Rethink the Preflight

During your preflight, you likely check to make sure that that you have enough fuel and oil, that there is no damage to the airplane and that all bolts and screws are attached. Basically you are making sure that nothing is wrong. But perhaps a new way of thinking could give you a better opportunity to find potential issues.

As you inspect the airplane, assume that there is something wrong with it. Often there are at least a few things that are not quite the way they should be. Perhaps there are no screws missing, but some of them may need tightening. Don't just look at the airplane, touch and feel its parts to make sure they are securely attached and to focus your eyes where they need to go. If you can't fix the items that are not quite the way they should be right away, take notes.

In addition to a notepad and a pen, it's a good idea to bring a rag along during your preflight to wipe off any surfaces that are dirty. If there are any cracks in those surfaces, they will become apparent once you wipe them off. Look closely for any minor fractures that potentially need to be addressed or at least inspected by a mechanic.

It goes without saying that you should address flight critical items, such as insufficient fuel or oil, or damaged parts, before you start up the engine. For non-critical issues, keep your notes so that you won't forget to address them when you get back on the ground

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