Your pre-flight workflow

matthew_gbr wrote:

one column is pre/post-flight structure by heading’s with ‘P’

Super suggestion. Thanks!

I have an A5 crib sheet and one column is pre/post-flight structure by heading’s with ‘P’ (and further detail)

pre-flight …

PLANNING … takeoff (plane, performance), enroute (radio, weather, maps), destination (plates, pprs, etc)
PROPERTY … do i have my kit, and the planes kit … are they all charged, prepared, etc
PAPERWORK … pilot (license, medical, passport, etc), plane (insurance, certificates, etc), plans (as above, repeat)
PERSONAL … IMSAFE … mind, body and soul …
PLANE … pre-flight, fuel, paperwork, etc
PASSENGERS/PORTERAGE [if so] … sick bags, headsets, water, personal (same for them, as for me: IMSAFE m/b/s), baggage, etc

post-flight …

PLANE … post-flight activities
PAPERWORK … to complete

My workflow when I’m walking to the aircraft (assuming all pre-planning has been completed), and before I sit inside.

1) As I approach the airplane, look at it for any obvious defects/damage etc.
2) Open the door and drop my stuff inside. I start SkyDemon on my phone and place it in the left pocket below the window. Take jacket off as required etc.
3) Hang the aircraft keys from the AI (or other obvious location).
4) Check battery/avionics all off, parking brake set a/r, all lights/pumps/heats etc. off, fuel cock off.
5) Remove control locks, “quick” controls check.
6) LIQUIDS – Go out and check fuel and oil. I check the liquids first in case either needs filling up, as this could potentially take a long time.
7) Remove all tie-downs and covers, reposition the aircraft for start-up if required.
8) ELECTRICS – Go back in and turn master on, make sure fuel gauges in agreement with actual fuel on board, fuel pump on and off to check it works, then flaps down in stages, then all external lights and pitot heat on. Go out and check all lights working and pitot heat warming. Get back in and turn everything off (but leave flaps extended).
9) Exterior walkaround (as per each aircraft). As a last check before getting in double check baggage compartment, fuel caps, oil caps etc. closed, chocks removed, windshield clear
10) Get in, adjust seat and belts, continue with cockpit preparation

I have a checklist that is more tuned to a plane’s pre-flight checklist. Here I am considering ‘personal pre-flight checklist’.

The reason: after a previous flight I made a list of things that bothered me while sitting in the cockpit. For example, it was pretty cold outside and I was still wearing a jacket inside. After the engine start and checkup it got warm and the jacket felt too warm. In the confined space, it is difficult to take off the jacket and properly store it somewhere in the back. Other trivial issues are not so trivial once I have taken a seat, e.g. take iPad or headset out of the bag or set up Stratux or turn on externally mounted GoPro.

It is not too bad but it’d be nice to have a workflow and a personal checklist to remind of these things. Of course, it depends on personal habits and requirements. I will make one that is specific to me. Just wondering if any of us here have already formalized it into a personal checklist.

This is one on the club ops board – excuse handwritten amendments waiting for me to update!

I normally make a simple list when about to head for the car e.g.

• phone
• tablet (backup for the phone, etc)
• wx (and print it)
• plates (printed)
• notams (I normally get area notams although currently the site I use is broken)
• flight plans (normally these are filed the day before or even earlier)
• any other stuff to take

My aircraft keys are on the same key ring as the car so I can’t get to the airport without them

There should be a w&b also but the TB20 is practically impossible to load incorrectly without exceeding the MTOW.

In the military and the military clubs I run, we have an ‘outbrief’ Basically it is a single side A4 bullet point list that you run down (verbally if you are with a student etc) to confirm you have covered everything ranging from ‘NOTAMS’ and ‘Fuel/Weight and Balance’ to ‘Aircraft keys’ You do it as the last thing before you ‘walk’ to the aircraft. There can also be an ‘inbrief’ to check you’ve done everything post sortie. Not onerous, but just a memory jogger to make sure you don’t miss things.

Ps – The first item on the outbrief is to consciously enter the ‘mission bubble’. This means no distractions or unnecessary activity from then I.e. don’t take calls, don’t break off to do any other tasks, consciously park life worries for the sortie etc.. and focus on the flight and flying. I find it a hugely helpful and beneficial mental step.

This is my work flow :
First, when I think about a potential flight, I think about several factors :

• which aircraft
• how much fuel will I need
• weight & balance and PLOG (done on the ipad)
• what weather minima do I want for this flight
• info about the destination …
  I look once at Notams because they are sometimes long term (opening hours, fuel availibility … sometimes valid for 6 months ).

Then, I keep a look at the weather during the last fays before the flight. I check AIP SUPs that are always planned (no need to check last minute).
I try to make a first go/no go about 48 hrs before the flight, for my passengers (if any)

On the day of the flight, I check airfield notams (aviation tools free app) and weather (just metars and tafs on aero metar free app) before driving to the airfield.
At the club, I take care first of the external factors

• Notams : edit a full notam briefing and print it if the printer works (mandatory according to many local FIs, I don’t believe them but it’s free )
• Weather : check weather according to the general situation and planned flight (between nothing and print a big weather briefing)

Then I edit the PLOG if necessary. It is rare and done in an instant with the Ipad.
If I’m good, I take care of the aircraft :

• book the flight in the computer which gives me the key
• papers : time left on the engine, nothing reported by previous pilots

At that time, I start getting my passengers involved (showing them I’m cautious but not paranoid, with non-technical words, no idea if it works ).
Then I go to the aircraft (with a mandatory stop at the restrooms) :

• I show my passengers how to board the plane
• I do the preflight
• then I check how they did and I board myself

Then passenger briefing, startup, taxi to the fuel pump, then go…..
From the moment I reach the plane, I don’t think anymore (almost ), I just follow the club checklist while looking around me/for anything out of the ordinary.
It just gets smoother with time and practice. Once you’ll have forgotten something a few times, it will become second nature !
Today, for a local flight in CAVOK, I can startup 20mins after getting to the airport, which to me is great. For a big cross-country with passengers, I plan 1 full hour.

So to find a workflow, I’d say PRWPAP
Pre-planning
Regulation (notams…)
Weather
PLOG (pro forma)
Aircraft
Passengers

- for a local flight; pretty much look out the window, check the wx at KSMO (we regularly have a marine layer, so even blue skies a few miles inland may be misleading); check TFRs (although that’s a US thing only) and go

- for a longer x-country:

• start looking at wx trends a few days before flight, increasing in frequency as the date gets closer
• obviously also check return / onward flight wx
• if wx looks iffy, check and plan alternates
• day before, input route into ForeFlight and get the briefing; this includes pretty much all there is to know: wx, TFRs, NOTAMs, fuel prices, etc.
• make sure all betteries / power pack are fully charged and the cables are where they’re supposed to be
• check W&B if required (if I suspect this might be an issue, it’s the very first thing I do; had that recently, where the flight as planned wasn’t doable)
• go

PS: forgot to mention one more thing (that’s why we need check lists….): I create a sort of plog with the frequencies along the route. Over time I’ve built up a little library of these things and occasionally cross-check against FF for accuracy.