Aviation Instructor’s HandbookFAA-H-8083-9B
Appendix D
Personal Minimums Checklist
3 pagesPages D-1–D-3
- Pilot:_________________________________
- Date Revised: _________________________
- Reviewed with: ________________________, (if applicable)
- Your Personal Minimums Checklist—
Is an easy-to-use, personal tool tailored to your level of skill, knowledge, and ability.
Helps you control and manage risk by identifying even subtle risk factors.
Allows you to fly with less stress and less risk. Practice “Conservatism Without Guilt.”
Each item provides you with either a space to complete a personal minimum or a checklist item to think about. Spend some quiet time completing each blank and consider other items that apply to your personal minimums. Give yourself permission to choose higher minimums than those specified in the regulations, aircraft flight manuals, or other rules.
How To Use Your Checklist
Use this checklist just as you would use one for your aircraft. Carry the checklist in your flight kit. Use it at home as you start planning a flight and again just before you make your final decision to fly. Be wary if you have an item that’s marginal in any single risk factor category. But if you have items in more than one category, you may be headed for trouble. If you have marginal items in two or more risk factors/categories, do not go!
Periodically review and revise your checklist as your personal circumstances change, such as your proficiency, recency, or training. You should never make your minimums less restrictive unless a significant positive event has occurred. However, it is okay to make your minimums more restrictive at any time. And never make your minimums less restrictive when you are planning a specific flight, or else external pressures will influence you.
Have a fun and safe flight!
- Pilot
- Takeoffs/landings _____ in the last _____ days
- Hours in make/model _____ in the last _____ days
Instrument approaches _____ (simulated or actual) in the last _____ days
Instrument flight hours _____ (simulated or actual) in the last _____ days
- Terrain and airspace familiar
- Physical Condition
- Sleep _____ hours in the last 24 hours
- Food and water in the last _____ hours
- Alcohol None in the last _____ hours
- Drugs or medication None in the last _____ hours
- Stressful events None in the last _____ days
- Illnesses None in the last _____ days
- ______ hours ______ hours ______ hours
- Aircraft
- Fuel Reserves (Cross-Country)
- VFR day
- VFR Night
- IFR day
- IFR Night ______ hours
- Experience in Type
Takeoffs/landings ______ in the last _____ days Takeoffs/landings ______ in aircraft type
Aircraft Performance
Establish that you have additional performance available over that required. Consider the following:
Gross weight
Load distribution
Density altitude
Performance charts familiar with equipment (including autopilot and GPS systems) equipment appropriate to flight current suitable for preflight and flight appropriate for flight/terrain ______ % of max POH ______ % more than POH not more than ______ hours old within aircraft/pilot capabilities ______ feet ______ feet ______ miles ______ miles ______ feet above min.
- Aircraft Equipment
- Avionics
- COM/NAV
- Charts
- Clothing
- Survival gear
- Environment
- Airport Conditions
- Crosswind
- Runway length
- Weather
- Reports and forecasts
- Icing conditions
- Weather for VFR
- Ceiling day
- Ceiling Night
- Visibility day
- Visibility Night
- Weather for IFR
- Precision Approaches
- Ceiling
Visibility ______ mile(s) above min.
______ feet above min.
______ mile(s) above min.
- ______ before diverting ______ feet ______ mile(s)
- Non-Precision Approaches
- Ceiling
- Visibility
- Missed Approaches
- No more than
- Takeoff Minimums
- Ceiling
- Visibility
- External Pressures
- Trip Planning
- Allowance for delays ______ minutes
- Alternate Plans for Diversion or Cancellation
Notification of person(s) you are meeting
Passengers briefed on diversion or cancellation plans and alternatives
Modification or cancellation of car rental, restaurant, or hotel reservations
Arrangement of alternative transportation (airline, car, etc.)
Personal Equipment
Credit card and telephone numbers available for alternate plans
Appropriate clothing or personal needs (eyewear, medication, etc.) in the event of unexpected stay
Importance of Trip
The more important the trip, the more tendency there is to compromise personal minimums, and the more important it becomes to have alternate plans.