Emergency first actions: fly, then vital actions

Training cannot cover every emergency. Prepare for unusual situations by knowing how your aircraft's systems operate and considering emergencies on the ground.

Priority: fly the aeroplane first, then assess and deal with the problem.

• Aircraft almost always stays controllable.
• Real danger: distraction and channelized attention.

Checklist use:

• Vital actions from memory, known cold.
• Checklist is follow-up: confirm and finish.
• Fast-moving emergency cannot wait on a checklist read-through.
• Indecision costs time, crucial in some emergencies.

Low oil pressure:

• Do not shut engine down on the indication alone.
• Check oil temperature first.
• Shutdown without investigation can force an unneeded landing, maybe onto poor terrain.

Trap: emergency rarely removes controllability, hasty reaction does; shutting down on low oil pressure alone is overreaction.

Practice