Checklist & Must Haves in the Cockpit
Checklist usage is a critical aspect of flying, so it is important to work on this skill from day one. Pilots who tend to overlook checklist usage are prone to become more complacent and make more mistakes which could create an unsafe situation.
The first section is called the Normal Checklist. This section includes the procedures that are completed on the day-to-day flights, including pre-flight engine start, before taxi, before takeoff, and more after. The Normal Checklist section is the Emergency Checklist section. As the name states, this section is used during emergency operations such as an engine failure or a fire burning in the airplane. Following the emergency checklist is the Abnormal checklist, which includes procedures for situations that do not usually arise in the airplane. Some of these include what to do with a rough-air engine, electrical issues, or other equipment failures that would not constitute an emergency. The last part of the checklist is the Supplement section, which contains some helpful information like ideal airspeed of the airplane, cruise performance charts, how to prime the engine, and more from small airplanes like the Cessna. Checklist usage is absolutely essential to ensure a safe flight.
Cockpit management is an important skill for any pilot. Fundamentally, any successful flight requires a pilot to organize and use checklists, sectional charts, flight planning forms, and write down air traffic control instructions. All of these items should be arranged so that they can be accessed easily and in a timely manner. As you enter the airplane, it's important to make sure that you have everything. Some of the typical things you should bring along on a local flight include a pair of sunglasses, a bottle of water, your headset, checklists, inflight guide, sectional charts, a kneeboard, a pen, legal documents, and some paper. Finally, it's important to properly secure all of your belongings. Especially with Florida weather, turbulence occurs quite regularly. Any loose items that fly up could damage the airplane, hurt yourself or one of the other occupants on board. Cockpit management is an important skill that is quite simple to master. Keeping the essential equipment handy while stowing your flight bag and other equipment safely will get the flight off to a good start and help make sure you have an enjoyable flight.
The first section is called the Normal Checklist. This section includes the procedures that are completed on the day-to-day flights, including pre-flight engine start, before taxi, before takeoff, and more after. The Normal Checklist section is the Emergency Checklist section. As the name states, this section is used during emergency operations such as an engine failure or a fire burning in the airplane. Following the emergency checklist is the Abnormal checklist, which includes procedures for situations that do not usually arise in the airplane. Some of these include what to do with a rough-air engine, electrical issues, or other equipment failures that would not constitute an emergency. The last part of the checklist is the Supplement section, which contains some helpful information like ideal airspeed of the airplane, cruise performance charts, how to prime the engine, and more from small airplanes like the Cessna. Checklist usage is absolutely essential to ensure a safe flight.
Cockpit management is an important skill for any pilot. Fundamentally, any successful flight requires a pilot to organize and use checklists, sectional charts, flight planning forms, and write down air traffic control instructions. All of these items should be arranged so that they can be accessed easily and in a timely manner. As you enter the airplane, it's important to make sure that you have everything. Some of the typical things you should bring along on a local flight include a pair of sunglasses, a bottle of water, your headset, checklists, inflight guide, sectional charts, a kneeboard, a pen, legal documents, and some paper. Finally, it's important to properly secure all of your belongings. Especially with Florida weather, turbulence occurs quite regularly. Any loose items that fly up could damage the airplane, hurt yourself or one of the other occupants on board. Cockpit management is an important skill that is quite simple to master. Keeping the essential equipment handy while stowing your flight bag and other equipment safely will get the flight off to a good start and help make sure you have an enjoyable flight.