1. Operating policy
1.1 Philosophy
Procedures confirm two things at every phase: that the airplane is in a satisfactory condition, and that the flight deck is configured correctly. Checklists confirm; they do not instruct.
Everything aboard is the commander's. Recommendations reach the flight deck from dispatch, from the company, and from this manual. They are recommendations. The pilot in command decides, and where nothing speaks against the recommendation it is followed.
1.2 Stabilization criteria for approaches
(M) An approach is stable when all of the following hold together:
| Established | by 1,000 ft AAL |
| Rate of descent | not more than 1,000 fpm |
| Speed | from 5 kt below to 10 kt above V<sub>LS</sub> |
| Alignment | by 500 ft AGL at the latest |
Whether the autopilot is engaged is irrelevant to the criteria — except in low visibility, where it is a requirement in its own right.
The rate of descent is the criterion that catches the case the others miss. A path can look right while the energy is wrong. More than 1,000 fpm below the gate means the approach is not stable no matter how good the picture is.
Not stable and held to touchdown? Go around. A go-around is a normal procedure and costs ten minutes. An unstable approach costs, in the worst case, everything.