Editing 2675: Pilot Priority List

{{comic
| number    = 2675
| date      = September 21, 2022
| title     = Pilot Priority List
| image     = pilot_priority_list_2x.png
| imagesize = 369x548px
| noexpand  = true
| titletext = CELEBRATE: Serve passengers tiered cakes shaped like the airspace class diagram
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by an ELUCIDATE, EXPLICATE, ANNOTATE, DEMONSTRATE, AND ILLUSTRATE CHECKLIST. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

The [https://elevate-aviation.com/blog/pilots-priority-checklist "ANC" Pilot Priority Checklist] is a list of three guidelines, sorted by priority, that pilots should follow to prevent them from being distracted. Failing to follow it might make the plane crash or suffer other problems. As a {{w|mnemonic}} device, all the activities end in ''-ate''.

# '''Aviate''' means "Keeping the plane in control". If the pilot fails to do this the plane might crash. That is why this should be the highest priority for the pilot.
# '''Navigate''' means "Knowing where you are and where you're going". Failing to follow this might make the plane go into restricted airspace, for example, or make the journey take too long, or cause the flight to crash into terrain obscured by clouds.
# '''Communicate''' means talking with air traffic control (ATC) and your company's people through the radio. In the standard list, this is the lowest priority because talking through the radio might distract the pilot from other more important or urgent tasks, and purely corporate communications are to be avoided during critical flight phases.

By deferring all activities until the prior need is deemed satisfied, the immediate dangers of {{w|United Airlines Flight 173|UFIT}} and {{w|Controlled flight into terrain|CFIT}} are proportionately reduced (insofar as any pilot's {{w|Loss of control (aeronautics)|current circumstances}} allow) and yet leave time to  be able to coordinate properly with any {{w|Separation (aeronautics)|other hazards}}.

[[Randall]] humorously "extends" this standard list with other ''-ate'' checklist items that pilots could do if they're not too busy aviating, navigating and communicating. These extra tasks go from somewhat hilarious to physically impossible or dangerous, see the [[#Table of extended priority items|table]] below for explanations. These actions {{w|Sterile flight deck rule|should generally not be taken}}, as they could distract the pilot and prevent them from reaching the cabin in case of an emergency, or simply vaporize everyone inside — including the plane itself.

The title text adds another ''-ate'' to the check list with Celebrate. It refers to airspace with stricter entry requirements overhead of large airports. In the US, the {{w|Airspace_class_(United_States)|airspace class}} over, for instance an airport, starts with a small circle over the airport and then becomes wider in one or two steps at higher altitudes. When depicted graphically, this looks like an {{w|File:Airspace classes (United States).png|inverted tiered cake}}, as opposed to a [https://3brothersbakery.com/product/wedding-white-chandelier-tier/ regular tiered cake]. Randall suggests that after having congratulated yourself for flying a plane, you could then celebrate by serving the passengers cakes in this inverted shape. It would, however, be unsuitable for a plane to serve cakes that are smaller at the bottom than at the top because of turbulence.

===Table of extended priority items===
{| class="wikitable"
! Checklist item
! Description
! Explanation
|-
| Decorate || Make the cockpit fancy || {{w|Interior design}} of aircraft cockpits is usually starkly utilitarian and could conceivably benefit from enhancements if they aren't distracting.
|-
| Accelerate || See how fast you can go || While pilots are often keenly interested in the extents of their aircraft flight capabilities, maximum speed is inefficient in jet aircraft, and probably best explored in modern flight simulators than passenger flights.
|-
| Roller skate || Zoom down the aisle || Passengers would probably not appreciate this,{{cn}} although fellow crew members might be amused.
|-
| Exfoliate || Scrub away dead skin || {{w|Emery board}}s and {{w|pumice}} are used to prevent flaking and the development of {{w|callus}}es but dermatologists caution exfoliation is very often unnecessary and can have unwanted consequences.
|-
| Sublimate || Turn directly into a vapor || To the contrary, one of the most important duties of aircraft pilots is to prevent passengers and crew from vaporizing.
|-
| Pollinate || Fly low to stir up pollen || Low-flying helicopters can assist in plant {{w|pollination}},[https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S037842901931175X] and are offered as a [http://www.flyingmair.com/ag-services/corn-pollination/ commercial service by helicopter pilots.] However, this is not normally done by (commercial) planes and would likely be both dangerous{{cn}} and ineffective.{{Actual citation needed}}
|-
| Congratulate || You're doing a good job flying a plane! || Self-esteem is an important component of mental health, and encouragement can help build it.
|-
| Celebrate (title text) || Serve passengers tiered cakes shaped like the airspace class diagram || See discussion of the title text above.
|}

==Transcript==
:[A list with ten numbered points are shown. Above the list is a large header. Below this is a divided line with a section header written in a smaller than standard font. The three first numbered points are below this. Then follows another divided line with section header written in smaller font and below this the next seven numbered points. All ten points have two lines of text. A line with a normal sized font and below each of these a description in a smaller light gray font.]
::<big>Pilot Priority List</big>
:-----------<small>Standard section</small>-----------
:1. Aviate
::<small><font color="gray">Maintain control of the aircraft</font></small>
:2. Navigate
::<small><font color="gray">Figure out where you're going</font></small>
:3. Communicate
::<small><font color="gray">Stay in touch with ATC and others</font></small>
:-----------<small>Extended section</small>-----------
:4. Decorate
::<small><font color="gray">Make the cockpit fancy</font></small>
:5. Accelerate
::<small><font color="gray">See how fast you can go</font></small>
:6. Roller skate
::<small><font color="gray">Zoom down the aisle</font></small>
:7. Exfoliate
::<small><font color="gray">Scrub away dead skin</font></small>
:8. Sublimate
::<small><font color="gray">Turn directly to a vapor</font></small>
:9. Pollinate
::<small><font color="gray">Fly low to stir up pollen</font></small>
:10. Congratulate
::<small><font color="gray">You're doing a good job flying a plane!</font></small>

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Food]]