Knowing What’s ‘Normal’ Is a Big Part of Preflight Inspections

The learner pilot–with checklist in hand—should never be afraid to ask questions.

Tuesday, October 17, 2023 at 01:58 PM ET

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Using the checklist during the preflight inspection, learning to access and interpret weather, NOTAMs, and determining weight and balance and aircraft performance are vital to mastering flight. [Credit: Shutterstock]

Key Takeaways:

New pilots are encouraged to proactively question "what's normal" during preflight inspections, always using checklists, and feeling empowered to report any concerns to instructors or mechanics.
Effective flight training emphasizes strong collaboration and mutual respect between instructors and mechanics, prioritizing thoroughness in preflight checks and detailed reporting of all discrepancies.
Pilots must prioritize safety by reporting all issues found, and critically, should never hesitate to refuse to fly an aircraft if they have unresolved concerns about its mechanical condition.

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Anytime you learn a new skill, there will be a phase where you don’t know what you don’t know. Flying is a prime example of this. Expect the first manifestation to be when you are learning to do a preflight inspection of the aircraft. You may find yourself asking questions like “Is that normal?” and “Is it supposed to be like that?” as you look at the aircraft. These questions should be asked as they are part of the process.

What Is Normal?

On your first preflight inspection, your instructor will likely teach you how to perform it, checklist in hand. It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been flying, use the checklist. In addition to providing a logical flow to the inspection, it often offers metrics for normal and safe operations, such as “minimum oil level 5 quarts”.