Preflight Planning
Thorough preparation before departure helps pilots anticipate risks and manage flight conditions more effectively. Understanding preflight planning helps pilots organize weather evaluation, performance calculations, route considerations, and regulatory requirements before taking off.
Introduction to Preflight Planning
- FAR 91.103 that "Each pilot in command shall, before beginning a flight, become familiar with all available information concerning that flight" which includes
- Aircraft Procedures
- Aircraft Performance
- Airport Information
- Equipment Familiarity
Aircraft Procedures
- If you don't own an airplane, you probably rent your favorite aircraft at the same FBO each time you fly however, for many, that may not be a possibility
- Variations in airplanes which you are licensed and probably signed off to rent by your local FBO must be considered
- While normal procedures can generally be done at the pilot's pace, emergency procedures cannot, making their understanding crucial
Aircraft Performance
- Aircraft perform differently based on the environmentals and type of operation expected
- Be cognizant of "what is different today" and brief to it up front, so factors like density altitude and weight and balance are taken into consideration
Destination Airport & Route Information
- ALD (if LAHSO is expected)
- Review and print, or tab a copy of the arrival and departure airport, as required
- Portions of clearances can be expected (for example, the departure frequency) making it possible to anticipate certain numbers which can be written on a kneeboard card ahead of time
- Be wary of "expectation bias;" listen to what a controller actually says, not what you expect
- Enroute sector boundaries can be found on enroute charts allowing you to anticipate where about a switch will occur, and to what frequency
- Don't ignore what you are flying over as water conditions/temperatures and terrain may impact what you bring and how you may react to an emergency
- Airnav provides an airport search to help you find nearby airports that meet a pilot's desired characteristics
Equipment Familiarity
- Pilots must be familiar with what equipment is installed in the airplane
- Just as important, pilots must be familiar with where that equipment is installed
- The most obvious example is the instrument panel, where equipment like transponders maybe in a new location, even across the same brand of airplane but a different model
- Less obvious examples are safety equipment
Tools
- A variety of digital tools can help you in your flight planning, some of which include:
Preflight Planning Conclusion
- There are many official sources from which to gather information pertinent to preflight planning
- Note that though not required, it is recommended a call be placed to Flight Service prior to flight
- You may wish to consider fuel prices, services available, landing fees, and hours of operation when planning for suitable diverts
- Although these factors may run through your mind in an ad-hoc divert, that is a divert due to an unforeseen circumstance, then remember an airfield where a safe landing can be performed outweighs conveniences
- Preflight planning feel monotonous when flying in the same region, weather conditions, and for the same purpose
- In those situations, ask yourself, what is different today, to really drill down on what it is you need to pay attentiont o
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