August1999
the military at the U.S.Army’s helicopter
school. Helicopters, with many moving
parts, require detailedpreflightchecklists
to ensure that theaircraft is airworthy.
Once the pilotis satisfied thatthe aircraft
is ready for flight there are more check-
lists—starting, pretake-off, inflight, and
emergencyprocedures tonameafew.
Checklists were very important. So im-
portantthatI carriedinmyflightbaga two
inch thick, tab indexed checklistbook.
For all theselists, the helicopter I
flew was really pretty easy to start. Once
the main rotor had been untied you only
had to do three things to start it. Turn on
the main fuel, battery switch to on, and
pull the trigger. Immediately you would
hearthe ignitors firing and the turbine
engine spooling up. In 60 seconds there
was enough power to pull pitch and take
flight. That’s how we could beplaying
cards when the call “fire mission”came
overthe radioand beairbornein two
minutes enroute to our mission.Ofcourse
we had spent a considerable amount of
time earlier in preflighting the aircraft.
When flyingeveryday, one tends not
to look at checklists as much. After all, it
is always thesameprocedure.But an
interesting thing used to happen to me in
Vietnam. If I didn’t fly for even one day,
I would sometimes be unable to start the
helicopter withoutreferring to the check-
list.
We forget items in procedures when
wearenot constantly practicing them.
Whether it is a sophisticated aircraft or a
simple balloon, checklistsplay animpor-
tant role. Each balloon manufacturer has
checklists in theoperator’s manual for
their system.
As a balloon student pilot, I remem-
beredbacktomyearliertraining and
developedmy owndetailed checklistsfor
thebrandof balloonthatI wasflying.I put
used them topreflight the balloon and for
pre-launch. As a training exercise, I de-
veloped checklists for in-flight, landing,
packup, and emergency procedures.
The exercise of developing check-
lists for any balloon system will help to
enhanceyourunderstanding andmake
youmore aware of each taskthatneeds to
be completed. Checklistsprovide a valu-
able guide, that when used regularly, will
help you to rememberdetails thatyou
might otherwise forget.
Withthe current private balloonpilot
practical test standards,theconcept of
checklists have been formally incorpo-
ratedintowhatthe applicantmustdo. The
Federal Aviation Administration is plac-
ing more emphasis on the use of check-
lists. All practical flight tests are placing
greater emphasison the use of checklists.
(From the LTA Private PTS)
Throughout the practical test, the appli-
cant is evaluated on the use of the appro-
priate checklist. Its proper use is depen-
dent on the specific TASK being evalu-
ated. The situation may be such that the
use of the checklist while accomplishing
the elements of the Objective would be
either unsafe or impractical, especially in
a single-pilot operation. In this case, a
review of the checklist after the elements
have been accomplished, would be ap-
propriate. Use of the checklist must con-
sider proper scanning and division of
attention at all times.
Does that mean that youhave to use
them for every action you take as a pilot?
No.Nordothechecklistsneedtobe
complex. For some operations they might
justbe afew lines. Itemstohelpyouto
remember whatyou should do.
An example of a checklist that a pilot
passen-
ger briefing. What are all those things you
want your passenger to know before take-
off: what they can and cannot touch; how
and where to stand on landing; stay in the
basket until they have your permission to
leave;isthereanythingyouwantfrom
them to help you.
Checklist aren’t just for pilots. Crew
chiefs have their own checklists, lists for
the vehicle, lists of stuff to bring out for a
flight, or for out oftown trips. The number
of possibilitiesisendless.
Developingchecklistsisasimpor-
tant as using them. As timegoes along you
willfind yourself revising your lists.
In the PTS for private pilot LTA, the
FAA specifically requires the applicant to
complete or follow checklists for 19 dif-
ferent areas. These areas are:
Crew briefing andpreparation
Layoutand assembly
Preflight inspection
Inflation
Basket/Gondola management
Pre-launchcheck
Normallaunch
Launch over obstacle
Approach tolanding
Normallanding
High windlanding
Ascents
Altitude control(level flight)
Descents
Navigation
Systems &equipment malfunction
Emergencyequipmentandsurvival
gear
Recovery (Postflight operations)
Deflationandpacking
these “required” checklistsfrom
the PTS I would add:
Weather gatheringchecklistforgo/
no-go decision
Tethering
