> Airplane pilots use checklists. It's illegal to start the engines unless the approved checklist book is within reach of the pilot in command. In training it's

> Airplane pilots use checklists. It's illegal to start the engines unless the approved checklist book is within reach of the pilot in command. In training it's drilled into us that the response to panic is: get out the checklist and follow it. It works. Just some clarifications: - It's not illegal to fly without a checklist under Part 91 (non air-carriers.) When I fly with military pilots, they use a flow for starting small airplanes: http://fsims.faa.gov/PICDetail.aspx?docId=8900.1,Vol.3,Ch32,Sec12 http://fsims.faa.gov/PICDetail.aspx?docId=8900.1,Vol.3,Ch32,... - the airplane manual is a book, and must be on the airplane. A checklist is a list, not a manual. The checklist can be electronic, as in the HondaJet. - it's a good idea to follow the emergency procedures either from memory, or a checklist if there's time. Typically recovering from a stall or spin, or feathering a bad engine is done from memory, for example. Source: commercially-rated airplane pilot.