Appendix D: Special Terminal Operation Procedures (STOP) for Operations in a Noncontiguous State
D.9.3 Introduction for Flightcrews
Introduction to STOP training for flightcrews covers the following topics:
- Regulatory basis for the approved program.
- Flightcrew member procedures in accordance with STOP.
- Verification of a need for STOP.
- Notification and approval requirements.
- Weather and daylight requirements (or lighting).
- Fuel requirements—inclusion of 15 minutes additional fuel for airport survey.
- Briefing requirements, including pictorials as available and risk assessment factors, in accordance with 14 CFR § 121.463 route qualification.
- Flight operation in accordance with STOP.
- Flight planning (IFR and/or VFR).
- Airport and runway requirements.
- Operations in Class G Airspace.
- Operations within 50 NM of the departure point.
- Operations 50 NM from the IFR en route system.
- Operations when an approach is not possible (diversion).
- Required communications during STOP.
- Use of portable weather observation devices.
- Storage of devices.
- Weather Device Observation Log.
- Classroom training with devices.
- Calibration training.
- Taking a weather observation and recording that information.
D.10 Approval
STOP programs are approved by the CH’s certificate management office (CMO).
The approved STOP program can be a standalone approved manual, or it may be incorporated into the CH’s accepted manual system.
D.11 Compliance Monitoring, Quality Assurance (QA), and Auditing
D.11.1 Compliance Monitoring
Compliance monitoring is intended to ensure, through a department audit, the following:
- The dispatcher, flight follower, and flightcrew comply with the procedures, provisions, and limitations of the STOP program.
- They all perform the process and procedures required to support the STOP,
- Compliance monitoring is documented, including the individual who conducted the audit and the date it was completed.
D.11.2 Quality Assurance (QA)
The QA process is an audit of the CH’s compliance in the use of STOP process and procedures. STOP procedure audits are conducted at the conclusion of each STOP flight by the CH’s designated individual. QA audits are documented with the individual who conducted the audit and the date it was completed.
D.11.3 STOP Audit
The contents of each STOP flight envelope are audited for compliance, including procedures, weather reports, NWS and EWINS TAFs, manager approver signatures, the portable weather observation log, and a complete audit of all flight plan paperwork. The STOP audit is documented with the individual who conducted the audit and the date it was completed.
All or any deficiencies identified as a result of the monitoring and QA audits are reported to the DO and followed through with the CH’s Safety Management System (SMS) program follow-up. If systemic deficiencies with the STOP procedures are identified, a plan for corrective action is developed. The evaluation of these discrepancies is conducted in accordance with the CH’s SMS program. For any identified deficiencies, an analysis is conducted to ascertain whether the deficiencies are addressed through Safety Risk Management (SRM) (per 14 CFR § 5.73(b)) or a correction (per 14 CFR § 5.75). If the root cause of the deficiencies is a shortfall in compliance with the designed operational process (e.g., required training was not completed), the deficiency is addressed through a correction (per 14 CFR § 5.75). However, if the deficiency is associated with the basic design of the control (e.g., inadequate training curriculum), the SRM process would be repeated to revise the procedure in the areas where it was found deficient (per 14 CFR § 5.73(b)). The performance, results, and corrective actions of these audits are measured at least annually through the company’s quality audit program.