Definition
The set of pilot actions, checklists, and techniques used to manage situations that fall outside normal operations — ranging from minor system malfunctions (abnormal) to events that threaten the safety of the aircraft or its occupants (emergency). These procedures are typically published in the Aircraft Flight Manual (AFM) or Pilot's Operating Handbook (POH) and are a required focus of transition training when moving to a new aircraft type.
Plain English
The steps a pilot follows when something is not working right or when something serious goes wrong in flight.
Context Anchor
Encountered during transition training, checklist practice, and cockpit operations when learning how to handle problems in a specific aircraft.
Why Pilots Care
Correct use of these procedures keeps the aircraft under control and greatly reduces the chance of an accident.
Intuition Check
Do not treat “abnormal” and “emergency” as the same thing. Abnormal means something is not normal; emergency means the situation is serious enough that prompt corrective action is needed.
Example Sentence 1
During transition training, the instructor drilled the student on the abnormal and emergency procedures specific to the new aircraft until the memory items were automatic.
Example Sentence 2
The instructor had the student run through abnormal and emergency procedures on the ground until each step felt automatic.