Thank you Speeds High
It really bugs me to hear all this talk of configuring an aircraft from a checklist - that is not the way airlines do it, and is less effective than using no list at all.
All essential checks (eg. pre-takeoff DVAs) should be done from memory, without reference to any written material. After these 'memory items' are complete, the relevent checklist is reviewed to confirm the configuration of all essential systems. It is a
checklist, not a
doinglist.
The CFI in question was quite correct to roll his eyes at you
from the explanation you gave. Your example is nothing like the proceedures used by a 747 crew? In my view, the effectiveness of a proceedure is ranked in this order:
1. Items actioned from memory, backed up by (abreviated) checklist.
2. Items actioned from memory
3. Items actioned from list
I've flown with quite a few Brittish PPLs who would be lost without their 'proceedure lists', in times of high workload they are simply UNSAFE. For those of you complaining that your memory is not up to scratch, perhaps if you used it, you wouldn't loose it.