Plain English Meaning
When something on the airplane is broken but the MEL allows you to fly anyway, operational procedures are the 'how to fly safely without it' instructions you must follow.
Full Definition
In the context of a Minimum Equipment List (MEL), operational procedures are the specific steps a pilot must follow to safely operate an aircraft when a piece of equipment is inoperative. They are listed in the MEL alongside the inoperative item and may include actions such as limiting altitude, avoiding certain weather, briefing crew, or working around a missing system in flight.
Context Anchor
Seen in minimum equipment list entries, especially where an item is allowed to be inoperative only if the pilot follows certain operating steps.
Why Pilots Care
They determine whether an aircraft can be dispatched and how it must be flown when equipment fails, directly affecting and .