CHECKLIST COMPLETE: Stories from my life in aviation

The title CHECKLIST COMPLETE derives from the Delta Air Lines practice of concluding each checklist with that phrase, stated aloud, signifying all steps on a checklist have been fulfilled.


Former naval officer Captain Gary Carter (USN, Ret) began his over 40-year aviation journey by enlisting in the navy after high school, which lead to graduation from the U.S. Naval Academy. Following flight training and assignment to the navy’s S-3 Viking aircraft, his naval career gained momentum with his first deployment and subsequent duties, including command of an S-3 squadron and service as navigator aboard the USS Nimitz (CVN-68).


He followed nearly 25 years on active duty with a 21-month stint at a regional airline and then joined Delta Air Lines. He flew Boeing aircraft for over 16 years, first as a 727 flight engineer and then as a copilot on the 737-200 and -300, and the 757 and 767.


Highlighted here are some of the many incidences and experiences that stood out during Carter’s remarkable career, reflecting the broad range of events one can encounter in the world of aviation. CHECKLIST COMPLETE contains captivating stories and eventful sagas and provides an intriguing glimpse into a life strongly associated with airplanes.