Pre-launch Checklists.

Martin Gregorie wrote:
Don Johnstone wrote:

The version used in the UK almost universal, it is
one of the few things that most people seem to agree
on is

C - Controls
B - Ballast (includes tail dolly)
S - Straps
I - Instruments
F - Flaps
T - Trim
C - Canopy
B - Brakes
E - Eventualities

Personally, I find the final E to be in the right place, especially for
winch launch. It means the last thing I push onto my brain stack is the
direction to turn after a high winch launch failure. This means that if
I have a launch failure its "nose down -- got approach speed -- look
ahead -- (too high for land ahead)-TURN" and, because the turn direction
was the last thing into my memory, its the first thing that pops out
again and turning the correct way is a no-brainer.

We also teach the "E" with the accent on the pilot having done the self
briefing, and/or had one from an instructor. The eventualities item is just a
reminder that life is what happens while we are planning other things. On a
winch launch it pays , as Martin points out to know what your plan is.

It appears that the mind works this way. Referring to the eventualities plan as
the last thing before initiating the launch, means it is top of mind when/if
something goes wrong.

So - the eventualities item is not a substitute for thought, but it does help to
trigger the correct information from current short term memory in the event of
things falling apart.

I personally have to have a couple of very different "Eventualities" plans in my
head. Consider the differences. We have a field with a short section of
reasonable grass, cut short and level at each end. In the middle is over 1000m
of much longer grass that the wildlife continuously works on returning to it's
natural lumpy state. To the west there is a near parallel 1470m long tar runway
varying from 150m to 300m, closer on the downhill side than on the uphill side.
Oh, I almost forgot, the 60" tree between the runways at the uphill end.
Depending on whether I am flying a 27:1 high wing, skid equipped two seater
built like a brick outhouse, or my Std Cirrus with its low wings and 36:1
performance, a cable break at say 200 feet will have very different actions.
Which will also vary depending on which direction the wind is from, etc. You
don't want to be mentally flipping through permutations when the cable breaks at
an awkward height.

I use the "E" to remind me, of the decisions I have made about launching this
specific airplane, on this runway with the current weather.

--
Bruce Greeff
Std Cirrus #57
I'm no-T at the address above.