off-schedule at the VA’s option to allow him or her to study prior to giving him or her corrective training to meet operations standard.

2)   Should the pilot still obtain a BS overall assessment in corrective training, the pilot shall commence within a period of fourteen (14) days a Special Training Program, the pilot still obtains a BS overall assessment, he shall be directed to take a complete Equipment Qualification Course (EQC). During the period of the Special Training Program and the EQC the pilot may avail of earned vacation leaves.

3)   If the pilot still does not meet operations standard after the complete EQC referred to in sub-section C (2) above, the employment status of the pilot shall be decided within fourteen (14) days from referral to the Pilot’s Evaluation Board whose decision shall be final unless appealed within one (1) week to the aforementioned board.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANNEX “A”

RANKING OF PILOTS

Position

Group I

 

B737                                                    Captain

DC-9                                                   Captain

 

Group II

 

DHC-8                                                Captain

B737                                                    First Officer

DC-9                                                   First Officer

 

Group III

 

DHC-8                                                First Officer

 

Group IV

 

Cessna 172                                          Cadet Captain

 

Promotion

           

Promotion to 3rd Group status would require pilots to meet the following conditions:

 

A.     Pilots seeking to be promoted to 3rd Group status should have passed all requirements in line with equipment proficiency (S overall rating) during their 4th Group tenure.

 

B.     The minimum flying time requirement for pilots in order to be promoted to 3rd Group status is ten (10) hours accumulated flight time from the moment the pilot enters the VA.

 

Promotion to 2nd Group status would require pilots to meet the following conditions:

 

A.     Pilots seeking to be promoted to 2nd Group status should have passed all requirements in line with equipment proficiency (S overall rating) during their 3rd Group tenure.

 

 

B.     The minimum flying time requirement for pilots in order to be promoted to 2nd Group status is thirty-four (34) hours accumulated flight time from the moment the pilot enters the VA.

 

Promotion to 1st Group status would require pilots to meet the following conditions:

 

A.     Pilots seeking to be promoted to 1st Group status should have passed all requirements in line with equipment proficiency (S overall rating) during their 2nd Group tenure.

 

B.       The minimum flying time requirement for pilots in order to be promoted to 1st

Group status is fifty-eight (58) hours accumulated flight time from the moment the pilot enters the VA.

 

Demotion/Downgrading/Dismissal

 

            If a pilot obtains a VSF (very severely fried) rating through consistent below standard performance, he or she may be downgraded from his or her current group status or dismissed from the VA at the VA’s discretion.

           

            In order to keep the pilots within the VA standards, a sanction system shall be imposed.  The sanctions given will all follow a standard flowchart (listed below) with exception to special cases not listed below, which instead will be given to the management to decide upon.  The violations consist of, but are not necessarily limited to:

 

A.     Failure of the written recurrent examination

 

B.     Failure of the aircraft line checkride without intention for equipment upgrade

 

C.     Failure to meet the required flying time per quarter when a leave of absence (LOA) is not filed.

 

D.     Violation of strict radio communication protocol (i.e. swearing, personal chitchat unless authorized)

 

E.      Conduct unbecoming of a gentleman

 

F.      Conduct becoming of Jeremy (amaw)

 

Upon the occurrence of the first violation, the pilot in question shall be given a very severely f*cked (VSF) notice. This notice system shall be continued until the third violation.  After the accumulation of three (3) such VSF’s, the pilot shall be downgraded/demoted by one rank unit.

 

Change of Domicile/Base

 

            A pilot may change his or her domicile/base upon his or her request.

 

 

 

ANNEX “C”

 

PILIPINAS AIRWAYS

PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL SYSTEM

FOR FLIGHT DECK CREW

 

I.          RATIONALE AND APPLICATION

 

This Performance Appraisal System for the Flight Deck Crew is in line with the VA effort at enhancing the professionalism of all its personnel.

 

The sources of information to complete an individual’s assessment are as follows:

 

1.      Direct observation by the elected assessor through VA ATC online monitoring.

2.      Processed reports from the head of personnel.