Do you write your own check-lists ?
Today’s topic is checklist - yes, one more time. My question is rather simple: do you use the standard manufacturer checklists extracted from the AFM / POH, or customized ones ?
This question might sound strange if you’ve always been using manufacturer check-lists. So let me first explain why some pilots don’t use them.
At first, language issues. Not all pilots are proficient enough in English, so checklists in their own language is a big advantage. And please no comments about ICAO language certification… The funny thing is when these checklists mix English to match the cockpit labeling and a local language. This can result in lines like “FLAPS…… rentrés”.
Secondly, some schools define and impose Standard Operation Procedures (SOPs), which sometimes require some changes in the sequencing of checklist items. Training organizations operating in a professional way might also want a standard format for various aircraft types.
Finally, owners, and some pilots, have personal preferences in terms of format, use of colors, fonts, spacing, and so on, and decide to design their own checklists.
But are there risks in designing your own checklists ? Who should do that, and are there reasons NOT to do it ? I can see at least two drawbacks. The manufacturer’s checklists are part of the AFM / POH, and are validated during the aircraft’s certification process.
Using other - non-certified - checklists probably raises a liability question in case of incident. I’m not a legal expert, but I can imagine a manufacturer arguing that the use of non-standard checklists can contribute to an accident.
The other risk lies in how the items of the new checklist are organized and verified. This particularly applies if sequences are modified or moved from one sub-list to another one (i.e. after start-up checks to before take-off checks). Making sure that everything is still there and at a correct point in sequence is not that easy.
The manufacturers checklists are certified, but may contains sequences of items which are apparently illogical. It is then tempting to re-arrange them, typically to follow a systematical or cockpit layout sequence. But remember that manuafcturers know their airplanes better than we do, and these strange sequences can result from facts which are not known to anybody.
I don’t want to close this post on dogmatic “Do It” or “Don’t Do It”. This is again a gray area and I understand reasons supporting both options. But if you decide to go for a custom check-list, make sure it’s legal, correct, and officially recognized by whoever is concerned.
6 Comments, Comment or Ping
Jason
I have used custom checklists (small cards I print and laminate) for a while for a few reasons. The biggest one is that I want to do more checks than the typical 1970’s POH would have me do.
But, like you said, there are also checklist items that are in a goofy order in some POHs, so I like the re-arrange in those rare cases. I do feel it is important to start with a verbatim copy of the POH checklists and only modify with careful consideration.
A custom checklist is also a good place to add reminders on how to brief passengers as well as a great place to mark down the fundamentals of emergency procedures. Just keep the list in your lap and it’s ready and waiting if you ever need it!
Apr 22nd, 2008
Doug
it’s interesting that you ask this. i’ve had this discussion with a few people out my way. the checklists in the planes we rent are on 8.5×11 laminated sheets of paper and i find them hard to read and hold. i bought one a few months ago (CheckMate Checkbook II from http://www.mypilotstore.com/MyPilotStore/sep/2572)
and it’s a one handed flip over style and i really like it. the pages are easier to read and i can put it on the yoke clip. the tabs are it are easy to get to and the back side of the sheets contain a ton of useful info. i compared it to the sheets in the rentals and the preflight/start/emergency lists are almost the same. i’ve added a couple of notes on the one i bought and i’m much happier with it. of course, i’m talking about the 172R so it’s not even in the ballpark of what you’re talking about but i like to just sit and read it off and on for a refresher.
Apr 22nd, 2008
Chris
I’m using a bought one from the Aviation Theory Centre. All the checks are near identical to the certified copy, however it is smaller, you can write on it then wipe it off.
Also, it goes over better with first time passengers, pulling out the ‘instruction manual’ to get the plane started normally requires a bit of explaining to calm nerves, rather than the little flip book that is clearly a checklist.
Apr 23rd, 2008
Julien
SAM of “Blogging at FL250″ had a nice blog post a while ago about checklists and using visual flows in the cockpit instead of, or in addition to, checklists. He even was kind enough to provide an example based on the C150 cockpit:
http://fl250.blogspot.com/2007/06/flows-checklists.html
Apr 23rd, 2008
PlasticPilot
@Jason: you’re right, there are things like passenger briefing that manufacturer do not include in their checklists which are good to add.
@Doug & Julien: thank you for the links to interesting resources. I know of the “visual circuits” that more complex planes require, and it’s interesting to see this technique applied to our GA planes.
@Chris: I never flew using directly the manual, but check-lists extracted from it
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Apr 23rd, 2008
Sylvia
I created my own, based on the checklist in the manual but with re-ordering and additions. One of the things I want to do (in fact, I will do before we go flying next month) is a checklist for the back - going through all the things a passenger should do (check door is set to locked, headset is working, belts on) and should know (where are the air sick bags/life jackets/boat).
Apr 29th, 2008
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