Published 10 Jul 2023
What is a Pre-flight Checklist?
A pre-flight checklist or before-takeoff checklist is a compilation of items that should be checked before a flight. Sometimes stylized as preflight checklists, these checklists prompt inspectors before flying that they have not forgotten anything and to check their fluid levels, ensure the plane is armed for takeoff, and confirm all passengers are accounted for.
In this article
- Why is it Important?
- How to Perform a Pre-flight Inspection
- What Should a Pre-flight Checklist Include?
- FAQs about Pre-flight Checklists
- Conduct Seamless Pre-flight Inspections with an Auditing Software
- Related Pre-flight Checklist Templates
Why is it Important?
In the aviation industry, a pre-flight checklist is required by many airlines as part of preparing for a flight. These checklists are important because it helps pilots ensure that they have completed all the tasks necessary for a safe flight. By completing a pre-flight checklist, pilots can reduce the chances of forgetting something important and ensure that they are prepared for the flight.
A pre-flight checklist can also be used for documentation purposes to show trends and common issues. Using a pre-flight checklist can also ensure that the aircraft is in the right operating condition and quality to fly.
Historically, many accidents have been found to have been avoidable if only the aircraft, its parts, and its surrounding environment were assessed properly. Having a pre-flight checklist to help you with your inspections can then be beneficial not only for your safety but also for the quality of your aircraft, ensuring you can conduct maintenance checks and repairs when necessary.
How to Perform a Pre-flight Inspection
A pre-flight inspection is usually done following this order:
- Give a “once over” to the entire aircraft and actively look out for visible problems such as flat or damaged tires, bent or damaged wings, fuselage, or gear struts.
- Conduct an ARROW check at the cockpit and inspect if you have the necessary documents to legally fly. ARROW stands for Airworthiness certificate, Registration, Radio station license, Operating limitation documents, and Weight and balance information.
- Examine the aircraft’s flying log into have an insight on its maintenance, previous flights, issues, and fuel consumption.
- Check the cockpit switches and ensure that they are all flipped in their proper positions and that all brakes are working properly.
- Look out for possible anomalies inside the cockpit and elsewhere in the aircraft. Make sure to report any loose screws, broken vents, dirty windows, low fuel levels, and other possible concerns before taking flight.
All these tasks can be difficult to remember and keep track of, so it is recommended by many airlines and aviation professionals that a checklist should be used for conducting a pre-flight inspection.
What Should a Pre-flight Checklist Include?
Different aircraft can call for different ways of conducting a pre-flight checklist. However, common items on a pre-flight checklist to keep an eye out for include the following:
- Weather status
- General status of the aircraft
- Aircraft wheels, doors, wings, and propellers
- Necessary documentation following the ARROW mnemonic
- Necessary licenses
- Certificate of airworthiness
- Fire extinguishers
- Life jackets
- Oxygen equipment and other safety and emergency equipment
- Emergency lights and emergency exits
Here is a pre-flight checklist example report for reference:
Pre-flight Checklist Template Sample Report
Any issues found on and in the aircraft should also be ideally reported through the pre-flight checklist. While some checklists provide a portion to report problems found during the pre-flight inspection, it would be best to use a checklist that will allow you to note issues as they arise. It would be more efficient to list down your issues with each item you are inspecting so your captain and the proper maintenance personnel can better help you.
FAQs about Pre-flight Checklists
In some situations, it is the airline or aircraft manufacturer who provides the pre-flight checklists. However, in other cases, the pilots themselves can make their own checklists.
For an easier way of creating and using a pre-flight checklist, consider turning your checklist into a template. This can help the inspection process flow smoother and improve recordkeeping practices, as everything will be uniform.
In the US, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires all aircraft pilots to conduct pre-flight inspections before take-off. This standard is followed by many countries as a way to ensure pilot, passenger, and cargo safety. Following this, it has become common practice for many to use a checklist to ensure compliance.
Common mistakes with pre-flight inspections and using pre-flight checklists are:
- Not completing the checklist in its entirety
- Rushing to complete the checklist
- Forgetting to check fuel levels and brake and engine conditions
- Not reporting issues
Conduct Seamless Pre-flight Inspections with an Auditing Software
Ensure the efficiency of your pre-flight inspections with the help of SafetyCulture (formerly iAuditor), a mobile-first digital auditing tool. SafetyCulture is used by many aviation companies around the world for its role in promoting safety, empowering workers to report and address problems, and streamlining operations.
SafetyCulture offers digital editable pre-flight checklist templates and other aviation-related checklists for free in its Public Library. You also have the option to create your pre-flight checklists from scratch or convert your existing PDF, Word, PowerPoint, or Excel checklists for SafetyCulture. All files are then synced to the cloud, allowing you to access them anytime and anywhere.
With SafetyCulture, you can:
- Control who can access and edit your pre-flight checklists and other related checklists by modifying your access controls
- Conduct pre-flight inspections without an internet connection, as all offline activity will sync back to the cloud once a connection is available
- Utilize QR codes for a faster inspection
- Attach notes and media files to your responses to show proof of compliance or noncompliance
- Report issues with your aircraft as you conduct your pre-flight inspections
- Create and assign corrective actions to the specific team or personnel in charge to address said issues
- Generate analytical reports based on your inspection findings and export them as a webpage or as Excel, PDF, Word, or CSV files
Related Pre-flight Checklist Templates
Cessna 172 Pre-flight Checklist Template
This customizable checklist can be used by Cessna 172 pilots to complete pre-flight checks, attach and annotate images of any defect found, and notify technicians of them. Conduct a thorough inspection of your aircraft, starting from the exterior of the plane all the way to the wheels at the bottom and the cabin inside.
General Aviation Aircraft Assessment Checklist
Use this checklist to conduct a general inspection of any aircraft. Examine the condition of your aircraft and ensure its airworthiness by inspecting it thoroughly. This checklist can be used for large fleets of aircraft, as it allows for up to fifty entries.
Daily Aviation Security Control Checklist
Use this checklist to ensure the safety and security of the airport and aircraft. Note the status and carrying capacity of your assigned aircraft, the security measures imposed inside it, and the security of the passengers and cargo you’re about to fly.
