Pilots, cabin crew, the airline's flight planning department, ground crew, engineers and air traffic controllers: many actors are involved in ensuring that a commercial flight is safe. From flight planning to implementation and monitoring, flight operations comprise activities and procedures that ensure safe and efficient operation of an aircraft.
Flight planning involves determining the ideal flight route, flight altitude and fuel requirements, while taking into account factors such as weather conditions, air traffic over the planned route and airspace restrictions. A thorough pre-flight inspection is required prior to every flight in order to ensure that the aircraft is fit to fly. Before passengers board the aircraft, the captain performs a visual check of the fuselage, landing gear, control surfaces, engines, avionics and navigation systems. The cockpit and cabin crew receive information about the flight route, fuel requirements, weather conditions, diversion airports, the number of passengers and cargo. These tasks and many others are all carried out during the planning phase.
During the flight, the pilots are responsible for monitoring the aircraft's systems, the navigation system and the weather conditions. They are in constant contact with air traffic controllers. The air traffic controllers issue instructions and clearances and ensure safe separation distances between aircraft, both on the ground and in the air.
After landing, the aircraft undergoes a post-flight inspection. The pilots inform the relevant authorities about any inconsistencies, incidents or deviations from the original flight plan.
The cabin crew is primarily responsible for the safety of passengers during a flight. They give safety instructions and demonstrations before the flight and do checks on all safety equipment, as well as ensuring that passengers have their seatbelts fastened, carry-on baggage is properly stowed and no safety hazards exist. Responding to potential security risks, such as unruly passengers or security violations, is also a task.
