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ATC Uses Checklists too

Control towers don’t instantly begin operating when they open in the morning. Like in an airplane, it all begins with a checklist. Images by the author
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Key Takeaways:

  • Air traffic controllers (ATCs) rigorously employ various checklists, akin to pilots, to maintain safe, organized, and compliant aviation operations.
  • These checklists guide every phase of an ATC facility's day, from opening procedures like checking NOTAMs and equipment status to closing the facility and handing off airspace.
  • Specific checklists include "Opening Checklists" for facility activation, "Relief Briefing Checklists" for seamless shift changes, and "Watch Checklists" for routine equipment and weather monitoring throughout the operational period.
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What do operations of any two aircraft, be they a heavy Boeing 777 or the tiniest piston-engine light sport aircraft, have in common? Checklists, of course.

These straightforward, functional documents provide guidance for each standard phase of flight, from firing up the engines, to cruise flight, to shutting it down. Specialized checklists also help crews in crisis troubleshoot unusual situations.

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