Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument
Distraction; Human-Machine Interface; Situational Awareness; Time Pressure; Workload
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR
General None Reported / Taken
Environment - Non Weather Related; Human Factors
During an operational line check by [Instructor]. It was brought my attention that while covering all items on the checklist ; I did not physically have the checklist in hand to review. And this is true. We are of the mindset of on-time. And in a busy environment like [Airport]; our attention is definitely on our surroundings and traffic if weather is VFR. The [aircraft type] Checklists are simple; and memorization occurs quickly with repeated flights along the same routes.This was an observation; not a detection.[Instructor] agreed that its almost too simple. Except that FAR Part 135 requires that the checklist be 'used' at all times during operations. While most pilots have learned that a checklist is a verification procedure; and not a work list; in 121 and 135 it is indeed a work list. And the Regulations dictate that we use them for all phases of operations. [Instructor] would like to let the committee know that he considered conversation with the pilot as counsel; and that no further action is necessary in that regard for the pilot.I spoke at length with [Instructor] on this issue; and the conclusion for me is 'complacency'. We fly the same plane; route; profile; speed; frequencies; all of it over and over. It can become as if we were the autopilots. The danger here is that irregular use of the normal checklists can lead to other areas where we let our guard down. Listening for our call sign; automatically dialing in the next frequency; Using Beta and Braking unreasonably hard to make the first turn off are all potential places where things can and will go wrong when we become complacent.My personal recommendation is to place Card Stock (Not laminated) Normal Operations Checklists in the aircraft. If they get bent and beat up or get lost it means they are being used. Cheap to replace. Very Cheap. Using an Ipad for checklist is cumbersome at best. If you wear glasses; its an annoyance. and you have to either go back and forth from approach plate to checklist (go forbid you tap the wrong thing); or use multiple devices thus increasing rather than lessening the pilot workload.
C208B Pilot reported not physically having the checklist in hand to review during operations; and recommends the use of a physical checklist in addition to an iPad.