Navigating the 'Scariest Moment' as an Aircraft Owner

When purchasing one’s first aircraft, buyers often spend little to no time evaluating their checklists and flows.

Jason McDowell

Wednesday, January 15, 2025 at 11:53 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Kimberly Johnson

Most aircraft buyers painstakingly evaluate and analyze every mechanical aspect of their new-to-them aircraft. But sometimes, old, outdated, and obsolete checklists are accepted and utilized without much thought. [Courtesy: Jason McDowell]

Key Takeaways:

The author recounts a terrifying in-flight emergency during commercial training where a smoldering landing light switch necessitated an immediate landing.
As an aircraft owner, two subsequent near-misses on takeoff were attributed to a poorly designed, inherited checklist that led to critical errors like incorrect flap settings and carb heat.
These incidents prompted the author to develop a dedicated pre-takeoff flow, emphasizing the vital lesson for new owners to meticulously evaluate and customize their aircraft checklists with expert guidance to ensure safety.

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As a pilot transitions from aircraft renter to owner, several significant changes occur. Most notably, their savings account—once a lush wonderland of excess funds and interest—becomes a financial wasteland rivaling the most bleak postapocalyptic films ever created. Similarly, their mental catalog of “scariest moments” begins to revolve more around the results of annual inspections than any situation in the air.

That said, scary moments in flight indeed still occur.