ATC Uses Checklists too

Monday, May 22, 2023 at 10:02 AM ET

Verified

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

Key Takeaways:

Air traffic controllers utilize a comprehensive system of checklists, akin to pilots, to ensure safety, maintain situational awareness, and manage operations across all phases of their workday.
Facility opening procedures involve detailed checklists to verify equipment, review critical information like NOTAMs and facility logs, and conduct weather briefings before resuming control of airspace.
Throughout the operational day, controllers employ Relief Briefing Checklists for seamless shift changes and Watch Checklists for periodic verification of emergency equipment and weather reporting systems.
The operational cycle concludes with a structured Closing Checklist, ensuring proper documentation, handoff of airspace to higher-level facilities, and termination of services.

See a mistake? Contact us.

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.