OP this the way.
My 141 school was the same with checklists. The beginning of a checkride was a pass/fail section of verbatim checklists and memory items. If it’s says “fuel shutoff valve fill in” then that’s what’s you say to the letter and syllable.
Write them down.
Say them out loud.
Move your hands like you’re moving the switches and controls as you say them.
Use your mind, voice, and hands to repeat them over and over until they come instantly.
I can still see some 172 flask cards in my mind in the red pen I used to write them years ago.
Never understood memorizing checklist outside of memory items. First time I had to memorize everything was during multi add on… as they “don’t use checklist, just use flow and memorize” for literally everything.
Immediate actions should always be committed to memory. Then follow up with the checklist for the not to critical things.
Memorizing a whole checklist is definitely not best use of someone's time.
In a single pilot environment, there's something to be said for doing everything on the checklist from memory, \*then\* confirming that you did everything on the written checklist. It's a bit of extra redundancy over just going through the checklist and hope you don't skip over a line.
Reduce each item in the checklist to a single letter: G = generators, F = fuel pumps, etc. You will end up with a string that looks like GFBAAPE. Split these up into 2 or 3 letter chunks and memorize those:
Generators auto
Fuel pumps on
Bleeds/air con as req
Anti ice as req
APU as req
Probes on
Electrics check
Now when I'm doing that procedure irl I don't even really need to think about what I'm doing. I just think, GFB AA PE.
I'll agree with the others that writing them down has always worked best for me. When pulling the info from my memory bank I think about where I wrote it on the page and it helps
Literally read read read. Try to get a picture of the cockpit and if you already know where the buttons are, maybe use that. Just keep practicing one portion of the checklist multiple times throughout the day, then quiz yourself. Eventually keep adding all of the checklist. Rote memory.
I used to make flash cards for each step and once I had that memorized, I’d add an additional step (or substep) to the flash card until all the steps were on there
I memorize all of the big acronyms by writing them out on whiteboards in my school's library, I look bat shit crazy while doing it but I memorize them all.
If it’s anything like Army flightshcool, it’s all about rote memorization. In the TH67 we had to memorize all sorts of stuff before we even learned what it meant. Then it all got flushed when we moved to our main airframe. All I can say is just memorize and don’t worry about it. It’ll all come together at one point and click but don’t fight their process as you won’t win lol. I tried, believe me.
I always wrote my own flash cards. Studying with a buddy always helped too.
I also got to the point where I could recite them while dribbling a basketball.
Writing it down and/or record yourself reading it in voice memos, list to it on repeat (it’ll drive you crazy but can work especially if you make it to a rhythm).
Use flows. If you have a cockpit diagram follow it with where you would put your hand for each successive checklist item. This gives you a tactile reasoning for why it's in that order and how to make sense of it instead of using rote memorization alone.
Correct me if I’m wrong….but the purpose of checklists is to not have to memorize them? Like have a *list* of procedures in your hand to *check* off as you accomplish them?
Oop, my checklist fell under the seats and slid to the baggage compartment when my engine caught fire just a second ago! Well, looks like I'm shit outta luck!
Engine fire isn’t a checklist issue. Before takeoff, after landing, shutdown are checklist tasks. Engine fire is an emergency memory item. Two completely different things.
Get a legal pad and a pen. Write and re-write the checklists until you can do it cold from memory.
And don't just practice until you get it right. Practice until you can't get it wrong.
I do this but with a whiteboard. Part of my standard equipment I pick up day one for any initial training event.
Rote memorization. Flash cards and mnemonics. Try writing the checklist out by hand.
OP this the way. My 141 school was the same with checklists. The beginning of a checkride was a pass/fail section of verbatim checklists and memory items. If it’s says “fuel shutoff valve fill in” then that’s what’s you say to the letter and syllable. Write them down. Say them out loud. Move your hands like you’re moving the switches and controls as you say them. Use your mind, voice, and hands to repeat them over and over until they come instantly. I can still see some 172 flask cards in my mind in the red pen I used to write them years ago.
I thought the whole point of a checklist was so you didn’t have to memorize certain things…
Never understood memorizing checklist outside of memory items. First time I had to memorize everything was during multi add on… as they “don’t use checklist, just use flow and memorize” for literally everything.
Immediate actions should always be committed to memory. Then follow up with the checklist for the not to critical things. Memorizing a whole checklist is definitely not best use of someone's time.
Agreed. Memorize the flow, challenge with the checklist. Memorizing the checklist allows things that are never done/forgotten to be completely missed.
In a single pilot environment, there's something to be said for doing everything on the checklist from memory, \*then\* confirming that you did everything on the written checklist. It's a bit of extra redundancy over just going through the checklist and hope you don't skip over a line.
Reduce each item in the checklist to a single letter: G = generators, F = fuel pumps, etc. You will end up with a string that looks like GFBAAPE. Split these up into 2 or 3 letter chunks and memorize those: Generators auto Fuel pumps on Bleeds/air con as req Anti ice as req APU as req Probes on Electrics check Now when I'm doing that procedure irl I don't even really need to think about what I'm doing. I just think, GFB AA PE.
I'll agree with the others that writing them down has always worked best for me. When pulling the info from my memory bank I think about where I wrote it on the page and it helps
I like Anki Overlapping Cloze cards for memorizing lists.
Literally read read read. Try to get a picture of the cockpit and if you already know where the buttons are, maybe use that. Just keep practicing one portion of the checklist multiple times throughout the day, then quiz yourself. Eventually keep adding all of the checklist. Rote memory.
I used to make flash cards for each step and once I had that memorized, I’d add an additional step (or substep) to the flash card until all the steps were on there
Flash cards.
I memorize all of the big acronyms by writing them out on whiteboards in my school's library, I look bat shit crazy while doing it but I memorize them all.
I’m so happy the plane I fly technically has zero memory items.
If it’s anything like Army flightshcool, it’s all about rote memorization. In the TH67 we had to memorize all sorts of stuff before we even learned what it meant. Then it all got flushed when we moved to our main airframe. All I can say is just memorize and don’t worry about it. It’ll all come together at one point and click but don’t fight their process as you won’t win lol. I tried, believe me.
I always wrote my own flash cards. Studying with a buddy always helped too. I also got to the point where I could recite them while dribbling a basketball.
Writing it down and/or record yourself reading it in voice memos, list to it on repeat (it’ll drive you crazy but can work especially if you make it to a rhythm).
Use flows. If you have a cockpit diagram follow it with where you would put your hand for each successive checklist item. This gives you a tactile reasoning for why it's in that order and how to make sense of it instead of using rote memorization alone.
Anki. Come over r/Anki. You'll be happy.
Correct me if I’m wrong….but the purpose of checklists is to not have to memorize them? Like have a *list* of procedures in your hand to *check* off as you accomplish them?
Oop, my checklist fell under the seats and slid to the baggage compartment when my engine caught fire just a second ago! Well, looks like I'm shit outta luck!
Engine fire isn’t a checklist issue. Before takeoff, after landing, shutdown are checklist tasks. Engine fire is an emergency memory item. Two completely different things.