Particularly with ab-initio, reciting checklist from memory can be bad habit to get into.
I teach my students this (in order):
- Checklist: Initial, Cockpit and Startup
- Memory: Taxi
- Checklist: Power check and pre-Take off
Everything else is then done from memory. And I don't teach them to use the checklist again until shutdown.
However, in an emergency I expect them to do the immediate actions from memory and then consult the checklist if necessary.
I think a balance is required. Teaching students to do everything from memory, particularly critical points like pre-take off checks, is dangerous and very bad practice. Sooner or later items will be missed out which could end up contributing to an accident one day...
As previously pointed out, it is good practice to use a checklist. You or your student could be flying something big and heavy one day!
The underlying factor is, I believe, students should use a checklist whenever possible. You are teaching them. It should be remembered that we
lead by example so you should also practice what you could be preaching.
Just my pennies worth...
LOC
