Cross Country Checklists

Pre-flight preparation to post-flight procedures.

I. Pre-Flight Planning (The Day Before the Flight)

This is the most critical phase. Thorough planning is the key to a safe flight.

A. Pilot & Personal Documents

  • Pilot Certificate: Ensure your pilot certificate is valid and readily available.
  • Medical Certificate: Check that your medical certificate is current.
  • Photo ID: Have a government-issued photo ID (e.g., driver’s license).
  • Logbook: Your logbook should be up-to-date and accessible, especially for solo student pilots who need a CFI’s endorsement.
  • Headset: Ensure your headset is in good working condition, with spare batteries if applicable.
  • Personal Minimums: Review your personal minimums for weather, crosswinds, and other factors, and confirm the planned flight falls within those limits.
  • “IMSAFE” Self-Assessment: Conduct a self-assessment to ensure you are fit to fly:
    • Illness
    • Medication
    • Stress
    • Alcohol
    • Fatigue
    • Emotion/External Pressures

B. Aircraft Documents & Airworthiness

  • Airworthiness Certificate: Verify the certificate is on board and current.
  • Registration: Confirm the aircraft’s registration is current.
  • Operating Limitations: Check the aircraft’s operating limitations (found in the Pilot’s Operating Handbook or POH).
  • Weight & Balance: Perform a full weight and balance calculation for the planned flight, including passengers, cargo, and fuel, to ensure you are within limits.
  • Aircraft Inspections: Verify that all required inspections are current and signed off in the maintenance logs (e.g., Annual, VOR check if IFR, 100-hour if for hire, Altimeter/Static system, Transponder, ELT).

C. Flight Planning & Navigation

  • Charts: Obtain and review current VFR sectional charts for the route. A digital EFB (Electronic Flight Bag) on an iPad or other device is common, but a paper backup is always a good idea.
  • Route Selection:
    • Plot the most direct route, considering terrain, airspace, and navigation aids.
    • Identify easily identifiable checkpoints (e.g., major roads, rivers, towns) every 10-20 miles.
    • Ensure terrain along the route is well below the aircraft’s service ceiling.
  • Navigation Log: Complete a navigation log with all the necessary information:
    • Waypoints/Checkpoints
    • Magnetic Course
    • Distance between points
    • True Airspeed (TAS)
    • Wind Correction Angle (WCA) and True Heading (TH)
    • Magnetic Heading (MH)
    • Ground Speed (GS)
    • Time between points and Estimated Time Enroute (ETE)
    • Fuel burn between points and total fuel burn
  • Airport Information:
    • Review the Chart Supplement (formerly Airport/Facility Directory or A/FD) for your departure, destination, and potential alternate airports.
    • Note runway lengths, traffic pattern altitudes, radio frequencies (ATIS, Ground, Tower, CTAF), and available services (e.g., fuel, FBO hours).
  • Emergency Planning:
    • Plan for potential emergencies. Identify suitable emergency landing sites along the route.
    • Have a plan for lost communications and getting lost.
    • File a VFR Flight Plan with Flight Service (FSS) as a safety net. Remember to activate and close it.

D. Weather Briefing

  • Standard Weather Briefing: Obtain a standard weather briefing from a Flight Service Station (1-800-WX-BRIEF) or an approved online source (e.g., 1800wxbrief.com).
  • Weather Reports & Forecasts:
    • METARs: Check current weather at departure, destination, and enroute airports.
    • TAFs: Review Terminal Aerodrome Forecasts for your departure and destination.
    • Winds Aloft (FD): Use this to calculate your wind correction angle and ground speed.
    • AIRMETs/SIGMETs: Look for hazardous weather advisories (e.g., turbulence, icing, mountain obscuration).
    • Pilot Reports (PIREPs): Check for actual weather conditions reported by other pilots.

E. Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs)

  • Review NOTAMs: Check for any temporary flight restrictions (TFRs) and other notices that may affect your route, such as runway closures, inoperative navaids, or obstacles.

II. Pre-Flight Physical Inspection (Day of Flight)

This is a physical checklist performed just before getting into the cockpit.

  • Walk-around: Perform a thorough, systematic pre-flight inspection of the aircraft, following the POH checklist.
  • External Checks:
    • Re-engage Parking Brake to ensure it is set.
    • Remove Control Locks and stow.
    • Remove Engine Duct and Pitot Tube Covers and stow
    • Remove all tie-downs and chocks.
    • Check all control surfaces for freedom of movement and security.
    • Inspect tires, brake pads, struts, and landing gear.
    • Check for any signs of damage.
    • Check antennas are visibly secure.
    • Check fuel and oil levels.
    • Check for any signs of fluid leakage; brakes, engine cowling, asphalt…
    • Drain a small amount of fuel from each tank to check for water or contaminants.
      • FBO provides container for disposal; or put in camp fuel bottle labeled for  gasoline.
      • DO NOT transport any liquid fuel bottle unless it is vented external to the cabin.
  • Cockpit Checks:
    • Adjust seat, rudder pedals, and seatbelts.
    • Check flight controls for free and correct movement.
    • Set altimeter to the current altimeter setting (from ATIS or ASOS/AWOS).
    • Confirm all switches and circuit breakers are in the correct position.
    • Check radios and transponder.

III. In-Flight Checklists

These checklists are used during the flight to ensure proper configuration for each phase.

  • Before Takeoff:
    • Engine run-up check.
    • Check flight instruments (Attitude Indicator, DG, etc.).
    • Set trim for takeoff.
    • Check flight controls for free and correct movement.
    • Doors and windows latched.
  • After Takeoff:
    • Gear up (if retractable).
    • Flaps up (as required).
    • Lights as required.
  • Cruise:
    • Set power and mixture for cruise flight.
    • Leaning the mixture (if above 3,000 feet MSL).
    • Monitor engine instruments.
    • Cross-check navigation log with ground landmarks (pilotage and dead reckoning).
  • Descent & Before Landing (“GUMPS” or similar acronyms are helpful):
    • Gas – Proper tank selected, fuel pump on.
    • Undercarriage – Gear down and locked.
    • Mixture – Full rich.
    • Propeller – High RPM (if constant speed prop).
    • Switches/Seatbelts – Lights on, seatbelts fastened for all occupants.
  • On Approach:  Some pilots close their flight plan after contacting the tower for approach and in visual range of the airport.
  • After Landing:
    • Flaps retracted.
    • Lights off (as appropriate).
    • Transponder set to standby or off.
    • Trim neutral.

IV. Post-Flight Procedures

  • Close Flight Plan: Contact Flight Service (FSS) or a tower controller to close your flight plan. This is a crucial step to avoid unnecessary search and rescue procedures.
  • Secure Aircraft:
    • Shut down engine and systems according to the POH.
    • Install control locks, tie-downs, and chocks.
    • Ensure aircraft is properly secured.
  • Logbook: Log your flight time, including Hobbs and Tach hours, departure/arrival airports, and any specific flight details.

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