When hand flying, what is an acceptable distance laterally from the filed flight plan? SLOP allows a mile or so, but that seems excessive in a more active airspace.
SLOP is predominantly used in NATS airspace to provide lateral offset from other aircraft on prescribed tracks. The standard offsets are 0nm, 1nm and 2nm right of track.
It’s also used on oceanic tracks to South America/Caribbean from Europe and when crossing Africa as the radar coverage is sketchy to say the least!
Use the standard 3 from above and you’ll be fine.
In controlled airspace you must stick to the assigned routing at all times. SLOP is only used when outside of radar coverage.
HTH.
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