Plain English Meaning

A printed or digital list of steps the pilot follows to make sure nothing important is missed before, during, or after each part of the flight.

Full Definition

A written, sequenced list of items a pilot reads and acts on to verify that required actions, configurations, or system checks have been completed correctly at a specific phase of flight or operation.

Context Anchor

In the Airplane Flying Handbook, you may see this term when preparing for maneuvers, making sure the airplane is configured properly, and confirming that required safety steps have been completed.

Derivation

From 'check' (to verify or confirm) plus 'list' (an ordered set of items). Together: a list used to verify each item has been done.

Why Pilots Care

Using checklists ensures consistent and reduces the of overlooking steps that could affect safety.