We all are flying SLOP, as technically 0 offset still is SLOP ;) (over the NAT or other oceanic routes, if you can see other nearby aircraft already at 1 and 2 mile offsets, then staying on course is appropriate as well, no point to it if everyone is at 2 miles)

That’s a lot of frickin effort just to decide how many miles off course to fly.

Inserting an offset in the MCDU does not affect its Nav accuracy. The aircraft position is still computed the same way, and the SLOP does not affect the bias in any way.

99% of 320 pilots will operate their whole career under GPS Primary, but in case of loss of RAIM or a GPS block (like military ops), or if you operate a 320 without GPS receivers like a few at my previous company, it is still possible to have High Nav Accuracy as long as the current RNP value is greater than the current Estimated position error (both easily monitored on the bottom line of the progress page). Even then, an offset will not affect the mix IRS position calculation.

Its only if you have a Nav accuracy downgrade that SLOP would no longer be appropriate, but given the sequence of events that would lead to this situation on an overwater route, you would have bigger problems to worry about.

Eh. It passes the time and when you’ve got 2-3 hrs before coast out you’ve got nothing but time


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Do you guys have OPSPECs for 60mins extended overwater flying? That could be the reason for hugging the coast?

We do, however we have lack of training. WATRS is new to most at spirit.


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We have to stay within 60 minutes, there are always diversionary alternates listed on the OFP. Whether people pay attention to that and build the appropriate equal time points is another matter. The issue is we got these OPSPECs but there was no training until some people messed it up, then we got a PowerPoint presentation to review as our training. I’m sure people are still messing it up but it’s not that hard once you’ve read the materials. I had a CA refuse to do the SLOP offset and didn’t really give a decent reason. I’m assuming he didn’t know what it was or how to program it.

Ahhh, gotcha. That makes sense (the training stuff, not the non-SLOPer for whatever reason)

to clarify, we do not have ETOPS certification, and the waters routes that we do are non etops.

I had something similar, I entered a SLOP offset entry and exit, had a discussion about how and why, and he deleted it while I was in the lav saying something about we “didn’t request it”