The National Business Aviation Association working with CAE and FlightSafety has published the Airplane Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) Manual. The manual is intended to provide consistent guidance for single pilot and multi pilot operations across business aviation. It brings together best practices from operators of all sizes and includes input from aircraft manufacturers and training experts to support a shared approach to safety in dynamic crew and mixed fleet environments.

The SOPs were designed to help operators follow the same proven procedures and to support organisations with limited resources by providing a ready framework for training and day to day activity. Standardisation will generate stronger data to inform training improvements and will strengthen resilience throughout operational settings.

“We're excited to introduce these SOPs with our partners after years of work with operators aircraft manufacturers and training experts” says Ed Bolen president and CEO NBAA. “These SOPs will ensure everyone is following proven best practices creating a more predictable safety environment for all.”

“The industry-wide collaboration to establish these SOPs shows that safety transcends everything as everyone wins with safer skies” says Alexandre Prévost president civil aviation CAE. “By embedding these standards across our worldwide training programmes we are encouraging the industry to adopt a unified approach that extends beyond the classroom and into daily operations. This alignment not only enhances safety and operational consistency but also strengthens pilot resilience. Within CAE this change reflects our deep commitment to mentoring our instructors and continuously elevating the training experience for our customers.”

“FlightSafety International is proud to lead this initiative and deliver a standard that reflects the input of the entire business aviation community” says Ben Carter executive vice president learning centre operations FlightSafety International. “Embedding these SOPs into training will drive greater consistency and directly support safer operations across the industry.”

CAE and FlightSafety plan to introduce the SOPs in training programmes from summer 2026 giving operators time to familiarise themselves with the standards. NBAA will continue working with industry participants to update the manual as best practices evolve.