D-EMHL COMMANDER 114 STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES

Aircraft: Rockwell Commander 114
Registration: D-EMHL
Effective Date: 2025-07-05
Revision: 1.0

SOP-001: NOISE ABATEMENT PROCEDURES

PURPOSE

To minimize noise impact on local communities while maintaining safe flight operations.

SCOPE

All flight operations involving D-EMHL.

GENERAL PROCEDURES

  1. Be aware that the aircraft is fairly loud
  2. In rural areas: reduce speed and RPM in traffic circuit
  3. Delay advancing prop RPM lever to HI until final approach (as late as safely possible)

SKÅ EDEBY FLYGFÄLT SPECIFIC PROCEDURES

Departures:

  1. Use runway 29 whenever possible
  2. Use short field takeoff procedure
  3. Climb at Vx until 500 ft AGL
  4. If runway 29, turn right 10° after field boundary to avoid populated hill
  5. Continue at cruise power (RPM 2300) and same altitude until clear of populated areas (Lake Mälaren if runway 29)
  6. Initiate cruise climb only after clearing populated areas

Arrivals:

  1. Approach at 1000 ft using minimum power setting
  2. Make short, tight traffic pattern in immediate vicinity of field
  3. Use power-off approach technique when possible
  4. AVOID touch-and-go landings

SAFETY OVERRIDE

All noise abatement procedures may be suspended when safety of flight is compromised.

SOP-002: ENGINE START PROCEDURES

PURPOSE

To ensure safe and consistent engine starting procedures for all operating conditions.

COLD ENGINE START

When: Engine hasn’t been used for some time

Procedure:

  1. Mixture to RICH
  2. Power Lever 2 cm up from IDLE
  3. Fuel pump ON for 3-5 seconds, then OFF
  4. Mixture to LEAN
  5. While cranking, gently move Mixture towards RICH
  6. Stop at letter X in MI(X)TURE if engine starts, or go full RICH if required
  7. If engine doesn’t start immediately, repeat from step 3

HOT ENGINE START

When: Engine has been used recently

Procedure:

  1. DO NOT turn on fuel pump (will flood engine)
  2. Mixture to LEAN
  3. Power Lever 2 cm up from IDLE
  4. While cranking, gently move Mixture towards RICH
  5. Stop at letter X in MI(X)TURE, or go full RICH if required
  6. Once running, reduce Mixture to letter X

FLOODED ENGINE START

When: Engine has been flooded (e.g., fuel pump left on)

Procedure:

  1. Mixture to LEAN
  2. Power lever FULL
  3. While cranking, immediately reduce power lever to 1000 RPM as engine starts
  4. Quickly raise Mixture to letter X or full RICH if required
  5. Once running, reduce Mixture to letter X

POST-START PROCEDURES

  1. Always warm up and taxi with the mixture set to position X to prevent spark plug fouling.
  2. Oil pressure must never drop below the green range.
    If it does, immediately reduce RPM until pressure returns to green.
  3. Taxi at low RPM (up to approx. 1500 RPM) as soon as the engine runs smoothly.
    Elevated oil temperature is not required for taxi.
  4. Run-up may be performed when:
    a) oil temperature has begun to rise, and
    b) the engine responds normally when increasing power to 2000 RPM (no roughness or hesitation).
  5. Do not take off until the oil temperature has entered the green arc (160 °F).

SOP-003: FUEL MANAGEMENT PROCEDURES

PURPOSE

To ensure proper fuel management for aircraft balance and safety.

FUEL SELECTOR POSITIONS

  • OFF: Engine shutdown only (depress red button)
  • LEFT/RIGHT: Fueling, parking, uneven ground
  • BOTH: Normal flight operations (automatic crossfeed)

MANDATORY PROCEDURES

Fueling:

  1. Set fuel selector to LEFT or RIGHT (never BOTH)
  2. Prevents crossfeed and fuel spillage on uneven ground

Flight Operations:

  1. Set fuel selector to BOTH
  2. Ensures automatic fuel balance between tanks
  3. Use rudder trim to maintain balanced flight

After Landing:

  1. Fuel pump OFF immediately to prevent flooding
  2. Fuel selector to L or R (never BOTH)

Parking:

  1. NEVER park with fuel selector on BOTH
  2. NEVER park with fuel selector on OFF
  3. Always use LEFT or RIGHT position

RATIONALE

  • BOTH position during parking causes crossfeed on uneven ground
  • OFF position creates risk if next pilot forgets to change selector before flight

SOP-004: DOOR SEALING PROCEDURES

PURPOSE

To ensure proper door sealing operation and prevent equipment damage.

ACTIVATION PROCEDURE

  1. Wait until climb checklist procedures are complete
  2. Ensure both doors are properly closed and latched
  3. Turn on DOOR SEAL
  4. Turn on DOOR SEAL ACTIVATE

EMERGENCY PROCEDURE

If doors not properly closed during engine start:

  1. DO NOT activate door sealing
  2. Land as soon as practicable
  3. Properly close doors
  4. Activate sealing per normal procedure

DEACTIVATION PROCEDURE

ALWAYS turn off door sealing before opening doors

SOP-005: LANDING GEAR EMERGENCY PROCEDURES

PURPOSE

To provide standardized procedures for landing gear malfunctions.

NORMAL RETRACTION

  1. Retract when safely airborne with no runway available for landing
  2. Red gear light may remain on up to 5 minutes (normal hydraulic buildup)

GEAR FAILS TO RETRACT

If red light remains on after 5 minutes:

Recycling Procedure:

  1. Gear selector to DOWN
  2. Wait one full minute
  3. Gear selector to UP
  4. Wait up to 5 minutes for light to extinguish

CAUTION: Never rapidly cycle gear selector up and down

Further instructions are found in the emergency check list in the cockpit.

SOP-006: OIL PRESSURE MANAGEMENT

PURPOSE

To provide immediate response procedures for oil pressure issues during flight.

MONITORING REQUIREMENTS

Continuously monitor oil pressure and temperature during all phases of flight.

EMERGENCY PROCEDURES

Stage 1: Oil pressure 10% into yellow arc

  1. Reduce manifold pressure to 22.5 inches

Stage 2: Oil pressure continues dropping

  1. Reduce airspeed to less than 120 KIAS
  2. Open cowl flaps

Stage 3: Oil pressure continues dropping

  1. Land as soon as practicable
  2. Add one quart of oil after landing

NOTES

  • Oil pressure issues most likely in summer with high OAT
  • Immediate action required to prevent engine damage

SOP-007: AFTER LANDING PROCEDURES

PURPOSE

To ensure safe aircraft configuration after landing.

IMMEDIATE ACTIONS

  1. Fuel pump OFF – Immediately upon landing to prevent flooding
  2. Fuel selector – Set to L or R (never BOTH)
  3. Door seal – Deactivate before opening doors

FORGOTTEN FUEL PUMP PROCEDURE

If fuel pump left on and restart required within one hour:

  1. Keep engine running
  2. Fuel pump OFF
  3. Power IDLE for 15-30 seconds
  4. Shut down using normal procedure

REVISION HISTORY

Version 1.2. RevisionDateChanges 2025-11-20. Approved By Ernst Nathorst-Böös. Initial issue Ernst Nathorst-Böös

COMPLIANCE: These procedures are mandatory for all pilots operating D-EMHL.
TRAINING: All pilots must demonstrate proficiency in these procedures before solo operation.
QUESTIONS: Contact Ramin Shariati for clarification or updates.

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