Memorize Your Checklist?
When I think of the fresh new pilot with no experience and head in the clouds, disaster springs to my mind. What will they do when confronted with an emergency? I know very few pilots who have memorized the emergency checklist for their aircraft. Most pilots assume they will have time to pull the checklist out from the side pocket in time to deal with any situation.
Admittedly, I have not memorized my emergency checklist. However, I have etched into my brain the essentials. Essentials are things like switching the fuel off and pulling the mixture in the event of an engine fire. Having this in your head without having to reach for the checklist could definitely save your life. Another essential would be shutting off the master switch if you smell something burning. As an aside, these cockpit items are almost always colored red, so that in the heat of the moment your eyes will see them immediately.
I’ve watched many flight students fail the Forced Approach exercise because they were so engrossed in reading the checklist. When I head out to the local practice area with my students, it’s always the same scenario. We are in level flight at 3,000 feet when disaster strikes. I pull the throttle back to idle. Oh, no! Not an engine failure! What are we going to do? The students always give me the same look, as if to say “Really? Do I have to? Please, can't we practice some more touch-and-goes instead?”
After an engine failure, the textbook says to first fly the plane. Trim for best glide speed, while looking for a suitable field. Then pull out the checklist. This works fine if you are at 3,000 feet, but what about when you are at 400 feet on departure? There’s no time for the checklist. Pick your landing spot. What a shame, if your only problem was a bit of carburetor ice or an empty left fuel tank.
