Pre Takeoff Checklists

I am a big believer in written checklists. There's a big reason the
airlines don't use memorized acronyms.

Mike Schumann

On 3/23/2010 11:23 AM, Tom wrote:
The ABC pre-takeoff checklist came from Schweizer gliders that had the
list posted on the instrument panel.

I remember a CFI revalidation course I presented some years ago, where
I asked the 80 CFIs to write the list on a piece of paper. Doris
checked the results. Not a single instructor got the list correct.

This indicates one of the primary problems: Pilots are not trained to
memorize the list so it can be used in gliders without a posted
checklist.

Our ASK-13 has a factory supplied pre-takeoff checklist with two
items: Close and lock canopy, close and lock dive brakes.

My recent ten-year accident summary indicates 50% of glider fatalities
occurred during the first few seconds of flight, so performing an
adequate pre-takeoff checklist is an important ingredient to flight
safety.

The most common pre-takeoff checklist (English language) is CB-SIFT-
CB.

Most of us have added some letters to this list, inserting a W for
“Wind,”
And an all-important E for “Emergency plan.” This results in the
recommended, CB-SWIFT-CBE. Arguably, this can be considered the basic
universal per-takeoff checklist.

The reality is this checklist is not universally adequate, because our
gliders may have some complexity needing to be checked before takeoff.
The factory-supplied checklist must be used, and takes precedence over
a memorized checklist in case of some important item unique to that
glider.

In addition, there may be items important to check such as the flight
computer, data logger, etc.

My written pre-takeoff checklist is rather extensive (Duo Discus) and
includes the factory items plus essential items like removing my
wallet from my back pocket and unzipping my fly.

For more information about this subject, you might consider a booklet
titled , “Preventing Glider Accidents” or a DVD titled, “Preventing
Launching Accidents” available on our web site: WWW.EGLIDER.ORG

The DVD is especially suited for club safety meetings using a laptop
and projector.

Tom Knauff




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Mike Schumann