Routine before flying "Fit to Fly"

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evapilotaz

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Drone airspace abuser
Do you have a routine before flying? Kind of "Am I fit to fly routine" before take off.

My routine consist of a Good Night sleep, No prescription or over the counter meds take within a 12 hour period. I don't have any prescriptions anyway. A light breakfast if I'm flying in the morning. I don't drink so no alcohol is not part of the routine. Make sure I have a clear head and I can focus on flying the airplane without any other outside influences. Example: Any stress related stuff from work or home life that is going to affect my judgment while flying. I'm not all that religious but I do say a prayer prior to boarding the airplane to keep everyone safe during the flight and nothing bad mechanical happens. One last things is I do not fly if I'm suffering from any type of illness.

So what is your "Am I fit to fly routine"
 
here's my flowchart:

am I bleeding from the eyeballs?
-> if yes, don't fly.
-> if no, ok to fly.
 
Interesting. I don't have a routine. My focus has always been on the plane's condition and my minimums.

My brain sort of clicks into hyper-focused state once in the plane. It is sort of pavlovian.
I can't explain it very well but I shift from my typical scatter brained abstract mindset into structured steps and goals and processes, etc. I start automatically blocking out other types of thoughts.

There have been two times when I didn't feel that kick in and I didn't fly.

As far as praying, I don't but I know everyone else on the plane is.
 
I fly better than I drive. I feel I'm more focused on flying and paying attention more.
So in other words your safer to fly with me than drive with me. LOL.
 
evapilotaz said:
Do you have a routine before flying? Kind of "Am I fit to fly routine" before take off.

My routine consist of a Good Night sleep, No prescription or over the counter meds take within a 12 hour period. I don't have any prescriptions anyway. A light breakfast if I'm flying in the morning. I don't drink so no alcohol is not part of the routine. Make sure I have a clear head and I can focus on flying the airplane without any other outside influences. Example: Any stress related stuff from work or home life that is going to affect my judgment while flying. I'm not all that religious but I do say a prayer prior to boarding the airplane to keep everyone safe during the flight and nothing bad mechanical happens. One last things is I do not fly if I'm suffering from any type of illness.

So what is your "Am I fit to fly routine"
Click to expand...

I follow all your procedures.. And I have always patted the plane on it's spinner and say " please don't kill me today"

Especially with my experimental....

So Far. So Good....,,;)


Ps... Day is still young though...:redface:
 
I try not to drink too many liquids, since my bladder determines when i land, not the fuel gauge.
 
I have such a limited weather window if it is good and I can walk I go.
 
Good Night sleep - I wish..

No prescriptions - I shouldnt be on.

No over the counter meds - I shouldnt be on.

A light breakfast - I want to be full. Fill her up please.

Alcohol - I wont go up with a hangover ever, but a buzz?? only kidding...

Make sure I have a clear head and I can focus on flying the airplane without any other outside influences - Wishful thinking. I do seem to bring it together like a pro once in the airplane though. crazy how that works.

Any stress related stuff - When is life not stressful? oh yeah. in the air! This is where I go to get rid of the stress! :D

I am having some fun obliviously here, but there are aspects of these lists that could keep me from ever flying. I mostly make sure I am not sick, injured or tired. I don't drink much either so that doesn't plan into my concerns and I am not going to worry about having some Advil in me. I am getting older and things hurt. Part of life.
 
For long XC flights:

Good night's sleep
No booze 12 for hours prior
No illnesses, especially if sinuses are affected
I don't take any meds except for colds, so not applicable
Small breakfast (I depart in the early AM for long trips), little or no coffee
Flight conditions for entire route at or above personal minimums
"Head on straight" - no stress, personal issues, etc. bugging me
 
eman1200 said:
here's my flowchart:

am I bleeding from the eyeballs?
-> if yes, don't fly.
-> if no, ok to fly.
Click to expand...

I'd never fly if I had personal minimums that strict! What if the bleeding seems to be slowing down? :goofy:
 
I may have a 15 minute notice before a flight. I have to be aware of that and plan accordingly. I am prepared to take a flight into known icing and do an approach down to minimums every time the phone rings.

And as far as everyone knows I live life as a normal family.....:rofl::rofl::rofl:
 
I wish I still had a copy of Henderson State's checklist that Andrew brought to Gaston's. None of us would ever be flying if we honestly answered those questions!

I think my score on the morning we started my IPC was in the six figures. :goofy:

IIRC you shouldn't be flying if you score over 50...or some such BS.

Ahhhhh...part 141... :)
 
timwinters said:
I wish I still had a copy of Henderson State's checklist that Andrew brought to Gaston's. None of us would ever be flying if we honestly answered those questions!



I think my score on the morning we started my IPC was in the six figures. :goofy:



IIRC you shouldn't be flying if you score over 50...or some such BS.



Ahhhhh...part 141... :)
Click to expand...


The USAF desk-pilot inspired CAP assessments are similar. Some of the default numbers would indicate that one is already bleeding from the eyeballs for certain activities, before the flight ever leaves the ground.

Didn't stop the request from command for a night-qualified crew to start an electronic search over mountainous terrain here earlier this week. I'd love to see the trumped up answers to the "safety" chart for that crew.

Actually, no I wouldn't. They went up. They came home safely. It just proves the chart is even more useless today than it was the day before the flight.

As for the OP's question: no particular routine here. I can use minor mistakes to judge whether larger ones are more likely and terminate the flight before or after it leaves the ground since I always fly for fun.

"Will this be fun today?" is therefore a significant pre-flight question.
 
Well, CAP's ORM is a bit, umm, odd.

Every Form 5 flight is moderate risk -- you get 50 points for simulated engine outs -- and "requires" optional approval from the IC. Now, you can probably guess how many people actually do that.

According to that form, almost every approach into Palo Alto is moderate risk because you can't approach the airport from the east without exceeding gliding distance to land, unless you bust Class B. Getting clearance in that part of the airspace ain't happening, at least not without a declared emergency. The SFO dual conga line goes right over both bay shorelines.

When they start to get ridiculous, they get ignored.
 
MAKG1 said:
When they start to get ridiculous, they get ignored.
Click to expand...


Start? That was the day they were published. ;) And yup. Mostly ignored.

In reality, it serves as a reminder that every flight has inherent risk and today you're taking a bit more or a bit less than usual.

If you need that reminder you probably shouldn't have been issued a ticket to take others aloft.

But the system does let the occasional idiot through. And real life sometimes conspires to make you or I, a temporary idiot. ;)

I just realized that I do have a procedure. If that nagging voice in my head ever won't go away I keep a fairly good number of level headed pilots in my contact list on my phone to check with -- to see if I'm being that temporary idiot.

I've also had calls from others asking the same. Or looking for a bit more info or a different look at it.

Those calls are usually about weather.

Everyone should have a few good pilot friends on speed dial. That suggestion is winner, winner, chicken dinner.

Sometimes just hearing someone else you know, who doesn't want you dead, say that your plan is raising their tingly Spidey senses, is enough to knock you back into yours.

Especially for those of us who do it for fun. Going to friend's funerals is distinctively not fun.
 
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