What checks are done on a plane before flight?

Wanderer2010

I have flown a lot and I always wonder when I'm looking out the window at the plane being directed in to its spot, what checks need to be done/signed off from the release of the plane to when you disembark. Given the airline industry is highly regulated, what exactly does the pilot and crew do when they first board and what are the sheets that are passed back to ground crew just before you take off? I know each airline is slightly different but I presume there is a lot of similarities. Just curious as to how many people are checking the plane before you finally depart?

Stovepipe

The engineer will have done a transit inspection (general condition/no birdstrikes/oil and hydraulic fluid quantities ok) and will sign for it and will be involved in the refuelling process and will often fill out the fuel log, depending on the airline and the load supervisor will work up the trim and load sheet and this is the document you see being handed to the captain. He will also be notified of any dangerous goods being loaded, such as chemicals, ammunition, firearms,etc,etc. The captain signs to accept the aircraft from the engineer and the load sheet from the load supervisor and hands back a copy of the signed sheet to the LS and a copy of the signed portion of the engineering log to the engineer. Once the engineer or loader confirms over the headset that the aircraft is fully closed up and all ground equipment cleared away, the captain is free to ask for permission to push and start.

Foggy43

As the OP said not all airlines are the same. Some airlines particularly short haul, the captain is responsible for for the aircraft and will sign the CRS (Certificate of Release to Service). He/She will do the walk round checking for damage, wear and tear, leaks and decide whether any fluids or gases need topping up. The final doors and hatches will be checked by the headset person and he/she will confirm to the flight crew that all doors and hatches are locked/secured and all ground equipment is removed and clear. The engineers will only attend if requested by the captain.

Long haul is a bit different particularly if ETOPs is also involved. There is a maintenance schedule for both although some checks are the same in both instances. These must be carried out before every departure. Here the engineers will sign to confirm the CRS and that the ETOP's check if required, has been carried out. The final walk round, doors/hatches and ground equipment checks will be carried out by the push back team who will verbally confirm with the flight crew that these checks have been carried.
As Stovepipe has said it depends on the airline. All down to their procedures.