B737 Flight Preparation

B737 SOP chapter 2, Flight Preparation & Documentation. By the end of this chapter you can structure the pre-flight review, interpret technical status and dispatch relief, separate the fuel components, and verify the loaded plan before movement.

• 4 pages
• 44 min of reading
• 12 question chapter check
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What this chapter covers

1. 1
   Why preparation is a distinct phaseWritten from standard 737 phase-of-flight operating procedure
   11 min read
2. 2
   Aircraft status and documentationWritten from standard 737 phase-of-flight operating procedure
   12 min read
3. 3
   Fuel policy as a structured planWritten from standard 737 phase-of-flight operating procedure
   11 min read
4. 4
   Verify the plan before movementWritten from standard 737 phase-of-flight operating procedure
   10 min read

737 flight preparation terms

Technical log

The aircraft's live record of defects, maintenance action and current condition.

MEL (minimum equipment list)

Allows dispatch with specified equipment inoperative, under stated conditions and time limits.

CDL (configuration deviation list)

Allows dispatch with permitted missing secondary structure or fairings.

Taxi fuel

From engine and APU start through taxi, before take-off.

Trip fuel

From brake release at departure to touchdown at the destination.

Contingency fuel

Normally the greater of 5 percent of trip fuel or 5 minutes holding at 1,500 ft above destination.

Alternate fuel

From a missed approach at the destination to landing at the alternate.

Final reserve fuel

30 minutes of holding at 1,500 ft above aerodrome elevation in standard conditions.

Operational flight plan

The planned route, fuel and timings that the loaded FMC data is checked against.

Loadsheet

The final load information that the weight entries are compared with.

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737 flight preparation questions