By Adam Hunt
On the COPA DIY Ramp Check Form (DIY – do it yourself) for aircraft other than ultralights there is one little item that says “Checklist (N&E) CAR 602.60.” What does that mean and what are you supposed to have on board?
“N&E” stands for “Normal and Emergency.” CAR 602.60 requires all aircraft, other than ultralights, to have on board a checklist or placards for those “normal and emergency” operations.
The checklist is to “enable the aircraft to be operated in accordance with the limitations specified in the aircraft flight manual, aircraft operating manual, pilot operating handbook or any equivalent document provided by the manufacturer.”
The CAR goes on to tell you exactly what you need in that checklist:
(a) pre-start check;
(b) pre-take-off check;
(c) post-take-off check;
(d) pre-landing check; and
(e) emergency procedures.
It also gives more information on that last item – the “E” in N&E”:
Emergency procedures referred to in paragraph (2)(e) shall include:
(a) emergency operation of fuel, hydraulic, electrical and mechanical systems, where applicable;
(b) emergency operation of instruments and controls, where applicable;
(c) engine inoperative procedures; and
(d) any other procedure that is necessary for aviation safety.
It sounds like a fairly useful thing to have on board – but what do you do if your aircraft didn’t come with a checklist or placards?
Many older aircraft never had these sorts of checklist other than inside the Pilot Operating Handbook or Flight Manual.
Isn’t it good enough to carry just that POH instead? Probably not. CAR 605.04 requires you to carry the POH or Flight Manual, if the aircraft is required to have one.
Certified and Limited Class aircraft are required to have them, but Amateur-Builts and Owner Maintenance aircraft aren’t and many of those aircraft don’t have one.
The existence of two different CARs and two different ramp check items tends to indicate that the POH and checklists should be two items as well.
Making up your own checklists is relatively easy – these can be based on the POH items and then printed or glued on cards and then laminated if you like, to keep them clean. One challenge is that many older aircraft have POHs that do not include any emergency procedures at all! This was common up until the 1960s because aircraft manufacturers back then thought that publishing emergency procedures made it look like their aircraft weren’t safe!
The rules were changed by 1970 to require emergency procedures in the POH for all aircraft. But how do you make up an emergency checklist if your POH doesn’t specify any emergency procedures?
You can always use emergency checklist from the POH for a later year model of the same type of aircraft, if you know someone who has one, and modify it for your own aircraft.
Or you can use a “generic” checklist as a point to start from and then modify it to suit your individual aircraft by adding or deleting equipment that you have on board and adding the correct airspeeds.
It is worth having both normal and emergency checklists, not only to comply with the CARs, but because they are useful when flying, given the limitations of the human memory!
A generic emergency checklist used as a basis to develop your own custom emergency checklist could look like this example, for a single-engine land aircraft:
Approach speed Minimum (__ mph minimum)
Brakes do not use
Shutdown on runway, tow to ramp
Low Oil Pressure/Engine Overheat
Oil Temperature gauge check
Land as soon as possible
Electrical System Malfunction
Excessive Output
Loadmeter check – high
All electrics off
Avionics off
Alternator circuit breaker pull
Loadmeter check – zero
Alternator circuit breaker check – in
Master switch check – on
Landing light on to check load
If no load is indicated:
Master switch off
Land as soon as practicable
Engine Failure
Establish glide __ mph
Suitable landing area head towards
Carb heat hot
Fuel pump on
Fuel change tanks
Mixture rich
Windshield Obscuration
Cabin heat on
Defroster on
If required:
Window or canopy open (below ___ mph)
Land aircraft using forward slip
Ground Fire
Engine keep running to ingest flames
Fuel selector off
Engine stop
Fire extinguisher discharge
If fire continues abandon aircraft
In-Flight Electrical Fire
Master switch off
Electrics off
Cabin Air vents closed
Window or canopy open (below ___mph)
Land aircraft as soon as practicable
If continued flight is required:
Circuit breakers out
Master switch on
Circuit breakers in, one at a time
Faulty circuit circuit breaker out
Blown Tires - Main Tire
Approach long, shallow final
Approach speed Minimum (__ mph min)
Touch down good tire only
Blown tire hold off as long as possible
Brakes apply to hold straight
Approach long, shallow final
Approach speed Minimum (__ mph min)
Touchdown nose high
Nosewheel lower before elevator authority lost
Brakes minimize use
Icing Conditions Encountered
Pitot heat on
Defroster on
Icing conditions exit