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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
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • Air traffic controllers, much like pilots, rely on comprehensive checklists for safe and efficient operations across all phases of their workday.
  • These checklists guide critical procedures such as opening and closing facilities, conducting pre-duty weather briefings, verifying equipment conditions, and coordinating airspace handovers.
  • Beyond routine operations, specific "Watch Checklists" ensure the periodic testing of emergency equipment, while "Relief Briefing Checklists" facilitate detailed and safe transfers of control between controllers, maintaining continuous safety.
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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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