As far as "getting out the checklist" goes, you can expect a bit of that sort of reaction. When I fly any GA bug smasher I don't get a checklist out. Use the gray matter man!
If you are relying on the list to remember all the items you need to consider the situation… If it is in the name of safety I am open to justification. Again if you can’t remember the list, and lets be honest, there are not all that many items on something that size, are you current. If its two many types you fly, again if you aren’t sure about the checklist, do you really know the best glide speed etc…
If it is a manufacturers checklist you are using then I might be swayed. If it is the usual “T M P F I S C H” or “B O U M P F H” then is it really relevant, is it correct, does it correspond to the manufacturers requirements.
For example if you use the “B O U M P F H” check (or similar) for a C-172R you are not satisfying the manufacturers requirements. “Auto pilot .... Disconnected” doesn’t fit. So do we make it “B O U M P F H
A ”. But now you have letters that are surplus to requirements. From memory there are no green lights that indicate that the gear is down and locked in that type, yet how many people say “Breaks operating and off, undercarriage down and locked three greens...” When asked the response is likely to be one (or more) of the following:
- It is good practice
- You need to get into the habit
- You will be flying 747’s one day, you need to do what the airline’s do
The list can be expanded with any number of inane justifications. The facts are it is not good practice because you are calling a check that is not correct. There are NO greens. When you finally do get to fly something that does have green, you have been practicing the check with no action more than likely, and giving a parrot response with no actual check.
And what about the “P U F” check ? Do you practice that one in a fixed gear fixed pitch single ? If you do you’re mad. If you don’t you have just given me more proof for the above diatribe.
And so I digress. The subject of checklists has been debated before (me thinks) and the feelings are varied.
As for the use on an intro flight – If Blogs is gong to be a pilot and you are going to teach this sort of
THING better get it going from the start. If Smith wants to see the sights, avoid at all costs. Non-aviation humans just don’t understand.