The Walk Around

The most basic step in the book, and the one that catches the most problems before they become expensive ones.

A Boeing airliner at the gate with ground equipment positioned around it

The top 20 recurring issues. Number one is the walk around.

One of the most basic but most critical steps is the walk around. This is where you catch the little things that become big issues: missing panels, leaking fluids, burn strikes, flat tires, missing screws. You want to see if anything has settled and started puddling anywhere on the aircraft, hydraulic fluid.

The walk around is your chance to set the tone. Don't skip it. Don't rush it. Take your time. Make sure nobody ran into the plane with a tug or hit the aircraft. Any dents, anything that is not up to spec.

Walk-around checklist

Panels present, secured, and correctly fastened
No fluid leaks or fresh puddling under the airframe
Tire condition and inflation, no flat spots
Burn strikes and lightning-strike indications
Fastener count, no missing or backed-out screws
Dents, scrapes, and ground-equipment contact damage