Forget The Checklist

Every Flight Manual, every Pilots Operating Handbook and every aftermarket pilots guide contains checklists. Normal and emergency, and in some airplanes, abnormal and alternate procedures checklists attempt to cover most situations youre likely to encounter. The FAA, instructors and authors (myself included) expend great effort trying to get pilots to use printed checklists. So it may seem odd to read there are times when a printed series of steps is too cumbersome to use. There are some times when you should forget the checklist. Most in-flight situations are not so time-critical that forgetting to move a switch or control spells immediate disaster. These conditions provide enough time for you to make inputs or move controls, then as time permits pull out a checklist and verify you have forgotten nothing. For instance, when leveling off from climb to cruise you may forget to close cowl flaps; the engine may cool rapidly as airflow accelerates, and cooling drag may prevent the airplane from reaching its maximum speed. But the engines not going to quit, and the airplane isnt going to fall from the sky. Level off, then as time permits reference a printed checklist to catch and correct your omission.

Key Takeaways:

• While aviation checklists are essential, pilots must prioritize immediate, memorized actions in time-critical situations where consulting a physical checklist would be too slow.
• Such immediate actions include aggressively pushing the nose down after engine failure ("Push it Down"), applying power and setting pitch for a climb ("Power, Pitch, Positive Rate"), or shutting off electrics and opening vents for fire/smoke ("Switch Off, Open Up").
• Pilots should identify and commit to memory these critical "bold print" items from their aircraft's manuals through practice, using the printed checklist for subsequent verification and less urgent steps.

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