De Havilland Dash 8‑400 (Q400)
Comprehensive Normal & Abnormal Checklist ASOP
For flight‑simulation training only – NOT for real‑world aviation use.
How to Use
- Flows first – complete the panel flow silently.
- Challenge/Response checklist – verify critical items.
- Read‑and‑do checklist – any blue‑striped (memory) item.
- Keep PF heads‑up whenever aircraft is moving.
Legend
- PF – Pilot Flying PM – Pilot Monitoring
- Italic – Call‑outs Bold – Memory item/trigger
- (A) – Automatic call/alert (M) – Manoeuvre
Normal Operations Checklists
1 Power‑Up / Acceptance
| Item | Action |
|---|
| Parking Brake | SET |
| Battery Master | ON (verify ≥24 V) |
| External Power | ON (if AVAIL) |
| APU | START → ON BUS |
| Avionics Master | ON |
| IRS | NAV |
| Oxygen | TESTED, 100 % |
| Gear Pins / Covers | REMOVED & STOWED |
2 Preliminary Cockpit Preparation
| Item | Action |
|---|
| CVR | Test |
| Emergency Exit Lights | ARMED |
| CAS Messages | CHECKED (no red/amber) |
| ELT | ARMED |
| Fire Extinguishers | CHECKED |
3 Cockpit Preparation (Flows)
| Panel Flow | Action |
|---|
| Overhead (W‑pattern) → Forward Panel → Pedestal | Complete flow pattern |
| Fuel Boost Pumps | ON (verify qty) |
| Hydraulic Pumps (#1 & #2) | ON |
| Bleed Air | AUTO |
| Pressurization | AUTO |
| Window / Pitot Heat | OFF (until engine start) |
| FMS Preflight | COMPLETE |
| Radios / NAVAIDs | SET |
| Checklist Item | Response |
|---|
| ”Cockpit preparation checklist.” | PM initiates |
| Gear pins & covers | Removed |
| IRS | Aligned |
| Fuel qty | _____ kg, balanced |
| Take‑off briefing | Completed |
| Checklist | Complete |
4 Before Start
| PF Triggers | PM Response |
|---|
| Flight Deck Door | CLOSED & LOCKED |
| Fuel | ___ KGS, Pumps ON |
| Passenger Signs | ON |
| Condition Levers | START & FEATHER |
| Power Levers | DISC |
| Anti‑collision Beacon | ON |
| Parking Brake | SET |
5 Engine Start (PW150A – FADEC)
| Step | Action |
|---|
| Condition Lever (Eng 1) | START & FEATHER |
| Start Button | PUSH |
| Monitor | Ng rotation rising |
| At ~52 % Ng | Condition Lever → FLIGHT IDLE (fuel introduction) |
| Monitor | ITT rise <10 s, oil pressure rising |
| FADEC auto‑cutout | ~63 % Ng – starter disengages |
| Engine 2 | Repeat procedure |
| Both stable | Condition Levers → MAX (1020 RPM) |
Aborted Start – Condition Lever FUEL OFF immediately. Max ITT start limit 1000 °C. Min 30 s between start attempts.
6 After Start
| Item | Action |
|---|
| APU | OFF (if not required) |
| Generators | ON |
| Pitot / Stall Heat | ON |
| Anti‑Ice | AS REQD |
| Flight Controls | CHECKED (full travel) |
| Flaps | T/O CONFIG (5° or 15°) |
| Stabilizer Trim | ___ UNITS |
| NWS | ON |
| Bleeds | NORM |
| Checklist Item | Response |
|---|
| ”After‑start checklist.” | PM initiates |
| Anti‑ice | ____ |
| Rudder & aileron trim | Zero |
| Flaps | __/____ |
| Stabilizer trim | __ units |
| Recall | Checked |
| Autobrake | RTO |
7 Taxi
| Item | Limit |
|---|
| Condition Levers | MAX (1020 RPM) |
| Taxi Speed straight | ≤ 25 kt |
| Turns | ≤ 10 kt |
| Nosewheel Steering | TILLER / RUDDER PEDALS |
Brake check at first movement “Brakes checked, pressure ___“.
8 Before Take‑Off – Up to the Line
| Item | Action |
|---|
| Autofeather | ARMED (green light) |
| Flight Controls | CHECKED |
| V‑Speeds | ANNOUNCED (V1 / VR / V2) |
| Flaps | CONFIRM setting, GREEN LIGHT |
| Stabilizer Trim | ___ UNITS |
| Cabin | SECURE |
9 Before Take‑Off – Below the Line (entering runway)
| Item | Action |
|---|
| TCAS | TA/RA |
| Strobes | ON |
| Landing Lights | ON |
| Transponder | TA/RA |
| Completion Call | ”Cabin ready, below‑the‑line complete.” |
10 Take‑Off Roll & Initial Climb (Call‑Out Memory)
| PM | PF |
|---|
| ”80 knots" | "Checked" |
| "V 1" | |
| "Rotate” | Rotate to ≈10° pitch |
| ”Positive climb" | "Gear up” |
11 After Take‑Off / Climb
| Trigger | Action |
|---|
| Acc Alt reached | Climb Power |
| Flap retraction | On schedule (speed bugs) |
| Condition Levers | 900 RPM (climb) |
| Autofeather | OFF (above 400 ft AGL) |
| Bleeds | NORM |
| 10 000 ft | ”10 000 – Lights off.” |
| STD QNH | SET both (above trans alt) |
12 Cruise (Hourly)
| Item | Action |
|---|
| Condition Levers | 850 RPM (cruise) |
| Fuel check | FOB vs Plan (±300 kg) |
| Systems | CAS green |
| Waypoint sequence | NEXT & ETA compare |
13 Descent Preparation
| Item | Action |
|---|
| ATIS / STAR | RECEIVED & INSERTED |
| Approach Briefing | COMPLETED |
| Landing Data | VREF ___, Minimums ___ |
| Pressurization | LAND ALT ___ |
| GPWS Flap Override | AS REQD |
| Recall | CHECKED |
14 Approach Checklist
| Item | Response |
|---|
| Altimeters | Set (QNH) |
| Minimums | __ ft |
| Condition Levers | MAX (1020 RPM) |
| Gear | DOWN (below 200 KIAS) |
| Flaps 15 | Set (below 172 KIAS) |
| Flaps 35 | Set (below 158 KIAS) |
| Approach briefing | Confirmed |
| Seat belts | ON |
15 Landing
| Height AGL | Call‑out | Configuration |
|---|
| 1 000 ft | ”Stable/Unstable” | Gear DOWN, Flaps 35 |
| 500 ft | ”Landing” | Final scan |
| 50/40/30/20/10 ft | (A) | Flare |
Touchdown: Power Levers DISC → GROUND RANGE → Reverse. Reverse idle at 60 kt.
16 After Landing
| Item | Action |
|---|
| Power Levers | DISC |
| Flaps | UP |
| Autofeather | OFF |
| Pitot / Stall Heat | AS REQD |
| APU | START (if req) |
| Strobes | OFF |
| Transponder | STBY |
| Weather Radar | OFF |
| Completion Call | ”After‑landing checklist complete.” |
17 Shutdown
| Item | Action |
|---|
| Parking Brake | SET |
| Condition Levers | START & FEATHER (cool 30 s) |
| Condition Levers | FUEL OFF |
| NWS | OFF |
| Passenger Signs | OFF |
| Anti‑collision Beacon | OFF |
| Fuel Boost Pumps | OFF |
18 Secure Aircraft
| Item | Action |
|---|
| IRS | OFF |
| Emergency Exit Lights | OFF |
| Window Heat | OFF |
| Avionics Master | OFF |
| Battery Master | OFF |
| Post‑flight report | Sent |
ENGINE FIRE or SEVERE DAMAGE (In‑Flight)
| Step | Action |
|---|
| 1 | Power Lever (affected) → FLIGHT IDLE |
| 2 | Condition Lever (affected) → CONFIRM → FUEL OFF |
| 3 | Alternate Feather → PUSH (if Np not decreasing) |
| 4 | Fuel Firewall Shutoff → CLOSED |
| 5 | Engine Fire Handle → CONFIRM → PULL |
| 6 | Extinguisher FWD → PUSH, wait 30 s |
| 7 | If fire persists → Extinguisher AFT → PUSH |
PROPELLER OVERSPEED
| Item | Action |
|---|
| Power Lever (affected) | FLIGHT IDLE |
| Condition Lever (affected) | START & FEATHER |
| If Np not decreasing | Alternate Feather → PUSH |
| Monitor | Np decay toward feather |
EMERGENCY DESCENT
| Item | Action |
|---|
| Announce | ”EMERGENCY DESCENT” (×3) |
| SIGNS | ON |
| Oxygen Masks | ON |
| Condition Levers | MAX (1020 RPM) |
| Power Levers | FLIGHT IDLE |
| Target Speed | VMO |
| Descend | Lowest safe alt or 10 000 ft |
Quick‑Reference Flap Schedule (Dash 8‑400)
| Config | Placard Limit |
|---|
| Flaps 0 | 245 KIAS (SL–8 000 ft) |
| Flaps 5 | 200 KIAS |
| Flaps 10 | 181 KIAS |
| Flaps 15 | 172 KIAS |
| Flaps 35 | 158 KIAS |
Propeller RPM Settings
| Phase | Np (RPM) |
|---|
| Take‑Off / Go‑Around | 1020 (MAX) |
| Climb | 900 |
| Cruise | 850 |
Typical Speeds (~56 000 lb / Flaps 15)
| Speed | KIAS |
|---|
| V1 | ~108 |
| VR | ~112 |
| V2 | ~118 |
| VREF | ~116 |
Gear Limits
| Limit | Speed |
|---|
| VLO (extend/retract) | 200 KIAS |
| VLE (extended) | 215 KIAS |
Revision History
| Rev | Date | Note | Author |
|---|
| 1.0 | 28 Mar 2026 | Initial checklist issue | ACVA Team |
Disclaimer
These checklists are abridged adaptations of De Havilland / Bombardier public‑domain procedures for simulation. They do not replicate proprietary FCOM text and must not be used for commercial operations.
