Checklists Day

Here are some things to consider doing. Some items may not be applicable to you.


I propose that October 30th be celebrated as Checklists Day.

It’s widely accepted that the first significant aviation checklist (and the first checklist of any type that I’ve been able to find evidence of) was inspired by a tragic mishap on this day in 1935. On October 30, 1935, the Model 299 prototype for the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress crashed during takeoff at Wright Field in Dayton, Ohio. The cause of crash was identified as a gust lock that was still engaged. After the mishap, a group of pilots looked for a way to prevent future "pilot error" mishaps. They came up with checklists for takeoff, flight, before landing and after landing. Boeing delivered 12 of the aircraft to the Air Corps and they flew 1.8 million miles without a serious mishap.

I don’t think it’s a coincidence that on October 30, 2007, a U.S. Patent was issued for a checklist system to broadcast checklist items.

(April 12, 2009: New page about Checklists Day added at Checklists Day)



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