Keep your aircraft running with a 737 checklist

What is a 737 checklist?

The Boeing 737 checklist is a means of assessing flight operations from when the plane powers up until it shuts down. This checklist is an essential safety tool that pilots use to ensure their aircraft are cleared for use.

Following a 737 checklist entails completing preliminary CDU (Control Display Unit) pre-flight checks. It verifies that all before-taxi, before take-off, and take-off procedures have been done and includes all climb and cruise procedures. It confirms descent and approach procedures, landing procedures, the landing roll, and the post-landing shutdown and securing of the plane.

The Boeing 737-800 checklist is also used in various flight simulator programs, such as Microsoft Flight Simulator.

Use template

Preparing and performing effective 737 checklists

As airline management, it’s your job to train and assist employees as they complete their 737 checklists. This is crucial for establishing a culture of safe aviation in the workplace.

When designing a Boeing 737 checklist:

1. Stick to the aircraft’s manual
   You need to continuously develop 737 checklists according to the aircraft’s manual and the manufacturer’s instructions
2. Ongoing training is essential, as is employee wellbeing and motivation
   All employees should receive ongoing training for each type of aircraft they use. Pilots and airline employees work in stressful and taxing environments, so ensuring their wellbeing is very important. Burnt-out or anxious employees can make mistakes that result in loss of life.
3. Apply discipline when using the 737 checklist
   Interruptions lead to the largest number of checklist failures. Try your best to complete every checklist when you start it, but if you’re interrupted, it’s safest to start over.
4. Assign specific procedures to specific employees
   The pilot and co-pilots perform most of the procedures on the 737 checklist, but flight crew members can assist with some of them. The checklists are usually read out loud and conducted in a call and response format. These days, electronic checklists are generally shown on a screen, with a hard copy available if needed.
5. Emphasize that the Boeing 737 checklist must be performed meticulously
   Employees must be consistently reminded to be meticulous when performing each check listed on the 737 checklist. Other crew members should confirm that all procedures have been reported as correct.

What are the most important elements of a Boeing 737 checklist?

While the 737 checklist covers a huge amount of detail, the overall process can be broken down into:

1. Pre-flight checks

These get the aircraft ready for flight and include visual inspections, fuel onboarding, and removing all covers and tie-downs.

2. Engine checks

1. Checking that the battery/APU (auxiliary power unit) voltages are good
2. That fuel quantity/pressures are good
3. All doors are closed and locked
4. The area around the plane is clear of any obstructions (such as equipment, employees, or vehicles)

3. Before-taxi checks

1. Obtaining permission to move the aircraft
2. Making sure all hoses, cables, hoses, and/or intercom systems are disconnected
3. Making sure the taxi route has been confirmed
4. All cooling and heating systems of the aircraft are set
5. Ensuring all passengers are secure
6. The aircraft brakes have been released

4. Before take-off checks

1. Ensuring flaps are set
2. The engine power, the climb heading, and the altitude are set
3. The departure procedure has been loaded into the GPS
4. Air Traffic Control has given permission to take off

5. After take-off

1. The wheels are raised
2. The heading is set
3. The flaps are retracted
4. The climbing power is set

6. Cruise checks

Once the 737 has reached its cruising altitude, the plane is configured for cruise flight.

7. Descent checks

When the plane is ready to begin its descent, initiate the approach procedure. Brief passengers, configure descent power and altitude, and have your pilots perform approach checks.

8. Landing checks

These checks include making sure that the landing gear is lowered, the brakes are released, and the flap positions are set ready for landing. Complete a final passenger and crew briefing, and do a final security check.

9. After touchdown

After touchdown, restore the flaps to their stowed position, turn off the landing lights and transponder, and finalize the route to the gate.

Write a 737 checklist with workflow automation software

Security and airplane checks are part of daily business. Though traditional, paper-based 737 checklists are prone to damage, loss, and errors, which can have heavy consequences.

With a workflow automation platform like Lumiform, your airline and employees can avoid these problems by conducting 737 checks via mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. Lumiform helps you manage the 737 inspection process by:

• Helping you make existing 737 checklists digital with the flexible form builder or customize one of 12,000+ ready-to-use aviation templates
• Scheduling inspections and receiving notifications when checks are due or overdue
• Conveniently performing inspections from anywhere – even when not connected to the Internet
• Assigning corrective actions to responsible personnel immediately as you perform your 737 inspection and track their completion via the dashboard
• Automatically generate reports and instantly share them with others
• Easily analyze data to identify recurring issues that show up in failed actions and generate action plans from them.
• Access any completed 737 inspection in the cloud immediately after they’re finished