As I learn every lesson something new that is possible to forget or mix up and that I never needed before and that did go wrong already I started to ask myself how others organise pre-boarding items for an IFR flight. Do you have an additional checklist? And what’s in?
I’ve got so far
- flight plan validated and checked for time slot
- flight loaded on iPad without errors, and saved in App
- flight plan(s) printout (for use in plane)
- iPads batteries charged
- iPad charts and maps current and necessary plates and maps downloaded
- handheld radio in bag and battery charged
- approach charts in bag, up-to-date (check AIRAC) and sorted in flight order
- GPS navigators NAV data current or new cards in bag
- pens, papers, my ATIS form
-
I see 3 items on flight plan, I never entered one in my iPad or GPS, I put one departure point & one arrival point and take note of my FPL route overhead % for any ETA calculation
Rather than getting obsessed about “transferring the filed flight plan”, I tend to breif every fix or waypoint for approaching my arrival airport: ATC usually throw curved ball not in my flight plan
On SkyDemon or ForeFlight searching for a waypoint becomes a piece of cake, one may fly their filed FPL in case of loss of comms but it’s doable with the info in iPad…
A torch to check the wings for ice at night.
D&D phone number in phone
Always two iPads
Always life jackets
Downloaded music
Coffee
Cheesy Wotsits.
Empty water bottle….
Some form of appropriate survival gear even if just some good running shoes and a jacket, a good knife and a good lighter.
Since IFR generally equals distance, I also carry spares like spark plugs, tyre seals, tyre weld, a foot pump, a couple of relays and a tool kit and at least 500 Wuros or equivalent
For a full trip, spare tyres etc
Some of it might seem a bit excessive for simple IFR but given you don’t actually know where ATC routing may take you or delay you, those couple of extra kilos are well worth it
luckily shades and licence were enough on the bus 
NOTAMs and latest weather checked
Do you have an additional checklist? And what’s in?
Kudos to you for the effort and taking preparation seriously. As you progress, you may find that an even shorter checklist will suffice for an entire flight, including the inflight items.
Disclaimer: Obviously very much dependent on individual circumstances from “I fly a plane once a year” to “this is my plane and flying it is like driving my car”, but many checklists are overloaded and hurt more than they help.
Here’s an example workflow.
Time: 20:30
For airmets/sigmets/plastered sig charts and any tricky or new destinations, I will spend considerably more time going through procedures and mentally noting gotchas. Also taking a closer look at performance for short runways or steeper climb requirements.
Next day “Crew at stations” it’s time for some
“A zero to five B C” & “CRAFT”:
Time: 09:05
I recommend to start taxi/leave the parking position completely ready and configured for departure.
I would suggest briefing the following:
1) Any DP (departure procedures) including in the US, any ODP or SID
2) Anticipated STAR and approaches at the destination and alternate if required.
