Flying equipment and operating information

This regulation requires the pilot in command to ensure specific equipment and information is accessible at the pilot station before each flight. You must have a working flashlight (at least two D-cell equivalent), a cockpit checklist, pertinent aeronautical charts, and for IFR/night/VFR-over-the-top operations, all relevant navigation and approach charts. Multiengine airplanes also require one-engine-inoperative climb performance data.

Your cockpit checklist must cover seven phases: before starting engines, before takeoff, cruise, before landing, after landing, stopping engines, and emergencies. The emergency section must include procedures for operating fuel, hydraulic, electrical, and mechanical systems in emergencies, plus engine-out procedures and any other safety-critical items.

These requirements ensure you have essential tools for safe operation and systematic procedures readily available when needed, particularly during high-workload phases or emergencies when memory alone may be insufficient.

*This is a plain-English summary for study only. The official 14 CFR text on this page is controlling — always read the current regulation and consult a CFI.*