The use of checklists is one of the tenets of aviation. We have them for pre-flight inspections all the way thru shut down procedures and even emergency procedures. Aviation checklists are so pervasive that they have even sprung up a cottage industry around their sale. You can purchase colorful, durably laminated checklists for around $15, and you can buy iPhone/iPad or Android checklists too. Although I am iEquipt and Android enabled, at this point I am preferring the paper checklists.
At any rate, if you are a student pilot like myself, you may have been given a few checklists from your CFI or FBO. And if your FBO is anything like mine, your checklist probably contains some vestigial entries from equipment long gone. For example, the checklist I was given for my plane had checks for an autopilot system which does not exist. It also had IFR procedures, but my plane is not currently IFR legal and I doubt it is a priority to make it such. I found these superfluous entries distracting and they disrupted the flow of my procedures.
Well, for better or worse I am a DIY type of guy, and so I reject the pre-made checklists - both old and new and decided to roll my own using LaTeX. LaTeX ( pronounced latek ) is a typesetting system primarily used in technical and scientific writing. I am pretty new to using LaTeX, but the more I use it the more I like it. My pedagogical interest in LaTeX quickly turned utilitarian and it is rapidly filtering thru my life, both professionally and in academia. The end result of all this is a really classy looking document with none of the formatting hassle associated with WYSIWYG editors such as MS Word or OpenOffice Text Document.
Here is a LaTeX code snippet from my checklist. I basically just copied the checklist from my FBO, making changes where appropriate. For example, I tried to maintain consistency in language throughout the list. My brain is happier when I am not identifying inconsistencies in my checklists. Having said that, if you see any typos please let me know. I am also going to ask my CFI to double check the final checklist before we fly next.
Here is a picture overview of the checklist. You can download a PDF checklist and the LaTeX code to make your own down further.
One of the main advantages to having this template setup is that I can quickly make adjustments to the checklist contents. If I need to add or clarify anything it is quick and easy and the formatting stays the same.
If you would like a copy of the LaTeX code you can download it here. You are welcome to download the output from the code aka my checklist, but I imagine you would want to customize your own checklist. Either way, here is the PDF checklist I made for the plane I usually fly.
At any rate, if you are a student pilot like myself, you may have been given a few checklists from your CFI or FBO. And if your FBO is anything like mine, your checklist probably contains some vestigial entries from equipment long gone. For example, the checklist I was given for my plane had checks for an autopilot system which does not exist. It also had IFR procedures, but my plane is not currently IFR legal and I doubt it is a priority to make it such. I found these superfluous entries distracting and they disrupted the flow of my procedures.
Well, for better or worse I am a DIY type of guy, and so I reject the pre-made checklists - both old and new and decided to roll my own using LaTeX. LaTeX ( pronounced latek ) is a typesetting system primarily used in technical and scientific writing. I am pretty new to using LaTeX, but the more I use it the more I like it. My pedagogical interest in LaTeX quickly turned utilitarian and it is rapidly filtering thru my life, both professionally and in academia. The end result of all this is a really classy looking document with none of the formatting hassle associated with WYSIWYG editors such as MS Word or OpenOffice Text Document.
Here is a LaTeX code snippet from my checklist. I basically just copied the checklist from my FBO, making changes where appropriate. For example, I tried to maintain consistency in language throughout the list. My brain is happier when I am not identifying inconsistencies in my checklists. Having said that, if you see any typos please let me know. I am also going to ask my CFI to double check the final checklist before we fly next.
\subsection{Before Takeoff - Run-Up}
\begin{enumerate}
\item Cabin Doors and Windows - \textbf{Closed \& Locked}
\item Parking Brake - \textbf{Set}
\item Flight Controls - \textbf{Free \& Correct}
\item Flight Instruments - \textbf{Set}
\item Fuel Selector Valve - \textbf{ON - Fullest Tank}
\item Elevator Trim - \textbf{Takeoff}
\item Mixture - \textbf{Rich or As Required}
\item Throttle - \textbf{2000 RPM}
\begin{enumerate}
\item Magnetos - \textbf{Check}
\item Carburetor Heat - \textbf{Check}
\item Engine Instruments \& Ammeter - \textbf{Check}
\item Suction Gauge - \textbf{Check 5"$ \pm $0.1}
\end{enumerate}
\item Throttle - \textbf{Idle, then 1000 RPM}
\item Radios - \textbf{Set}
\item Transponder - \textbf{Set, then Altitude}
\item Throttle Friction Lock - \textbf{Adjust}
\item Fuel Pump - \textbf{ON}
\item Lights - \textbf{As Required}
\item Parking Brake - \textbf{Release}
\end{enumerate}
And the result of this code output looks like this screen cap from the PDF.
Here is a picture overview of the checklist. You can download a PDF checklist and the LaTeX code to make your own down further.
One of the main advantages to having this template setup is that I can quickly make adjustments to the checklist contents. If I need to add or clarify anything it is quick and easy and the formatting stays the same.
If you would like a copy of the LaTeX code you can download it here. You are welcome to download the output from the code aka my checklist, but I imagine you would want to customize your own checklist. Either way, here is the PDF checklist I made for the plane I usually fly.
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