Fellow Simmers:

Have you ever done one of these little bone head manuevers while flying online?

1. Forget to raise/lower landing gear?
2. Forget to close your speed brakes after landing, and then upon takeoff can't figure out while your airplane is handling like a sumo wrestler?
3. Forget to send/resend your flight plan after connecting to the network?
4. Forget to set your altimeter to 29.92 when climbing through 18,000' (or through the transition level, for those outside the US)?
5. VA pilots...have you ever forgotten to hack the clock upon takeoff or landing (or note your TO/landing time)?

Been there, done that. That's why I made myself a checklist that I thought others might be able to use to.

Recently I nearly bit the hills east of MRY on departure in a 737 from runway 10L...couldn't figure out why I wasn't gaining altitude as fast as I expected...when "Bitchin' Betty" began calling out my altitude down to as low as 30 feet, I started lookin' real fast...Turns out I forgot to arm the autospoilers when landing earlier in Monterey, so I opened them manually after landing...never did retract them again until 20 feet above that tiny little hill on departure!

Then there's the time I made a really nice "greaser" of a landing on runway 24R at KLAX...then couldn't figure out why it took nearly full throttle to taxi...and the only way to turn was with differential thrust. Finally figured it out when I pressed Shift+S and saw that my airplane was sitting REALLY low... Nose wheel steering doesn't work real well still stowed in the gear well.

Now, if you said yes to any one of these questions, then I have a deal for you! Just check out this little gem of a checklist included.

This checklist is suitable for printing and use in flight. It was developed based on online flying, using the VATSIM network (http://vatsim.net), but will work whether you are flying online, or all by yourself offline. It is just a quick checklist of things that you should remember during all stages of flight, and is suitable for all aircraft. Please feel free to check it out and send me your comments and suggestions. Keep in mind that this is a GENERIC CHECKLIST, and was not meant to cover ALL items for ALL aircraft. If you have constructive criticism and or suggestion pleases feel free to let me know. I'd be glad to modify the checklist where appropriate, so long as it doesn't get too big and cumbersome to use. As it stands now it prints out in 2 1/2 pages.

Hope you can use it. Hope that you WILL use it!

Craig Moulton
gaspedal@mindspring.com
LA ARTCC Center Instructor
AAL203/AVA LAX Operations Manager

View the checklist:

• PRIOR TO VATSIM CONNECTION
  • Internet Connection-Established
  • Flight Simulator-Start
    • A. Aircraft-Choose
    • Departure Airport-Choose (Position aircraft off Runway/Taxiways)
    • Multi-Player Connection-Establish
    • Squawk Box-Start
    • Call sign-Check/Set
    • Flight Plan-Build
      • Aircraft Type-Select
      • Type Flight Plan-Select (IFR, VFR or SVFR)
      • Departure Airport-Set
      • Destination Airport-Set
      • Cruise Altitude-Set (Altitude Below 18000, FL above 18000 or above)
      • Route of Flight-Enter (Brief as Possible. Every wpt not needed, only turn points. Use SID/STAR where appropriate)
      • Comments-Enter (Voice call sign if confusion is probable. No SID/STARs. New Pilot. All Charts. FSMETEO. Or other Information appropriate. Be brief, only include what is necessary for ATC)



 
•  

• CONNECT TO VATSIM
  • Connect to Server-Complete
  • ATC Directory-Check
    • ATC Available-Select (double click)
      • XXX_DEL
      • XXX.GND
      • XXX.TWR
      • XXX.APP or DEP
      • XXX.CTR
    • ATC Not Available-Unicom-Select
  • ATIS-Read (extract Pertinent info i.e. Wx, Rwy in use, RW channel)
  • Flight Plan-Resend
  • Initial Contact-Complete (Be sure to monitor for several seconds prior to contacting ATC if using RW to avoid stepping on Pilot or ATC)
  • Clearance-Read back (Required)
  
  
  
  
   
  •  
• BEFORE TAXI
  • Nav Equipment-Set and Checked (Hdg bug, OBS, Initial ALT etc)
  • Transponder-Set/Normal (Unless otherwise directed by ATC)
  • Radio Call-Complete (Contact GND/TWR for Taxi clearance)
  • Altimeter-Set/Check
  • Area-Clear
  
  
  
  
   
  •  
• TAXI
  • Parking Brakes-Off
  • Speed Brake-Off
  • Autobrake-Set
  • Flaps-Set
  • Clock-Set
  
  
  
  
   
  •  
• BEFORE TAKEOFF
  • Flaps-Check
  • Controls-Check
  • Throttles-Check (Ensure that when throttle is moved, that all engines respond accordingly. If not, Press E + 1-4 as needed for each egine)
  • Transponder-Check/Normal
  • Radio Call-Complete (Report H/S and Rwy/Taxiway)
  
  
  
  
   
  •  
• TAKEOFF
  • Clock-Start
  • Runway-Clear
  • Throttles-Advance (Use TO/GA switch if available)
  • Gear-Up (Pos Rate of Climb)
  • Flaps-Up (Follow Flap schedule for Aircraft)
  • Radio Call-Complete Initial call to APP/DEP Freq (when told to do so by ATC)
  
  
  
  
   
  •  
• CLIMB
  • Speed-Check (250 KIAS below 10,000' or as requested by ATC)
  • Altimeter-Set (29.92 above 18,000')
  
  
  
  
   
  •  
• CRUISE
  • Autopilot-As Required
  • ATC Directory-Check (Keep an eye out for Online ATC enroute if you are Told "Radar Service Terminated")
  
  
  
  
   
  •  
• DESCENT
  • Altimeter-Set (Local Altimeter below 18,000')
  • Airspeed-Check (250 KIAS below 10,000' or as requested by ATC)
  • STAR/APPROACH-Review
  • NAV Equipment-Set
  
  
  
  
   
  •  
• BEFORE LANDING
  • Flaps-Set
  • Landing Gear-Down
  • Speed Brake-Arm
  • Auto-Brake-Set
  • Radio Call-Complete (Clearance to land/Make Advisory Call on UNICOM)
  
  
  
  
   
  •  
• AFTER LANDING
  • Auto-Brake-Off
  • Speed Brake-Off
  • Flaps-Up
  • Clock-Stop
  • Radio Call-Make (Clearance to taxi to parking)
  
  
  
  
   
  •  
• BEFORE SHUTDOWN
  • Engines-Idle (1-2 minute cool down)
  • Parking Brake-Set
• SHUTDOWN
  • Engines-Off
  • NAV Equipment-Off
  • Generators/Altenators-Off
  • Lights-Off
  • ATC-Thank
  • Squawk Box-Exit
  • Flight Simulator-Close
  • Internet Connection-As Required

  Return to the American Virtual Airlines LAX Domicile   Page created by Craig Moulton. Mail comments to gaspedal@mindspring.com
Los Angeles ARTCC Center Instructor
AAL203/AVA LAX Operations Manager