Musings

Preflight – Part 1: The Challenge

Posted on by BT

Since this is the first post of the new Aviation Tutors website, what better topic than Preflights? (Actually flight planning would perhaps be a more appropriate topic but that will wait for another day.)  The preflight inspection is usually the first task for a pilot to complete when arriving at the aircraft. The purpose of the preflight is to assess the airworthiness of the airplane, both from a regulatory AND a mechanical condition point of view, prior to flight. To the uninitiated, this may seem like a daunting task. However, with a little training, adequate time, and a good checklist, a proper inspection can be completed.

Unfortunately, the preflight inspection almost always occurs at the worst possible time –  when we’re ready to go fly!!  Therein lies the challenge.

Our thoughts can easily drift to the flight itself, the weather, the winds, nervous passengers, or discussing the upcoming flight with a student. And then there’s the omnipresent distractions of personal electronics. Finally, it is dangerously easy to rationalize away a potential issue with the airplane when you’re wanting to go fly.  

 A proper preflight inspection requires a thoughtful plan and preparation.  It should include a flashlight, appropriate clothes (so you are not hurried by the heat or cold), appropriate checklist and the proper mindset.  A mindful approach and a laser focus is all that is needed to ensure nothing is missed. 

To be continued….

Preflight – Part 2: Focus and Curiosity

Posted on by BT

Mindfulness. Thorough pre-flight inspections require a mindful and thoughtful approach.  Apply “sterile cockpit” rules and practices to the preflight environment where there are many potential distractions. (“sterile cockpit” will be a future musings topic!) 

Here’s one of the worst (and often reported) scenarios: Just as you take the cap off the fuel tank to check the level, your cell phone rings and you answer it, instantly distracting you from the job at hand. You might remember to put the fuel cap back on, but you might not. Try to make your pre-flight a time of real focus–no cell phones, no chatting with passengers and no distractions. It’s hard, but it’s really important. 

Create an attitude of curiosity. In other words, don’t just go through the motions. Many pilots do a pre-flight, but don’t really look at anything. There’s a not-so-funny joke about a pilot turning on the master switch to check the fuel gauges, but not bothering to notice that the fuel gauges indicated empty. S/he was looking, but not seeing. The way to combat this complacency is to have a positive attitude that views the pre-flight as a chance to discover something or learn a new fact about your airplane. Focus on each individual component to consider how it works and what it should look like; don’t just look at parts of an airplane!

 Consider the following:

  1. Use a checklist.
  1. Always use a flashlight. Helps your eyes to focus on lit area and to see smaller and
              darker areas.  Even outside in the sunshine to check details.
  1. Use your senses – touch and wiggle, pull, kick, twist – listen, smell, feel – (be gentle
               with static discharge wicks!) 

To be continued….

Preflight – Part 3: Details and Concerns

Posted on by BT

Preflight – Part 3: Details and Concerns

Know the killer items. A good pre-flight means inspecting a lot of different components, but some items are more important than others. Know what those “killer items” are and give them special attention, whether it’s more time or a second look. Only take-off if you are absolutely certain that these killer items have been properly checked. 

Beware of “it always looks like that.”  A pilot points out something that looks wrong, and is told to relax because, “it always looks like that.” The person may be right and certainly one aspect of earning a pilot license is learning what is truly an airworthiness issue and what’s not. However, as the Pilot in Command (PIC), you are responsible for the safety of the airplane you are expecting to fly, and if in doubt do not fly it until the condition is addressed to your satisfaction. Be skeptical.

Understand the systems. If you’re just reading a checklist and looking at the airplane, you’re only doing half a pre-flight. Taking the time to understand how the airplane works makes it much easier to judge whether your airplane is in good shape or not. Use the pre-flight process as a learning tool and a way to understand the airplane.  For example, during Ground School you likely learned about the magneto system and how it works.  During the preflight inspection take a moment to look at the magneto, visualize how works, how it’s connected to the engine, and what its role is during flight.  In addition, there are many learning opportunities online through organizations like EAA, AOPA, etc. related to understanding aircraft systems. 

To be continued….