---
title: "SPO.OP.140 Flight preparation — Part-SPO · Avioverse"
description: "Before commencing a flight, the pilot-in-command shall ascertain by every reasonable means available that the space-based facilities, ground and/or water…"
url: "https://avioverse.aero/regulations/easa/air-ops/part-spo/subpart-b/spo-op-140"
---

# SPO.OP.140 Flight preparation

ANNEX VIII (Part-SPO) · Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 · EAR revision 27 Mar 2026

Official sources: [EASA Easy Access Rules (opens in a new tab)](https://www.easa.europa.eu/en/document-library/easy-access-rules/easy-access-rules-air-operations) · [EUR-Lex 2012/965 (opens in a new tab)](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32012R0965)

IR Implementing rule

## SPO.OP.140 Flight preparation

(a) Before commencing a flight, the pilot-in-command shall ascertain by every reasonable means available that the space-based facilities, ground and/or water facilities, including communication facilities and navigation aids available and directly required on such flight, for the safe operation of the [aircraft](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/aircraft), are adequate for the type of operation under which the flight is to be conducted.

(b) Before commencing a flight, the pilot-in-command shall be familiar with all available meteorological information appropriate to the intended flight. Preparation for a flight away from the vicinity of the place of departure, and for every flight under IFR, shall include:

(1) a study of the available current meteorological reports and forecasts; and

(2) the planning of an alternative course of action to provide for the eventuality that the flight cannot be completed as planned, because of meteorological conditions.

IR · SPO.OP.140 — Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 · Regulation (EU) 2021/2237 · Air OPS Easy Access Rules · EAR revision 27 Mar 2026

AMC Acceptable means of compliance

## AMC1 SPO.OP.140(a) Flight preparation

ADEQUACY OF GROUND FACILITIES

When deciding on the adequacy of facilities and services available at an aerodrome of intended operation, the operator should:

consult the aeronautical information publication (AIP) for information on the availability of rescue and firefighting services (RFFS) at the aerodrome of intended operation; and assess the level of safety risk that is associated with the [aircraft](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/aircraft) type and nature of the operation in relation to the availability of RFFS.

AMC · AMC1 SPO.OP.140(a) — Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 · ED Decision 2023/004/R · Air OPS Easy Access Rules · EAR revision 27 Mar 2026

GM Guidance material

## GM1 SPO.OP.140(a) Flight preparation

ADEQUACY OF GROUND FACILITIES — SAFETY RISK ASSESSMENT OF OPERATIONS WITHOUT RESCUE AND FIREFIGHTING SERVICES AT THE AERODROME OF INTENDED OPERATION To operate at an aerodrome with downgraded or unavailable rescue and firefighting services (RFFS), the operator may consider including in its operations manual, for each [aircraft](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/aircraft) type, certain criteria to be used when conducting a safety risk assessment of such operations. For aircraft in rescue and firefighting (RFF) category 3 and higher, the conditions under which the pilot-in-command may decide to conduct a flight may include, but not be limited to the following:

acceptable downgrades of RFFS for planning and in-flight purposes such as departure, destination, and alternate aerodromes;

aircraft characteristics related to mass, landing speed, fuel capacity;

possible limitation to daytime only or a certain time of the day (due to fatigue);

weather constraints;

aerodromes that are unacceptable with unavailable or downgraded RFFS.

GM · GM1 SPO.OP.140(a) — Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 · ED Decision 2023/004/R · Air OPS Easy Access Rules · EAR revision 27 Mar 2026

[All rules in SUBPART B: OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES](https://avioverse.aero/regulations/easa/air-ops/part-spo/subpart-b)

Consolidated from the EASA Easy Access Rules (revision 27 Mar 2026, extracted 2 Nov 2026) for convenience. Not the official publication — verify against the Official Journal of the European Union and the EASA publications before operational use.