How To Make an Emergency Checklist

Aviation is a ton of fun and extremely rewarding, but things do go wrong, and preparedness is paramount. As a pilot, you are trained rigorously to handle emergencies, and a key tool in their arsenal is the emergency checklist. When faced with a critical situation in the air, having a well-organized and efficient emergency checklist that has been practiced can make all the difference between a safe outcome and a potential disaster. In this article, we will explore the essential steps to create an effective emergency checklist for your aircraft.

Start with the Basics: Procedures from the POH

Every aircraft is unique, but they all come with a comprehensive guidebook known as the Pilot's Operating Handbook (POH). The first step in creating your emergency checklist is to extract the procedures from the POH that pertain to emergency situations. These procedures are the bare minimum and must be completed in the event of an emergency. Unless your aircraft has undergone significant modifications that have vastly changed its performance, the procedures in the POH provide the best course of action to handle the emergency as safely as possible.

The POH is the primary source of information regarding your aircraft's systems, limitations, and emergency procedures. Study it thoroughly and extract the emergency procedures into a checklist format. This will serve as the foundation for your customized emergency checklist.

Supplementary Procedures: Tailoring to Your Aircraft and Operation

While the procedures from the POH are essential, real-world emergencies can vary in complexity. In some cases, you may have limited time to execute critical actions to maintain the aircraft's stability. However, in other scenarios, once the vital actions are completed, you may have some "downtime" (dare I say...) to perform supplementary procedures. These could include further troubleshooting, communication, preparing for an emergency landing, or assessing damage.

To address this, consider adding supplementary procedures to your emergency checklist as optional items. A useful technique is to highlight or bold the items that must be memorized and executed without hesitation. The remaining procedures can be read from the checklist if time permits. Tools like Flight Checklists can help you format your checklist to distinguish between vital actions and supplementary procedures using things like color, bold, and italics.

Optimize the Layout: Grouping by Categories

An organized layout is crucial when creating an emergency checklist. In an emergency, the clock is ticking. You need to quickly action the vital procedures and then confirm your actions against the proper emergency checklist. The key to finding the relevant checklist items is grouping subchecklists by categories.

Categories could include fires, electrical problems, icing, takeoff, landing, and more, depending on your aircraft and operational needs. By grouping emergency procedures based on categories, you make it significantly easier to locate the information you need in your checklist when time is of the essence.

Another critical aspect of checklist optimization is practice. Don't just create the checklist; regularly simulate emergency scenarios on the ground and practice going through your checklist. Memorizing vital actions is highly recommended because, in a real emergency, there might not be time to read the checklist.

In conclusion, creating an effective emergency checklist for aviation is not only a matter of compliance but a matter of safety. Start with the procedures outlined in your aircraft's POH, tailor the checklist to your specific needs, and optimize its layout for quick reference during high-stress situations. Remember that practice makes perfect, and a well-prepared pilot armed with a well-structured emergency checklist is better equipped to handle the unexpected challenges that may arise in the sky.

Flight Checklists, with its customizable formatting options, can be an invaluable tool in your quest to create the perfect emergency checklist. By following these guidelines and using the right resources, you'll be better prepared to navigate the skies with confidence, knowing that you are prepared to face an emergency situation if one arises.