Flying is fun!
It also requires a great amount of attention.
So after landing, it’s only natural to want to power through what’s left to do on the ground before calling it a day. But the easiest way to find trouble is by not taking proper care of the aircraft after it’s on the ground.
Here are a few things to remember:
Hunker Down
“Tying a knot poorly is just as bad as tying no knot at all.”
Learn how to properly tie a tiedown knot:
Scott’s knot kidding around! As you tie each knot, make sure the rope gets pulled through the hole on the side opposite the taught line. Runaway planes are a thing of the past with these bonds.
Empty Oil Containers
If oil levels are low in the aircraft, you’ll likely be inclined to add a quart or two. This is a fantastic habit to develop and will keep you and the aircraft running smoothly. Just remember that for every action, there should be an equal and opposite reaction: if a quart of oil goes in the plane, the oil container must come OUT of the plane. Bring the empty container into the school and we can dispose of it for you.
Is it off?
Have you ever left the lights on in your house? It’s a total waste of money, but your house won’t stop working if you leave the lights on too long. The case is not the same for airplanes. If you leave the lights on on the aircraft, you can drain the battery to the point of no return, ruining the next student or renter’s scheduled flight. How do the lights get left on? By leaving the master switch on.
A sure-fire way to make sure you haven’t kept the master switch on is by keeping the beacon switch in the ‘on’ position. If the beacon switch is always left on and you accidentally leave the master switch on, you’ll see the red tail light blinking as you walk away from the aircraft. That will be a clear indication that you need to hightail it back to the cockpit and shut the master switch off. (A final walk-around the aircraft is as precious as the initial walk-around.)
Long story short: use your after-landing checklist to ensure you secure and shut down the aircraft properly. No checklist in one of the SunWest aircraft? Tell us and we’ll fix that ASAP.