Checklists are the backbone of safety. The simple answer to why we use checklists is that humans are both complex and forgetful and aircraft systems are complex. Combine both and you’re definitely dealing with a situation for distraction. In aviation, the simple, stupid stuff kills. Distractions and interruptions result in a disruption of the sequential flow of the checklist. Accordingly, this not only means that the pilot will have to memorize the location of the disruption, but it may also lead to a checklist error or omission. One technique to counter distractions and interruptions is to repeat the entire checklist (starting from the beginning) during these situations.
When Did The Use Of Checklists Begin?
The formal use of printed checklists in aviation purportedly began after the crash of a Boeing B-17 prototype, when a critical task was forgotten. Pilots realized there were simply too many things to remember, and even sharp people lose track when they become task-saturated.
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