Checklist Discipline

The Aeronca Champs checklist was simple, befitting most small aircraft of the late 50s: "CIGAR" stood for Controls, Instruments, Gas, Attitude, Run-up and, sometimes, Runway. Time and experience brought along more-complicated airplanes and checklists, but it was still hard to mess up by using CIGAR. Following USAF pilot training, I became an instructor pilot in the T-37. Its checklist was a bit more complicated. When students asked about checklist sequencing, there was the standard answer: Checklist discipline. Not too much to question, but not too much to mess up, either.

A Bartlett

Tuesday, March 23, 2010 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

The article emphasizes the crucial concept of "checklist discipline" in aviation, referencing its evolution from simple to complex procedures.
An F-4 Phantom II incident occurred when a "before power applied" check was skipped, causing external fuel tanks to jettison accidentally.
This initial error led to a catastrophic chain reaction, igniting spilled fuel and spreading to a starting unit, which then rolled into and set fire to a nearby F-8.
Ultimately, the failure to follow checklist procedures resulted in the complete destruction of both the F-4 and F-8 aircraft, powerfully demonstrating the consequences of neglect.

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The Aeronca Champs checklist was simple, befitting most small aircraft of the late 50s: “CIGAR” stood for Controls, Instruments, Gas, Attitude, Run-up and, sometimes, Runway. Time and experience brought along more-complicated airplanes and checklists, but it was still hard to mess up by using CIGAR.

Following USAF pilot training, I became an instructor pilot in the T-37. Its checklist was a bit more complicated. When students asked about checklist sequencing, there was the standard answer: Checklist discipline. Not too much to question, but not too much to mess up, either.