Can we talk about checklists

[Fearless Tower]

For those of you that rent airplanes, do you just use the checklist the FBO give you? Have any of you ever made your own checklist for a rental plane?

When I was flying in San Diego at Plus One Flyers, I would regularly bounce between 172s/PA28s/PA32/Duchess/210...etc

I made a small kneeboard size checklist binder that had checklists for everything I flew, but using the same format - I'd basically review the individual checklists and put those items in a common format, so while I might have different things to check on say a runup, I was doing things in the same rough order regardless of the specific airplane I was flying. It seemed to make transitioning back and forth between planes easy.

 

[Mike5250]

I use the checklist to block out the sun.

I stick with the checkmate checklists. Makes the switch between planes easier. Nothing like reading the 8 page checklist some of the rentals have.

And they do act as good sun visors!

 

[midlifeflyer]

Bringing this one back up to ask a question: Anyone using a checklist that does not rely on a challenge-verification/response format even if only for certain items?

 

[mscard88]

You can find a ton of checklists on the web (make up your own using them too), plus all the pilot supply joints sell them too.

 

[midlifeflyer]

I think the think is you shouldn't need to shrink the text to fit a fixed gear GA piston single checklist on one sheet.

I've seen yours before and I really like it. Print is a little small for me though.

We all have our preferences. That's what's nice about rolling your own.

I could definitely consolidate mine more than I have. But leaving it as it is - easy and familiar - outweighs whatever additional benefit I might get. Perhaps in revision 15...

On a commercial flight this week, I printed out yours and mine for comparison. Turns out mine doesn't really have much more information than yours, except that I include a engine start checklist. That's primarily because the multiple makes/models I have flown have different starting procedures, especially when it comes to fuel-injected models. Just easier to keep it in to review the sequence for that make/model. And once in, might as well keep the other pre-start items even though many of them - belts, controls, etc - are pretty much habit at this point.

 

[Kritchlow]

Bringing this one back up to ask a question: Anyone using a checklist that does not rely on a challenge-verification/response format even if only for certain items?

Sort of along the lines of what you are asking....
I have always been a fan of the response just being.... "Check"

In other words, instead of:

Landing light..........ON
Flaps.....................Full
Landing gear..........Down & Locked

I have always prefered:

Landing light on.......CHECK
Flaps full.................CHECK
Landing gear down & locked......CHECK

I have always thought that format enhanced standardization, and is particularly useful for single pilot ops.

 

[Everskyward]

Sort of along the lines of what you are asking....
I have always been a fan of the response just being.... "Check"

In other words, instead of:

Landing light..........ON
Flaps.....................Full
Landing gear..........Down & Locked

I have always prefered:

Landing light on.......CHECK
Flaps full.................CHECK
Landing gear down & locked......CHECK

I have always thought that format enhanced standardization, and is particularly useful for single pilot ops.

I think that's what Mark is talking about, just eliminate the word "CHECK" which is not necessary in single pilot ops.

 

[RalphInCA]

Somebody mentioned Lights Camera Action

Please explain. (I know the lights part.).

 

[Fearless Tower]

Somebody mentioned Lights Camera Action

Please explain. (I know the lights part.).

I never understood it either.

Personally, I always like BLT w/Mayo for final items:

Boost pumps
Lights
Transponder
Mixtures

 

[jordane93]

I never understood it either.

Personally, I always like BLT w/Mayo for final items:

Boost pumps
Lights
Transponder
Mixtures

I use Be My Friend Larry on most planes. Boost pumps, mixture, flaps, lights.

 

[James331]

GUMPS FIT

Gas
undercarriage
Mixture
Prop
Switches

Flaps
Instruments
Trim/transponder

I've always run that in my head after my flow and checklist before takeoff and landing.

 

[midlifeflyer]

Somebody mentioned Lights Camera Action

Please explain. (I know the lights part.).

It's a final before takeoff check when crossing the hold short line and entering the runway.

Camera - transponder.
Action - more or less a catchall for a group of engine-related things that can vary with aircraft, like going to full rich and turning on the fuel pump.

 

[midlifeflyer]

I think that's what Mark is talking about, just eliminate the word "CHECK" which is not necessary in single pilot ops.

Pretty much. Checklists in other endeavors - medicine, law, etc - are simply the task with a box to check it off as complete. We see that somewhat in electronic checklists, although many of them continue to use the standard

Item — SETTING​

we've come to know and love. It may be because standardization is a good thing. It's become familiar.

So using Kritchlow's example, instead of

Landing light..........ON
Flaps.....................Full
Landing gear..........Down & Locked​

or even

Landing light on.......CHECK
Flaps full.................CHECK
Landing gear down & locked......CHECK​

we'd just have

Landing light on
Flaps full
Landing gear down & locked​

 

[TheGolfPilot]

I like to fly by a flow checks. I'm a visual learner and when I read, I read what I want skipping over large parts. This will sound ridiculous to a lot of people but I forget far more when I use a checklist.
During my instrument rating training I used a checklist of flow checks instead of a checklist of items. That worked well for me.
I am working on my commercial now and my instructor insists that the examiner isn't going to pass me without prudent use of a checklist. So instead of going item by item completing the tasks, I do my flow check, then AFTERWARDS go through the items on the checklist confirming. It takes a little time but it has been working well for me.



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[midlifeflyer]

I like to fly by a flow checks. I'm a visual learner and when I read, I read what I want skipping over large parts. This will sound ridiculous to a lot of people but I forget far more when I use a checklist.
During my instrument rating training I used a checklist of flow checks instead of a checklist of items. That worked well for me.
I am working on my commercial now and my instructor insists that the examiner isn't going to pass me without prudent use of a checklist. So instead of going item by item completing the tasks, I do my flow check, then AFTERWARDS go through the items on the checklist confirming. It takes a little time but it has been working well for me.

You are describing a SOP used by many pilots - flow with checklist confirmation. It really should not take much time at all since it is a series of tasks you just did. (My short term memory is bad but not that bad! ) My checklist use (except when used to brief something) is pretty much

Read the task and mentally say, "Done."​