Checklist for VFR Cross Country Flying

a. Flight Plan

1. Decide on checkpoints. First one is "Top Of Climb" (TOC)
2. Fill out distances, true courses, radio frequencies, etc.
3. Check in Airport Facilities Directory for airport information
4. Look in AOPA directory (Flight Guide, Jepp Guide) and contact a destination FBO
5. Get weather briefing including winds aloft
6. Do altitudes and wind correction angles
7. File flight plan with FSS (1-800-WX-BRIEF)

b. Ground Operations

1. Preflight
2. Startup
3. ATIS
4. Taxi clearance, Taxi
5. Run-up
6. Before-takeoff checklist
7. Tower: clearance for takeoff, or CTAF call
8. Note time off

c. Flight

1. Takeoff. Turn on course
2. Note Time
3. Climb checklist
4. Out of controlled airspace: call FSS to open flight plan
5. Request flight following (if desired)
6. Top of climb: cruise checklist

d. Each Checkpoint:

1. Turn to new heading
2. Note time
3. Tune in navigation radios
4. Climb or descend?
5. Write timings on flight log

e. Approaching Arrival Airport

1. Get ATIS or weather information at arrival airport
2. Set altimeter
3. Descend
4. Airport in sight: cancel Flight Following
5. Airport in sight: close flight plan with FSS
6. Contact tower or make CTAF call
7. Plan and execute appropriate entry into traffic pattern
8. Pre-landing checklist

f. Ground Operations

1. Off runway: after-landing checklist
2. Permission to taxi or CTAF call
3. Shut-down checklist
4. Close flight plan with FSS (if not done during flight)

Departing Class C and B Airports

1. ATIS
2. Clearance Delivery (CRAFT – Clearance, Route, Altitude, Frequency of departure control, Transponder)
3. Ground Control
4. Tower Control

Arriving Class C and B Airports

1. ATIS
2. Approach Control Tower Control
3. Ground Control

1. On the sectional chart, look up the ATIS frequency and get the ATIS.
2. Get the approach frequency from the sectional or A/FD. Also look up the tower frequency and have that jotted down or, better, ready to go on standby or the second radio.
3. Contact approach.

Example:

Pilot: "Manchester approach, Cessna 123abc 15 miles west, landing with Hotel."

4. Approach control will give you a squawk code and radar identifies you. They may also give you vectors to fly. Follow their instructions.
5. Keep listening attentively, because one approach controller could hand you off to another:

Example:

ATC: "Cessna 123abc, contact Manchester approach on 119.45."

Pilot: "Going to 121.45, Cessna 123abc."

6. At some point, usually after you've been given a sequence, approach control will hand you off to the tower.

Example:

ATC: "Cessna 6049G, contact Manchester Tower."

Pilot: "Changing to tower frequency, Cessna 6049G"

Pilot: "Manchester Tower, Cessna 123abc on final for runway 32."

7. Tower will give you sequencing, landing clearances, etc., as usual.

8. After you land and turn off the runway, you will be told to contact ground control.