Definition
A checklist produced by the aircraft manufacturer that lists the specific procedures, item sequences, and limitations for operating a particular make and model of aircraft. It is the authoritative reference for normal, abnormal, and emergency procedures unique to that aircraft.
Plain English
A list of steps written by the company that built the aircraft, telling the pilot exactly what to check and in what order for that specific airplane.
Context Anchor
You will use a manufacturer’s checklist during preflight, engine start, before takeoff, landing, shutdown, and emergency practice or real emergencies.
Derivation
Manufacturer comes from older words meaning “to make by hand,” and checklist comes from the practice of checking off items as they are completed. Together, the term points to a step-by-step list made or specified by the aircraft’s maker.
Why Pilots Care
Following the manufacturer’s checklist ensures every required action for that exact aircraft is completed in the proper sequence, reducing the chance of missing critical steps that could affect safety or airworthiness.
Intuition Check
Do not treat a manufacturer’s checklist as a casual reminder list. In aviation, it is the aircraft-specific procedure list the pilot is expected to follow, not something to replace with memory or a generic checklist from another airplane.
Example Sentence 1
Before starting the engine, the student worked through the manufacturer's checklist item by item.
Example Sentence 2
During the simulated engine failure, the instructor reminded the student to follow the manufacturer’s checklist rather than memory alone.