This one's for you Werner! - USA flight prep steps

There are less advance requirements for flying in the states than in much of Europe, as I mentioned, which is wonderful! But a good pilot still does LOTS of prep! Here are the key steps I took for a training flight in the old 182 from Hawthorne (HHR) to San Luis Obispo (SBP) with my flying partner Robin and our instructor Bill last Sunday.

• ~ 5 days in advance: pull out and review the SBP instrument approach plates
• 5-3 days prior: plan the route of flight from HHR to SBP and back (SBP is too far north for the Tower Enroute Control/TEC/"Mike" routing that makes some instrument flights very easy in SoCal airspace). ID navaids/radio fixes, and Victor Airways/typical general aviation routes, which are on the instrument and visual flight rules charts
• 3-1 days prior: "fly the closet" - sit in front of my Cessna 182 instrument panel poster taped to my home office closet, with the approach plates, and pretend to fly key parts of the route
• Sometimes I also use Google Earth to "fly" the route - did not do this time, a bit lazy, since the instructor was coming along
• 2 nights before: No drinking or allergy drugs (the law is "12 hours bottle to throttle")
• 1-2 nights before: Write up a flight plan, IF planning to go IFR AND to "file" - e.g. not use Tower Enroute, or, no Tower Enroute Available, or want a backup plan
• Night before: Watch weather (WX) channel to get idea of trends
• Night before: Organize flight bag, charts, approach plates
• Night before: Call the ATIS*s to get idea of evening WX and morning forecasts *(Automated Terminal Information System)
• Sometimes the night before I also log into DUATS, which is online FAA-approved WX and flight info, like NOTAMS (Notices to Airmen), like taxiways closed and TFRs (Temporary Flight Restrictions) like rerouting off typical airways to avoid the Sta Barb area fires
• Night before: Go to bed early
• Morning of: Call ATISs right away
• Login and get DUATS for all the current METARS (Meteorological Observations, hourly, many automated) and TAFs (Terminal Area Forecasts) as well as NOTAMS, TFRs, Winds Aloft, etc.
• Used to call flight service and get this info from a briefer, but since the stupid Lockheed Martin takeover of flight service stations (FSS) and the even stupider closer of the HHR FSS, I rarely call because the way stupid automated system can never recognize my voice commands on my cell phone!!!
• Exercise a bit if any time at all, helps get the brain clear
• Have a good amount of coffee for more brain clearing!
• Eat a high protein but not too heavy breakfast
• Call ATIS's one last time
• Call Robin or other flying partners, including Kevin - discuss conditions, and...
• Make GO/NO GO decision!
• MAY call FSS and FILE the flight plan, if one done - see above -- flight plan includes aircraft tail # and capabilities (e.g. GPS or not), color of aircraft, # of people on board, route of flight, estimated departure time, planned altitude of flight, cruising airspeed, estimated time enroute
• Make sure all gear and charts packed
• Make sure water and snack packed
• Make last "pit stop"
• Drive to the airport!
• Meet w/ flying partners and reassess WX, etc.
• Make one last GO/NO DECISION
• Preflight check the plane physical controls and instruments
• Jump in and GO!!!!

Omigod I want a Cirrus!!

Gracious Bruce took me and Robin along to SBA. I got a bit of right seat work in! Wow, is it a responsive aircraft!