Postflight: After Landing, Shutdown and Securing

Postflight discipline begins the moment the airplane slows on the runway. To give full attention to controlling the airplane during the landing roll, the after-landing checklist is performed only after the airplane has slowed and turned off onto the taxiway and stopped — never while still rolling out on the runway. Once clear, the pilot completes the after-landing items from the aircraft’s checklist and taxis to parking. When parking, unless using a designated supervised area, the pilot selects a location and heading that keeps propeller or jet blast from damaging other aircraft or property, then rolls straight ahead enough to straighten the nosewheel. Engine shutdown follows the manufacturer’s checklist: set the parking brake, check the magnetos briefly for proper grounding at idle, bring the mixture to idle cutoff so the engine stops, and turn the ignition off. A flight is not complete until the engine is shut down and the airplane is secured. After shutdown and deplaning passengers, the pilot accomplishes a post-flight inspection — a walk-around to check for damage, brakes for leaking hydraulic fluid, and cowling inlets for obstructions — noting any discrepancies found and recording them (on the squawk sheet or aircraft records) so the airplane’s condition is documented for the next pilot. Finally the airplane is hangared or tied down, the flight controls are secured (control locks installed), and security locks are put in place, so it is left ready and safe for the next flight.