Though indispensable, QRHs have limitations:
Mitigations include rigorous operator approval processes, human factors-informed design, regular recurrent training, and cross-checks with FCOM and simulator scenarios.
| Misconception | Reality | |----------------|---------| | QRH replaces the FCOM | No – QRH is a subset for quick action; FCOM has full system description. | | All failures require QRH | No – many normal checklists are in the cockpit quick reference cards (QRG). | | Memory items can be skipped if busy | No – boldface items are mandatory immediate actions. |
The QRH’s primary objective is safety: to provide flight crews with immediate, authoritative checklists and procedural flows for abnormal and emergency conditions so they can restore or maintain a safe flight state. Whereas the aircraft Flight Crew Operating Manual (FCOM) and comprehensive training materials develop deep system understanding, the QRH is deliberately concise and action-focused. It is used in conjunction with airline SOPs and crew resource management (CRM) principles. boeing 737800 qrh quick reference handbook
Regulatory authorities (FAA, EASA, and others) require operators to carry approved QRH content and ensure that flight crews are trained in its use. For the 737-800, the QRH is tailored by the aircraft manufacturer and further customized by the operator to reflect specific equipment, airline procedures, and dispatch rules. The QRH therefore operates at the intersection of manufacturer guidance, regulatory mandates, and operator-level safety culture.
The QRH is a flight crew duty document required to be on the flight deck. It provides performance data, non-normal (emergency) checklists, and in-flight reference tables — but it is not a training manual or a normal procedures guide.
⚠️ Key rule: For Non-Normal situations, first aviate, navigate, then communicate — then use the QRH after memory items are complete. Though indispensable, QRHs have limitations:
This is the bulk of the book. Organized by system (Pneumatics, Electrical, Flight Controls), you only turn to this section after completing memory items. Examples include:
This is the heart of the handbook. Checklists are organized alphabetically by the condition name (e.g., “AIRSPEED UNRELIABLE” not “Unreliable Airspeed”).
Bolded, boxed text indicates a Crew Action. For example, in the Engine Fire checklist for the 737-800: The QRH’s primary objective is safety: to provide
Crew Action: AUTOTHRUST (If engaged) ...... DISENGAGE Crew Action: THRUST LEVER (affected engine) ...... CONFIRM CLOSED
The QRH provides graphs & tables for: