It can be frustrating, the morning of a cross-country flight, to discover that you’ve forgotten something that can’t be rectified without delaying your departure. Updating the database of your backup GPS; ordering the most recent sectional for your destination; or recharging your handheld transceiver. It’s usually not the absolute no-go items that slip your mind, but rather the backup material that you like to have all lined up.
One way to ensure you have all the bases covered is to develop a one-week-out checklist that you can consult on your computer or your flight planning paperwork well in advance of a long trip. Just knowing you’ve consulted the list is reassurance that you won’t be stuck.
