Pre-flight Planning
Good flights are built on the ground. Preflight is where the easy airborne decisions get earned.
§91.103 mindset
Become familiar with all available information for the flight, including weather, fuel, alternatives, runway data, and takeoff/landing distances.
PAVE
Pilot, Aircraft, enVironment, External pressures. A practical risk check before you start the engine.
Weather briefing
Use official sources. Note adverse conditions, winds aloft, TAFs, NOTAMs, TFRs, and alternates. Make an explicit go/no-go call, and be willing to reverse it.
Weight & balance and performance
Compute takeoff weight and CG. Out-of-limits CG is a controllability problem. Use POH charts with conservative assumptions (hotter, higher, softer runway).
Density altitude, slope, wind components, and surface condition all change real-world numbers.
Route, fuel, contingencies
Pick checkpoints and outs. Fuel plan with legal reserves plus a margin. File a VFR flight plan when it adds safety. Brief passengers on doors, exits, and sterile cockpit.
Practice questions
1. Name three §91.103 considerations.
Show Answer
Weather, fuel, alternatives, runway lengths, takeoff/landing performance.
2. Why does aft CG matter?
Show Answer
Reduced longitudinal stability; stall recovery can be more difficult.
3. Effect of high density altitude on takeoff?
Show Answer
Longer takeoff roll and reduced climb performance.