5 Things I Always Check Before Every Flight

5 Things I Always Check Before Every Flight

Before every flight, there’s a little ritual I go through — part safety, part teamwork, and part “let’s make sure this metal bird is in a good mood today.” Some checks are technical, others are about the crew, but together they set the tone for the whole day.

Here are the 5 things I always check before work 👇

1. Technical

First stop: the tech log. It’s basically the aircraft’s diary, where every little quirk, fix, or hiccup is recorded.

I check that everything’s serviceable and that any maintenance items are properly signed off. Because while we love adventure, “surprise engine issues” isn’t really the kind we’re after.

2. FO Experience

Every flight deck is a new duo. Before we get airborne, I always chat with the First Officer: are they new on type, just back from leave, or a seasoned pro who knows every airspace shortcut in Europe?

It helps me set the tone for how we’ll work together. The more we understand each other’s flying style, the smoother the day goes and fewer “I thought you meant that button” moments mid-flight.

3. Weather

Ah, the eternal mood-maker. I check departure, destination, and alternates, basically, where we hope to land and where we actually might end up if Mother Nature has other plans.

Crosswinds? Bring it on. Thunderstorms? Fog? Coffee required.

The weather shapes the whole plan, fuel, routing, and how much optimism to pack for the day.

4. NOTAMs

NOTAMs: the fine print of aviation. They tell you all the little details that could surprise your day, like the runway you planned to use being “temporarily closed for wildlife control” (true story: ducks 1, pilots 0).

It’s not the most thrilling read, but it’s the difference between “smooth flight” and “why are we taxiing for 20 minutes again?”

5. Cabin Crew Brief

And finally, my favourite part of the pre-flight: meeting the cabin crew. We do introductions, safety points, and talk through the flight. It sets the vibe for the whole day.

A cheerful, well-briefed crew makes all the difference. Passengers can always feel it when the team’s having a good day and it usually starts right here, at 5 a.m.

No matter how many years I fly, these five checks never change. They’re my little ritual to make sure we’re all on the same page, the aircraft’s happy, and the day starts off with a smooth takeoff (and hopefully an on-time landing 😉).

Do you have a daily checklist you follow?