There’s books, videos, lectures, FAA WINGS seminars, and more on the time-honored traditions of the preflight inspection. But, not to reinvent the wheel, Three wants to break this down into three simple things as part of our new series aptly named Three Things.
Number 1: No.
Without a pilot, an airplane is just a collection of parts and pieces. Beyond the IMSAFE checklist, the FAA has made an alphabet soup of acronyms and memory aids to try to remember all the various aeronautical decision making strategies, checklists, and that’s not what we’re going to do here. Instead, let’s focus on the ability for you to say no. Can you say no to taking today’s flight? What justifications could you make for not flying? Are they threats that can be mitigated? Or is it easier just to just say no.
Number 2: Hmm.
Taking a look at the airplane, whether it be a personal, club, or rented airplane, the POH/AFM/FCOM will outline the requirements of the preflight inspection. And while they rarely go into obscene levels of detail, we at Three take a more simplistic approach to what some turn into an annual or conditional inspection. If there’s something that makes you go “hmm,” then maybe there’s something to help substantiate “Saying No” to the flight.
Number 3: Hey bud.
When in doubt, take a moment to expand your team. Something personally unsettling about the flight or the airplane? If you’ve haven’t established a strong working relationship with the airplane’s owner, mechanic, or a trusted confidant, mentor, or partner, then certainly now is not the time. But if you do have one, then at the least, a quick inquiry about any questions you may have, or a simple “just about to head out” message will help keep them in the loop.
Preflight inspections are moments where we’ve hopefully taken an honest look at the risks associated with ourselves, our aircraft, and our intended flight. The development of mitigation strategies to address these defined risks is something that every pilot should have in their quiver. That, and a mentor as mentioned above, can be instrumental in building confidence in our abilities. If you’re looking to help develop those skills, give us a shout.