Preflight Procedures

Pilot self-assessment.

Determining that the aircraft to be used is appropriate, airworthy, and in a condition for safe flight by locating and explaining related documents such as:

a. Airworthiness and registration certificates

b. Operating limitations, handbooks, and manuals

c. Minimum Equipment List (MEL) and Configuration Deviation List (CDL), Kinds of Operations Equipment Lists (KOEL)

d. Weight and balance data

e. Required inspections or tests and appropriate records and documentation (e.g., dispatch release) as applicable to the proposed flight or operation

Preventive maintenance that can be performed by the pilot or other designated crewmember.

Aircraft preflight inspection, including:

a. Which items should be inspected

b. The reasons for checking each item

c. How to detect possible defects

d. The associated regulations

Environmental factors, including weather, terrain, route selection, and obstructions.

Requirements for current and appropriate navigation data.

Operations specifications, management specifications, or letters of authorization applying to a particular aircraft and operation, if applicable.

Human performance factors.

Inoperative equipment discovered prior to flight.

Environment (e.g., weather, airports, airspace, terrain, obstacles).

External pressures.

Aviation security concerns.

Inspect the aircraft in accordance with an appropriate checklist demonstrating proper operation of applicable aircraft systems. Coordinate checklist with crew, if appropriate.

Coordinate with ground crew and ensure adequate clearance prior to moving doors, hatches, flight control surfaces, etc.

Document any discrepancies found; take corrective action and acknowledge limitations imposed by MEL/CDL items, if applicable.

Determine if the aircraft is airworthy and in condition for safe flight.

Identify and comply with operations specifications as required.

Assess factors related to the environment (weather, airports, terrain, airspace).

Ensure the aircraft and surfaces are free of ice, snow, and frost. If icing conditions are present, demonstrate satisfactory knowledge of deicing procedures.

Use single-pilot resource management (SRM) or crew resource management (CRM), as appropriate.

Normal and abnormal powerplant start procedures and limitations, including the use of an auxiliary power unit (APU) or external power source, if applicable.

Starting under various conditions.

Malfunctions during powerplant start, procedures to address the malfunction, and any associated limitations.

Coordinating and communicating with ground personnel for powerplant start, if applicable.

Malfunctions during powerplant start.

External or internal power starts.

Thrust device, rotor, exhaust, and powerplant safety, as applicable.

Hazards, including downwash, personnel, vehicles, vessels, foreign object debris, and other aircraft in the vicinity during powerplant start.

Managing situations where specific instructions or checklist items are not published.

Ensure the ground safety procedures are followed during the before-start, start, and after-start phases.

Use appropriate ground crew personnel during the start procedures (if applicable).

Coordinate with crew, if applicable, and complete the appropriate checklist(s) prior to and after powerplant start.

Respond appropriately to an abnormal start or malfunction.

Current airport aeronautical references and information resources such as the Chart Supplement, airport diagram, and Notices to Air Missions (NOTAMs).

Taxi instructions/clearances, including published taxi routes.

Airport/heliport/helipad/landing area, signs, markings, and lighting.

Appropriate aircraft lighting for day and night operations.

Appropriate aircraft configuration.

Communications at towered and nontowered airports.

Appropriate flight deck activities prior to taxi, including route planning, identifying the location of Hot Spots, and coordinating with crew if, applicable.

Entering or crossing runways.

Night taxi operations.

Low visibility taxi operations and techniques used to avoid disorientation.

Distractions, task prioritization, loss of situational awareness, or disorientation.

Confirmation or expectation bias as related to taxi instructions.

A taxi route or departure runway change.

Use of checklists or procedures.

Low visibility taxi operations.

Runway incursion.

Receive/record taxi instructions, read back/acknowledge taxi clearances, and review taxi routes on the airport diagram.

Use an appropriate airport/heliport diagram or taxi chart, if published.

Comply with air traffic control (ATC) clearances and instructions and observe all runway hold lines, Instrument Landing System (ILS) critical areas, beacons, and other airport/taxiway markings and lighting.

Coordinate with crew, if applicable, and complete the appropriate checklist(s) prior to and during taxi, as appropriate.

Maintain situational awareness.

Use appropriate thrust and maintain correct and positive aircraft control, proper speed, and appropriate separation between other aircraft, vehicles, and persons to avoid an incursion/incident/ accident.

Demonstrate taxi during day and night operations. If either condition is not available, the applicant explains the differences between day and night taxi.

Demonstrate proper use of aircraft exterior lighting for day and night operations. If either condition is not available, the applicant explains the differences between exterior aircraft lighting used for day and night operations.

Explain the hazards of low visibility taxi operations.

Current airport aeronautical references and information resources such as the Chart Supplement, airport diagram, and Notices to Air Missions (NOTAMs).

Hover taxi instructions, clearances, and limitations.

Airport, heliport, helipad, or unprepared surface environment.

Visual indicators for wind.

Aircraft lighting, as appropriate.

Procedures for.

a. Appropriate flight deck activities during taxiing

b. Safe hover taxi at towered and non-towered airports/heliports/helipads/landing areas

c. Entering or crossing runways

Aircraft configuration.

Aircraft operating limitations.

Distractions, task prioritization, loss of situational awareness, or disorientation.

Low visibility hover taxi operations.

Powerplant(s) failure during hover taxi.

Other aircraft and hazards.

Hazardous effects of downwash.

Aircraft configuration.

Height/Velocity (H/V) considerations.

Crosswind limitations.

Confirmation or expectation bias as related to taxi instructions.

Runway incursion.

Other hazards specific to the powered-lift make and model.

Complete the appropriate checklist(s).

Receive and correctly read back clearances/instructions, if applicable.

Use an airport diagram or taxi chart during taxi, if published, and maintain situational awareness.

Comply with airport/heliport taxiway markings, signals, and signs.

Position the primary flight controls, including the thrust vector, for the prevailing environmental conditions.

Hover taxi over specified ground references, demonstrating forward, sideward, and rearward hovering and hovering turns.

Maintain recommended hovering altitude, ±1/2 of that altitude within 10 feet of the surface, if above 10 feet, ±5 feet.

Demonstrate the maneuver in crosswind conditions on specified headings.

Current airport aeronautical references and information resources such as the Chart Supplement, airport diagram, and Notices to Air Missions (NOTAMs).

Air taxi instructions, clearances, and limitations.

Aircraft configuration.

Airport, heliport, helipad, or unprepared surface environment.

Visual indicators for wind.

Aircraft lighting, as appropriate.

Procedures for:

a. Appropriate flight deck activities during taxiing

b. Safe air taxi at towered and non-towered airports/heliports/helipads/landing areas

c. Overflying of runways

Aircraft operating limitations.

Appropriate height and speed for air taxi.

Height/Velocity (H/V) considerations.

Activities and distractions.

Reduced visibility or night taxi operations.

H/V diagram performance in case of powerplant failure.

Other aircraft and hazards.

Runway incursion.

Complete the appropriate checklist(s).

Use an airport diagram or taxi chart during taxi, if published, and maintain situational awareness.

Select a safe airspeed and altitude.

Maintain specified altitude, ±10 feet.

Maintain a designated airspeed, ±10 knots, taxi height, ±10 feet, and flight path.

Air taxi from one point to another under various wind conditions.

Maintain the aircraft within operating limits throughout the maneuver.

Comply with airport/heliport/helipad/landing area markings, lights, signs, and ATC instructions.

Use single-pilot resource management (SRM) or crew resource management (CRM), as appropriate.

Purpose of before takeoff checklist items, including:

a. Reasons for checking each item

b. Detecting malfunctions

c. Ensuring the aircraft is in safe operating condition

Deicing and anti-icing procedures, holdover times, and pre-takeoff contamination check.

Adverse weather considerations for performance on takeoff (e.g., snow, ice, gusting crosswinds, low- visibility).

Items to be included in a before takeoff briefing.

Division of attention while conducting before takeoff checks.

An unexpected change in the runway to be used for departure.

Using performance data to set airspeeds and flight instruments for actual conditions and the departure runway.

Setting navigation and communication equipment for departure.

Configuring autopilot and flight director for departure.

Adverse weather conditions prior to takeoff (e.g., snow, ice, gusting crosswinds, low-visibility).

Potential powerplant failure during takeoff or other malfunction considering operational factors such as aircraft characteristics, runway/takeoff path length, surface.

Determine the aircraft's takeoff performance and set configuration for the planned departure.

Coordinate with crew, if applicable, and complete the appropriate checklist(s) prior to takeoff in a timely manner.

Determine all systems checked are within an acceptable operating range and are safe for the proposed flight. During the checks, explain at the request of the evaluator, any system operating characteristic or limitation and any corrective action for a malfunction.

Determine airspeeds/V-speeds and set flight instruments appropriately, configure flight director, autopilot, and navigation and communication equipment for the current flight conditions and takeoff and departure clearances.

Conduct a briefing that includes procedures for emergency and abnormal situations (e.g., powerplant failure, windshear), which may be encountered during takeoff, and state the planned action if they were to occur.

Obtain and correctly interpret the takeoff and departure clearance.

Passenger briefing requirements, including operation and required use of safety restraint systems.

Use of appropriate checklists.

Requirements for current and appropriate navigation data.

Securing items and cargo.

Use of systems or equipment, including automation and portable electronic devices.

Inoperative equipment.

Passenger distractions.

Secure all items in the aircraft.

Conduct an appropriate passenger briefing, including identifying the pilot-in-command (PIC), use of safety belts, shoulder harnesses, doors, sterile aircraft, passenger conduct and avoidance of rotor or air induction systems, powerplants, and other heat sources, and emergency procedures.

Properly program and manage the aircraft’s automation, as applicable.

Use single-pilot resource management (SRM) or crew resource management (CRM), as appropriate.