1. Checking weather to make sure the flight can be completed safely AND legally. This includes knowing where the good weather is if things REALLY go bad.
2. Ensuring that adequate fuel is carried to safely and legally (legal = 45 minutes flight time) complete the flight. Is the weather bad and delays or holding likely? Is the airport congested with delays likely? Will the airplane need to wait in line to get de-iced before takeoff? (This takes time and uses fuel; you may need to take a few hundred extra pounds).
3. Are any nagivation aids inoperative that affect the flight? Any construction or runway closures at the destination or departure airport that will affect you? Are any of the instrument approaches at your destination out of service?
4. Does the weather require you to have an alternate airport? Do you have enough fuel to safely/legally fly to it?
5. Is the airplane safe for flight? Dents, dings, cut tires, maintenance write-ups that haven't been properly addressed?
6. You are responsible for properly briefing the flight attendants and your first officer. (This is essentially a review of SOP's as well as any additional things that are particular to how you "do business").
7. You're responsible for ensuring that every single regulation (as well as your airline's standard operating procedures) is followed.
8. You're responsible for an on-time departure.
9. You are responsible to safely handle anything and everything that occurs during flight. Engine failure, thunderstorms, airport closures, system malfunctions.
10. You're responsible for knowing all limitations applicable to your aircraft (max airspeeds for gear and flaps, max takeoff & landing weights, max temps for the engines, etc).
11. Does the runway have water, snow, ice or slush on it? If so is it long enough to handle an aborted takeoff? What about at your destination. If the runway is covered with snow can you stop before running off the end? If it's windy and the runway is slippery can you safely handle the crosswind?
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