Pilot Calculator Checklist
A phase-by-phase preflight and cross-country planning checklist. Free to use and print — no account required.
Work top to bottom before a training or cross-country flight. Each item links to the calculator that helps you complete it. This checklist is a study and planning aid — it does not replace your POH/AFM, an official weather briefing, or your instructor’s guidance.
1. Preflight Planning
Before you touch the airplane — route, times, and fuel.
- Compute time, groundspeed, and distance for each leg — Time / Speed / Distance
- Determine wind correction angle and heading for each leg — Wind Correction Angle
- Apply magnetic variation to convert true to magnetic heading — Magnetic Variation
- Estimate total fuel burn for the route — Fuel Burn
- Add required VFR/IFR fuel reserves — Reserve Fuel
- Confirm the trip is within the aircraft range and endurance — Aircraft Range
2. Weight & Balance
Confirm the aircraft is safe to load as planned.
- Calculate total weight and center of gravity for the planned load — Weight & Balance
- Verify the CG falls within the approved envelope — CG Envelope
- Check available useful load against passengers, bags, and fuel — Useful Load
3. Performance
Understand how today’s conditions affect the airplane.
- Compute pressure altitude from field elevation and altimeter setting — Pressure Altitude
- Compute density altitude and compare with POH performance charts — Density Altitude
- Check true airspeed for the planned cruise altitude and temperature — True Airspeed
- Plan the top-of-descent point for the destination — Top of Descent
4. Navigation
Cross-check the plan and prepare for the unexpected.
- Verify heading, groundspeed, and ETA with the E6B — E6B Flight Computer
- Determine the required climb or descent rate for altitude changes — Required Rate of Climb/Descent
- Identify a diversion airport and estimate distance, time, and fuel — Time / Speed / Distance
5. Weather
Interpret the conditions and make the go/no-go call.
- Decode the current METAR for departure and destination — METAR Decoder
- Determine the flight category (VFR / MVFR / IFR / LIFR) — Flight Category
- Estimate the convective cloud base from temperature and dewpoint — Cloud Base
- Check the freezing level if icing is a concern — Freezing Level
For teaching material mapped to the FAA ACS, see CFI Classroom Resources. Always verify planning data against authoritative sources before flight.