What Pilots Need in the Cockpit
Twisted-Wrench LLC  Aircraft Maintenance Special Projects
This page exists "hand in hand" with the Survive a Ramp Check page.
Start by downloading a copy of the Times and Landings Sheet.

This form started life is service with a Part 91 Transport Category
corporate operator so changes are expected.
This form can be modified to fit any operator's mission style and personal preference.
  • The Aircraft Model, Type, and Serial Number blocks should stay.
  • The Sheet Number block should stay.
  • The 91.411 and 91.413 blocks should stay.
  • If you only fly VFR, put N/A - VFR only in the 91.411 block.
  • If you never fly in controlled airspace (unlikely) put that in the 91.413 block, otherwise enter the date of
    the next schedule.
  • The Inspection block should indicate your program such as 100 hr/Annual, Annual, Progressive, or
    other.
  • Add the name and phone number of the person responsible for airworthiness.
  • This sort of works if you have a contractually obligated maintenance provider
  • Otherwise it will be the pilot.  For the flight replace crew with PIC lower on the page.
  • The Inspection, Due At, Done At should reflect required inspections from your program, recurring
    ADs, Database Updates and anything else you want to keep up with flight by flight.
  • The crew (PIC)/Fuel In, Date, FT/TIS, Landings may be important in your operation.
  • PIC is obvious.
  • Fuel Used may be helpful in trend analysis if you fill each time but may not matter to you.  If not get rid
    of it.
  • Date is obvious.
  • In FT/TIS, you can track Flight Time for the Pilot Log and Time in Service for the aircraft.
  • If desired, get rid of Flight Time and just use Time in Service
  • Remember the note about Tach Time in Maintenance Records Overview.
  • If you have been around a while you may have see Flight Time used to represent Time in
    Service and Block Time to represent Flight Time.  Make sure you have this right from FAR 1.1
    Definitions.  Block time is not a FAA term.
  • Tracking landings is not required unless you have inspection program requirements, limitations, or
    ADs that require it.
  • The VOR check section is good for IFR use as it is easy to look back to the last check.  They don''t
    need to be done each flight.  Get rid of this on a VFR only aircraft.
What Next?
Get a small 3/4" or 1" 3 ring binder and identify it for your aircraft.

  • Put a couple of Times and Landings sheets behind the first divider
  • Add five or six Discrepancy forms behind the next divider.
  • Add a copy of the current Weight & Balance with Current Equipment list
    behind the third divider.
  • Add any insurance documents and forms behind the next divider.
  • Add any other documents you might want after reviewing the SAFA checklist
    from the "Survive a Ramp Check" page.
These documents in the cockpit, when shown to a FAA Inspector, will get
you an immediate pass and usually, "WOW" response. The goal is also,
easy to use, easy to store, and fully functional.
- - OR - -

Put all this on your I-pad or tablet.
You would hate to get a Ramp Check if your battery was dead!