PREVENTION OF ACCIDENTS AND INCIDENTS BY USE OF CHECKLISTS

Capt. Dimitrios Sipsas as an EASA Examiner (TRE) on MAY 2015 wrote an article on “Flight International” Magazine

The importance of consistent use of the checklist cannot be overstated in pilot training. A major objective in primary flight training is to establish habit patterns that will serve
pilots well throughout their entire flying career. Checklists provide a logical and standardized method to operate a particular make and model airplane. Following a checklist reinforces
the use of proper procedures throughout all major phases of flight operations. For normal operations these phases include:

  • PreFlight Inspection
  • Before Engine Starting
  • Use of External Power
  • Engine Starting
  • Before Taxiing
  • Before Takeoff
  • Climb
  • Cruise
  • Descent
  • Before Landing
  • Balked Landing
  • After Landing
  • Shutdown
  • Postflight / ELT Check

Additional procedures are provided for abnormal and emergency operations, as appropriate to the airplane. Supplemental information, such as performance data or optional equipment operation, may also be contained in the checklist.
Some general aviation airplanes have checklists for certain phases of flight on panel-mounted placards or printed on sun visors. Regardless of the format, the checklist should be an
integral part of the pilots’s operation of the airplane.
There are two primary methods of checklist usage, “read and do” and “do and verify”
The read and do method is when the pilot picks up a checklist, refers to an item, and sets the condition.
The items for any particular phase of flight would all be accomplished before the checklist is set aside.

Another acceptable method is to set the condition of the items for a particular phase of operation from memory or flow pattern. Then the checklist is picked up and read to verify that
the appropriate condition for each item in that phase has been set. It is not wise for a pilot to become so reliant upon a flow pattern that he or she fails to verify with a checklist.
Checking important items solely from memory is not an acceptable substitute for checklists.

After all the above, we realized how important is the use of Checklists in order to prevent Accidents and Incidents.