The flight bag is a necessary item for every pilot. It contains documents and articles that must be carried on board by law, essential equipment and other things related to the flight in order.
Aside from a well-trained mind and the plane in front of you, a fully loaded flight bag is almost all a pilot has.
So let’s take a look at what should be in a flight bag.
Documentation U.S. Federal Aviation Regulation 61.3 requires any pilot flying in U.S. airspace to carry a pilot’s license, photo ID, and pilot medical clearance at all times.
The U.S. pilot’s license is a credit-card-sized, green-colored card with an image of the Wright brothers’ plane and face in the background.
The license, issued jointly by the Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration, contains the pilot’s personal information and the type of license (private or commercial, etc.) and authority (visual or instrument, single or multiple, fixed wing or rotary wing, etc.).
Because there is currently no photo of the holder on a U.S. pilot’s license, you should also carry a photo ID, such as a driver’s license or passport.
Finally, there is the flight medical certificate, which is divided into three levels. Most private pilots hold the third level certificate.
It is renewed every two or five years by a pilot’s medical examination.
Check sheet (chelist) One of the essential items of flight, check sheet is the flow chart and memorandum of the flight.
The Normal Procedures Checklist lists, by item, everything to be done during a normal flight, from the beginning of preparation to shutting down the engine.
The Emergency Procedures Checklist includes procedures for handling various emergency situations, such as engine stop, engine or engine room fire, landing gear failure, alternator failure, etc.
These checklists vary by aircraft type. They are part of the aircraft manual or can be purchased separately. Most pilots add or organize the checklists based on their own experience.
At the same time, I will write personal checklists according to my own habits, such as instrument approach, weather conditions, personal flight baseline checklists and so on.
The concept and application of checklists is one of the basic skills of flying and the only correct way to fly.
A lot of people who don’t know about flying think that following a checklist is a sign of unproficiency.
In fact, from 100 hours of private pilots to 10,000 hours of civilian pilots, every flight is a check on the hand.
It is not a crutch. Every step of the flight process should be memorized by the pilot. The principle should not only be understood, but also be integrated.
However, it must be checked against the checklist in black and white at the same time, to ensure that in any complex and variable situation, the flight is performed 100% in accordance with standard procedures, with no errors or omissions.
Flying can be a hobby, but from the first hour, a pilot’s attitude, approach and self-requirements must be consistent with those of a professional pilot.
The use of checklists is one of its contents. It is a habit that must be formed. It is also a discipline.
