Everyday General Dispatch Form

"If it flew in, it will fly out" - Pilot who skips preflight

In ground school - and probably from day one - you learned about the PAVE checklist. That is a hazard identification / risk mitigation acronym to help you consider the flight "as a whole". Think about the Pilot, the Aircraft, the enVironment, and External pressures. That's fantastic, but it's more of a thought-inducing system rather than a real tangible tool. So, to help consider some of the risks involved in your flight, you can use the below attached "Everyday General Dispatch Form", for your convenience.

Dispatch Sheet GA.pdf

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The dispatch sheet is intended to be a small sheet that you can complete relatively quickly with pertinent information for risk management. Here is described each section:

1. Date. This sheet can be used as a record of your thought process and risk management. If you get, for example, inspected by the FAA, you can show this complete piece of paper to demonstrate that you've complied with 91.103 (NWKRAFT). If you put the date, it confirms which flight it was. It's a small thing, but trust me, having your "records straight" is very important.

2. PIC. Identifying who is acting as Pilot in Command (PIC) on a flight is very important. If you've never thought about that, consider reading this article. Also, imagine the thrill of writing your name for the first time during solo!

3. DEP WX. Reporting your departure weather can help you identify immediate hazards. What if the weather is above your personal minimums? That's a hazard that requires a mitigation.

4. NOTMAMs. What Notices to Airmen apply to you? A runway closure is definitely a hazard to consider! Or perhaps many taxiway closures, making your taxi an absolute nightmare?

5. ARR WX. Your arrival weather is equally as important as your departure weather. What if you depart Florida in hot weather and arrive in Cincinnati in freezing weather? The temperature change is definitely a hazard! Both for the aircraft (i.e., icing) and you (i.e., it gets cold in the plane!!).

6. RISK. This brief section forces you to think through the IMSAFE acronmy, weather or not you're current and legal to fly the aircraft, and what flight plan you will be executing. All those can nest hazards!

7. Hazards and Mitigations. This is the heart of the sheet. What hazards have you identifed? What mitigations do you have in place? For example, if you're going to an unfamiliar airfield at night, what mitigations can you put in place? You could load a visual approach to help you align, and you coudl also have a friend who has been there before! Think critically!

8. ATC Delays. Are there any delays you may be encountering?

9. Alternates. What nearby airports are available? Do they have favorable weather conditions?

10. Performance Calculations. It's great to remind yourself of V speeds, weight and balance numbers, fuel requirements, takeoff/landing distances, and runway available lengths. These could all present hazards that need mitigations!

Once you have completed the entire sheet, discuss its contents with your instructor during training flights or your fellow crew members during any other flight. Being on the same page concerning risks is very important. And, most importantly, it's the thought process that counts, not just the completion of the sheet.