In this guide, we will learn about the various types of pre-flight checks that pilots perform and everything that you need to know before taking off!
When it comes to aviation, safety checks are a requirement that must be performed by all pilots regardless of what type of aircraft they are planning to fly. While some of these checks may seem redundant, they are the backbone of aviation because they allow pilots to keep the skies clear for everyone.
Even before a pilot takes off, they must perform several pre-flight checks that can help them identify problems. These checks also ensure that the aircraft is at an optimal level and can fly without any mechanical or instrumental hindrance.
In this guide, we will learn about the various types of pre-flight checks that pilots perform and everything that you need to know before taking off!
Aviation and Safety
Aviation is considered to be one of the safest industries in the world. There are even several statistics that show that flying is a safer form of travel than by road or sea. This is because the aviation industry has rooted itself in strict regulations that ensure the safety of not just the pilot, but also the aircraft.
As you can imagine, flying an aircraft can be a daunting task, after all, you will be flying hundreds of feet in the air and will be at the mercy of numerous variables related to the weather and the aircraft.
How did this industry get to be this safe? To answer this question, we must first look at the early years of aviation. Back when aviation was just a pipedream and aircraft designs never left the drawing board, there were several people, including engineers, that deemed flying to be an impossible task.
The truth is, in the early years, the technology and our understanding of fluid dynamics and aerodynamics were rudimentary which is why many learned people believed flying to be a difficult, if not impossible, feat to achieve. However, all of this started to change around the early 20th century when the science behind flight and technology started to catch up.
Suddenly, people started to look at aircraft designs more seriously, and thanks to a few early pioneers who reinvented the design of aircraft, engineers began exploring ways to build flight-capable aircraft.
Of course, these aircraft were to be unmanned since they couldn’t sustain flight for more than just a few minutes – however, these designs were crucial because they proved that it was indeed possible for a relatively heavy object to fly. It all came down to the right design and mechanical power!
In the late 1890s, two self-proclaimed engineers by the name of the Wright brothers began exploring previous aircraft designs to find out how NOT to build an aircraft. The problem was that the designs that were able to achieve flight for a few minutes couldn’t sustain it because of their rigidity - and there was virtually no way to control or land the aircraft.
That’s right, earlier unmanned aircraft were tethered to the ground and once they successfully took off, they had to be brought down by crashing them into the ground. The Wright brothers took on this daunting challenge but approached it in a novel way.
They began looking at aircraft from a safety perspective. They wanted aircraft to not just glide through the air, but they also wanted them to be reusable and controllable. This is when the brothers truly started to lay the foundations of the modern aviation industry.
To solve the problem of control, the brothers came up with an ingenious design that would allow a 3-axis control. This meant that the aircraft could move freely in any direction and the pilot could also orient the aircraft according to the wind. The 3-axis design was considered to be revolutionary because, for the first time in history, aircraft could be manned and could also be landed back safely.
However, there was a final piece of the puzzle standing in the way of flight: power. The brothers quickly realised that in order for a heavy object to fly effortlessly, they needed to propel it at a certain speed. This hypothesis was based on Bernoulli’s principle and the laws of aerodynamics, and luckily, the final piece of the puzzle was already in the works!
In the past, to obtain mechanical energy, steam engines were used for their high and steady output, but the problem was that these engines were too big and unviable for flight. This is why the brothers came up with the idea to use the at-the-time-new combustible engine.
The combustible engine would not only provide a high and stable output, but it was also compact enough to fit in the Wright brother’s initial design. Finally, after everything fell into place, the brothers unveiled their aircraft design called the Kitty Hawk. Kitty Hawk successfully flew in 1903 and changed the world forever.
In the years since the first flight, engineers and aviation enthusiasts jumped on the idea of building their own aircraft. In fact, within just a decade there were already a handful of aviation companies that focused on building aircraft! However, this progress didn’t come without a cost.
As many companies rushed to make new aircraft, several accidents took place that forced engineers to incorporate safety into every level of aviation. There were just too many variables to overcome which is why engineers came up with stricter regulations and placed tighter control over the quality check of aircraft.
In later years, aviation started to emerge as a new form of transportation, and this is when big companies started to seriously invest in the industry. By the 1990s, flying was already the norm and there were several big airliners that provided mass transportation for the public.
Unfortunately, though, using aviation for mass transportation also increased the stakes involved in the industry. It was clear that in order for aviation to be successful, there had to be several safety checks in place to keep the skies safe.
Today, the aviation industry is very resilient. The modern aviation industry has fewer accidents and even if, God forbid, there is one, each incident is carefully scrutinised for why it happened, and the aviation industry as a whole can change its regulations to keep the same fault from happening again. This resilience and commitment toward safety is what makes aviation so safe!
How do aviators keep the skies safe? Well, there are several ways to do this. On a high level, there are tertiary services like Air Traffic Control (ATC), and ground crew that work around the clock to guide and continuously inspect aircraft for faults. There are also several safety checks placed for the pilots too, and one of the most famous ones is the pre-flight checklist.
Pre-Flight Checklist
This checklist is carefully designed by the Civil Aviation Authority and a panel of experts that make sure that both the pilot and the aircraft are in optimal condition before flying. Even though modern planes are built with advanced technology that ensures safety on a mechanical and electrical level, the checklist plays a vital role in identifying problems before they happen in the air.
Here are some of the things that you can expect to see on the checklist:
Weather Check
Weather and aviation are closely intertwined. The absence of good weather conditions can either hinder or completely halt flights in an area. In the modern world, even with all our technology, we are still at the mercy of the weather which can be very fickle! This is why pilots are required to only fly under VFR (Visual Flight Rules).
VFR is a set of rules that define the ideal conditions under which an aircraft can fly. Private pilots that fly smaller planes are only allowed to fly when the sky is clear and there is no chance of rain or any other weather event that can jeopardise the safety of the flight.
Pilots use various tools and data points to identify the weather for a particular day and if the weather is not favourable, then the pilot must reschedule their flight accordingly.
Flight Plan
A flight plan is an incredibly important document that details all the particulars of a flight. This includes the terrain type, route, destination, approved altitude, waypoints, airways, restricted airways, and more.
The flight plan can help pilots minimise the unknowns in their flights. This way, even if they do run into trouble, they can quickly refer to their flight plan to see alternative routes or other reconfirm restricted airspaces.
Documentation Check
Just like you are expected to keep a set of documents for your car while driving, pilots must also always have a set of documents in their person. These documents can include a pilot’s license, airworthiness certificate, registration, flight plan, and more.
Being up to date on this documentation is extremely important because it also covers the details regarding the aircraft such as the maintenance and inspection records of the aircraft.
Inspection Check
The inspection check covers everything from weight and balance to the exterior inspection of the aircraft. The weight of an aircraft or the Takeoff Weight (TOW) is very important, and all pilots are required to ensure that their aircraft falls within the acceptable limits defined for their aircraft. This inspection also includes checking for fuel levels and ensuring that the fuel distribution is appropriate according to the flight.
The exterior inspection includes a visual inspection of the aircraft. It is done to confirm that the aircraft doesn’t show any visible signs of damage. If a fault is seen, then the pilot will be required to report it to the ground crew who can inspect it further.
Cockpit Checks
Once the exterior of the plane has been cleared, the pilots must perform a cockpit check. This includes adjusting the seats to the right level, checking the pedal and control of the aircraft, and also confirming that the windshield is clear.
The pilot also performs a series of avionic tests to check for power, communication equipment, navigational equipment, and more. The pilot must also ensure that there are no warning signs in the cockpit and that all onboard instruments are green and ready to go.
Briefings
If the pilot is flying with passengers, then they must also perform a passenger briefing that guide and informs the passengers about the details of the flight, which includes all the appropriate safety instructions. The pilot is also expected to highlight the emergency protocols and the proper usage of aircraft equipment, including seatbelts.
ATC and Communication Check
Pilots must also perform an ATC and communication check to ensure that they are connected to the ground crew and the ATC has all the details regarding their flight. The pilot will then call the ATC for clearance. Once cleared, the ATC will provide taxi clearance to the pilot and inform them about their runway.
Pre-Take Off Checks
Even before the pilot starts the engines, they must first ensure that all the switches, valves, gauges, and circuit breakers are at their appropriate level or position. The pilot will then quickly go through the engine start procedure and then begin finalising the checklist for take-off.
Once the engine is started, the pilot will verify all the onboard instruments and make sure that the aircraft is functioning appropriately. The pilot will also check the control surfaces to make sure that the plane is ready to take off. Once the pilot is satisfied with the safety checks, they will then taxi to the appropriate runway and await further instructions from the ATC.
The aircraft must be aligned with the centreline of the runway. If required, the pilot will confirm if all the pre-take-off checks are complete and once satisfied, they will ask the ATC for the final clearance for take-off.
WHY CHOOSE SHERBURN AERO CLUB
Sherburn Aero Club, which has been operational since 1964, is the ideal place for most of your training and flying needs. It is one of the largest flying clubs in the North of England and also one of the largest in the country.
If you wish to begin your career in aviation or wish to take to the skies as a hobby, Sherburn’s flight training school offers private and commercial licences, along with pilot medicals to ensure a smooth journey going forward.
For those who wish to experience the thrill of a flight for fun or to help fuel their aviation dreams, Sherburn offers experience flights for the newbie, as well as the veteran in various types of light aircraft.
The flight experience option is also available for people who wish to take to the skies for special occasions, even if they aren’t into aviation in the long run.
With a large fleet of new aircraft and an airfield refurbishment with new runways, hangars, and an extended clubhouse, we cater to brand-new flyers who have just started their journey to the skies, as well as seasoned flyers who have been operating aircraft for decades.
Sherburn offers a dedicated day-long Flight Radiotelephony Operator’s Licence (FRTOL) course for those wishing to get the certification, running the first Sunday of every month.
In addition to that, if you are looking for a hangarage for your own aircraft, need servicing or repairs, want to buy a new aircraft or aviation equipment, or are just looking to enjoy and watch the aircraft, Sherburn Aero Club is the place to be.
Call us at 01977 682 674, email us at flightdesk@sherburnaeroclub.com, or message us via our online contact form for more information on light aircraft, training requirements, licencing procedures, as well as experience flights and pilot training at Sherburn.
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