All this talk about use of checklists makes me sick. Lets face it, if you need a checklist for a small single engined aircraft, well maybe you shouldn’t be flying. From the word go most flying schools introduce checklists to students on simple C-152, C-172 and so on. It’s all a big time waster; schools seam to spend up to 15 min’s on the ground doing checks. All great for the school big $$$$$ coming in, most students don’t have lots of money to burn. Students can spend all the time they need at home studying aircraft procedures and checks, it’s free.
I have seen checklists printed by a major Australian company. They have checklists for all kinds of singles used in flying schools.
I didn’t know a C-152 had retractable gear, or a variable pitch prop?????
If a checklist is to be used, it should be in accordance to the pilot-operating handbook. Not Joe Blow from down the street.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for good airmanship and safety.
When I am flying into a busy MBZ, I would like to know that the pilot of a light aircraft ahead is looking outside, not trying to read a bloody checklist.
[This message has been edited by Flight Deck (edited 28 March 2001).]