Check List Design in GA aircraft - often superfluous
The Australian newspaper Tuesday September 25 page 2 has a headline Crash Pilot boasted he did not need pre-flight checks. This was in reference to the ATSB report on the King Air crash at Essendon. On the same page, contributor Byron Bailey under the headline Checklists indispensable to safety describes why checklists are important. He makes an important point, stating "There is a widespread opinion among general aviation pilots that checklist are too long winded, thus increasing the likelihood of missing an item, but this incident shows how vital it is for pilots to take time to action checklists and undergo takeoff emergencies simulator training."
His point is valid especially with regard to current checklist design trends.
Dr Google says: After the crash of the Model 299 on October 30, 1935, the Checklist was introduced by Boeing, as a permanent and mandatory tool, to be used by all pilots in the Boeing fleet.
The original checklists were designed thus as a written before take off drill. There was also a Before Landing drill. The RAF during WW2 emphasized the importance of the before takeoff checks calling them VITAL ACTIONS. Since then checklists have not only been extended to cover before starting engines, but for almost every conceivable situation. To top it all off many flying schools now require their students to even conduct the walk-around inspection using a checklist. Some CASA FOI may even demand additional checklist items to be added even though this is their personal opinion and not a manufacturer's recommendation. This Ppune contributor once saw a roller blind checklist designed by the civilian owner of a former RAAF Winjeel. He had installed a home made roller blind type checklist that had no less than 137 individual checklist items. The first item started with "Good Day" I noticed after a while he dispensed with the checklist altogether.
This writer took over a student for dual instruction whose previous instructor was on holidays. After strapping in, the student apologised by saying he had left his checklist in his car. Asked to start the engine without the crutch of a checklist he was unable to do so. After the flight he was also unable to remember how to close down the engine without reference to a written checklist. He had flown twelve hours in the Cessna 152 yet had no idea how to fly without a checklist to read. The blame fell squarely on his flying instructor.
Most of us learned to fly at flying schools. We are prone to carry over bad habits learned from our instructors. Heavy reliance on checklists that are superfluous can eventually lead to skipping checklists altogether. The philosophy behind the term VITAL ACTIONS Before Take Off needs to be considered and a red pen run through the rest. That way pilots will be less inclined to skip checklists altogether and maybe avoid another disaster like the King Air crash.