CO-PILOT CHECKLISTS ARE IN "EARLY PREVIEW" MODE

SAYINTENTIONS.AI PARTNERS GET EARLY ACCESS TO PREVIEW NEW FEATURES THAT ARE NOT YET READY FOR RELEASE.

If you want early access to Co-Pilot Checklists, please consider becoming a SayIntentions.AI partner. All proceeds from our Partner Program go directly to funding new R&D initiatives, such as this. More Details Here.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What are Co-Pilot Checklists?

Your friendly AI co-pilot can finally help you run the check-lists! The co-pilot will read through the list, and it's your job to set the switches, and say 'check' (or "okay", "ready", "done", etc.)

Can the Co-Pilot manage the aircraft settings?

Yes! You can add VARS to your checklist. See below for more information.

How Much Does it Cost?

Co-Pilot Checklists are included in your SayIntentions.AI Premium subscription.

Are the checklists just pre-recorded?

No. Each checklist is read and managed in real time by your AI Co-Pilot. Nothing is pre-recorded. (You are interacting with an AI, not a recording).

Can I build my own checklists?

Yes! You can copy existing checklists and even build your own!

Can I put anything I want on my checklists?

Yes, as long as it's related to the operation of the aircraft. You will be able to add anything you like, including custom items that are something only you would care about.

How does it know which checklists to use?

The checklist repository will be linked to your flight based on your aircraft ICAO code.

Can I share my checklists with everyone else?

Yes, once you've created an amazing checklist, you will be able to 'Share' that checklist with everyone else. Crowd-sourced checklists means we'll have hundreds of high-quality checklists available within just a few weeks of launch.

Can I change the way the Co-Pilot pronounces things?

Yes, this is part of the checklist editor.

The co-pilot isn't understanding me clearly. How can I make it work better?

In order to make the checklists as responsive as possible, we've removed some of the normal AI functions responsible for enhanced speech recognition. This means you may need to speak slowly, and more clearly than usual. Another important tip is to hold down the intercom PTT button for about 1 second before you start talking, and then wait a full second before releasing it again. 

How long do I have to complete a checklist item before the co-pilot moves on?

It depends on the type of checklist! See below for all the different options and how to use them.

What things can I say?

1. What checklists are available?
2. I'd like to run the [engine-start/arrival/landing/etc.] checklist
3. Cancel the checklist
4. Start Over
5. "Check", "Yes, "It's set", "Okay.", or any other acknowledgement phrase will work to move to the next item

What if I don't know how to do the thing on the checklist?

In order to keep the checklist responses as fast as possible, the co-pilot cannot answer any questions.  Assign a "Mentor" to your second intercom channel, and ask them!  They'll be happy to explain the procedure, where it is, why it's important, or anything else you want to know!

Does it support checklists for abnormal operations, emergencies, cold weather, etc?

Yes. All of these checklist types are supported!

How do I set this up?

Setup a co-pilot on one of your intercom channels. Read more about how to do this, here.

Technical Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Why don’t I see my checklist collection in the SayIntentions.AI desktop app?

Make sure the collection is toggled to Activated and that you clicked Save Changes in Checklist Tuner v2. Only one collection can be active per aircraft at a time. After saving, open the SayIntentions app and click New Flight to reload your updated collection.

2. What’s the difference between “Save Changes” and the auto-save draft feature?

Clicking Save Changes permanently saves your collection so it can be used in the SayIntentions.AI desktop app. Auto-saved drafts are only temporary backups (kept for 24 hours). They are useful if you forget to save, but they are not applied to your Copilot.

3. Can I use more than one checklist collection at the same time for the same aircraft?

No. Only one collection per aircraft can be activated at once. You can, however, create and maintain multiple collections for the same aircraft and switch between them as needed.

4. How do I share my checklists with the community?

In the My Collections column, toggle the Shared: No button to Shared: Yes and click Save Changes. Your collection will then appear in the Community Catalog, where other users can view and clone it.

5. Can I use my Checklist Tuner V1 checklists?

No. Checklist Tuner V2 uses a completely new data architecture that is not compatible with V1. Attempting to migrate checklists would result in missing or incomplete data, making them unusable. V2 was built from the ground up, with major changes to both the tuner application and the backend checklist library.

6. What types of checklist item behaviors can I use?

Checklist Tuner v2 supports:

• Basic Challenge/Response – Any positive/negative reply.

• No Challenge/Response – Copilot reads and continues after a set pause.

• Advanced Challenge/Response – Specific phrases trigger progress or pauses.

• Full Automatic – Executes actions and variables (LVARs, KVARs, BVARs, DREFs).

7. How accurate is PDF import?

PDF import gives you a huge head start by automatically converting your checklist into structured items. The process uses advanced AI models that are sophisticated enough to handle this task while still completing in a reasonable amount of time. In our testing, the large majority of PDFs import flawlessly with excellent accuracy. However, as with all AI-driven technology, results may not be perfect 100% of the time—which is why we encourage you to carefully review and edit the checklists after import. Imported items default to Basic Challenge/Response, and variables or advanced behaviors must be added manually.

8. Can I clone individual checklists or items, or only full collections?

You can clone at all levels: collections, checklists, and individual items. When cloning a checklist or item, you’ll be asked not only which aircraft to place it in, but also the target collection (and checklist, if applicable).

9. Do my checklists work across different simulators?

Yes, but with some limitations. General checklists (without automations) can apply to all simulators. However, if you add variables or automations, those are often simulator- or developer-specific (e.g., MSFS LVARs vs. X-Plane DREFs). Always verify compatibility when sharing.

10. My Copilot isn’t responding the way I expected. What should I do?

First, double-check the checklist item type and any variables you configured. Make sure phrases are entered correctly for Advanced C/R items. If the Copilot isn’t pronouncing something the way you’d like, you can also take advantage of the optional pronunciation fields to fine-tune how challenges and responses are spoken.

If changes are needed, edit them in Checklist Tuner v2, click Save Changes, and then restart with New Flight in the desktop app.

View our Tutorial Video Series

User Guide

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Overview
• How to Access
• Navigating Checklist Tuner
  • Community Catalog
  • My Checklists
  • Save Changes
  • Restore Drafts
• Terminology
  • Checklist Hierarchy
    • Aircraft
    • Collection
    • Checklist
    • Checklist Item
    • Checklist Item Variable
• Creating a Checklist Collection
  • Manual Creation
  • PDF Import
  • Cloning
• First Flight Preparation 
• Sharing Your Checklist Collection
• Using Your Checklist Collection

Overview

Checklist Tuner v2 is the next generation of our aviation checklist platform, building on the foundation of Checklist Tuner v1 with powerful new features and deeper integration with the SayIntentions.AI Copilot. Designed for flight simulation enthusiasts and training pilots alike, it provides a streamlined way to create, manage, and automate checklists across multiple aircraft and simulators.

With Checklist Tuner v2, you can create your own custom checklists or explore the Community Catalog, where users share and clone checklists for quick setup. Importing existing checklists is simple—just upload a PDF, and our AI will automatically format it into the SayIntentions.AI structure. Export options are equally flexible, allowing you to generate a print-ready PDF or display a checklist on a second monitor during your flight.

Version 2 introduces multiple checklist item types, giving you full control over how your Copilot interacts with you in the cockpit:

• Basic Challenge/Response – The Copilot reads an item and waits for a standard positive or negative reply (e.g., “Check,” “Set,” “On,” “Off”).

• No Challenge/Response – The Copilot simply reads the checklist items, waits a set amount of time, and continues. You can also configure whether responses are read aloud.

• Advanced Challenge/Response – Define specific words or phrases for the Copilot to listen for before moving on or pausing the sequence.

• Full Automatic – The flagship feature of v2, enabling direct interaction with simulator variables (SimVars, LVARs, KVARs, DREFs, and more). The Copilot can manipulate cockpit controls, confirm aircraft states, and speak variable data such as altimeter settings, flap positions, or assigned runways. In addition, any Full Automatic action can be triggered ad hoc by voice command—for example, saying “Lower the landing gear” will prompt the Copilot to perform the action immediately. 

These capabilities make Checklist Tuner v2 not only a checklist manager but also a powerful automation tool. With some knowledge of simulator variables, you can design checklists that perform real cockpit actions—applicable to any aircraft.

Best of all, Checklist Tuner v2 will foster one of the largest crowd-sourced libraries of aviation checklists and aircraft variables available. This means you no longer need to purchase individual aircraft-specific checklist add-ons—everything can be created, shared, and adapted within the platform. Whether you want to build highly customized automated flows or quickly grab a ready-to-use community checklist, Checklist Tuner v2 gives you the flexibility and depth to cover any aircraft, any simulator, in one place.

How to Access

Follow the steps below to access Checklist Tuner v2:

1. Navigate to https://portal.sayintentions.ai
2. Login with your Pilot Portal Credentials. 
3. In the left navigation, under Tools, click Checklist Tuner v2 

Navigating Checklist Tuner

Navigating Checklist Tuner is simple and intuitive, with each section designed to help you manage, customize, and share your checklists with ease. The following areas—Community Catalog, My Checklists, and Saving Changes—cover the core features you’ll use most often.

Community Catalog

The Community Catalog is your gateway to checklists, configurations, and automations shared by the SayIntentions.AI community. Here, you can explore what aircraft or aircraft families are already available and browse through checklist collections created by other users. Each collection will include individual checklists, checklist items, configurations, and may even include advanced automations.

If you find something that fits your needs, you can clone it into your own workspace with a single click. Once cloned, you can either use it as-is or modify it to match your personal preferences and flying style. This makes the Community Catalog a great place to discover ready-to-fly checklists while also serving as inspiration for building your own.

To access the catalog, simply click the Community Catalog button at the top of the page (see screenshot). From there, you’ll have instant access to a growing library of shared resources contributed by fellow pilots and flight sim enthusiasts.

My Checklists

The My Checklists section is your personal workspace for building and customizing checklist collections. Here, you have full control to create new checklists from scratch, edit clones pulled from the Community Catalog, or import existing checklists directly from PDF files. Imported checklists are automatically formatted into the SayIntentions.AI structure, saving you time while giving you a solid starting point.

Within this workspace, you can go beyond the basics—adding automations, defining custom Copilot behaviors, and fine-tuning every detail to match the way you fly. Whether you want a simple challenge/response flow, advanced phrase recognition, or fully automated cockpit actions, the My Checklists area gives you the flexibility to make it happen.

This is the place where your checklists truly become your own—tailored, tested, and ready for use across any aircraft or simulator.

Save Changes

While editing a checklist, it’s important to save your progress regularly. Use the Save Changes button in the top-right corner whenever you’re ready to commit your edits. We also recommend clicking it periodically while you work to ensure your updates are stored safely.

Checklist Tuner does include an auto-cache draft saving feature to help prevent lost work, but this is only a safeguard. For best results, make a habit of saving often. (The draft-saving feature is covered in the next section.)

Restore Drafts

Checklist Tuner v2 automatically saves a temporary draft of your edits every 10 minutes, storing up to the five most recent drafts in a secure cloud cache. This feature helps protect your work if you forget to click Save Changes before leaving the app.

For example, if you make a lot of edits, close Checklist Tuner v2, and later realize your changes are missing when you start a flight (because you forgot to save your changes), you can return to the app and restore your last draft. Once restored, be sure to click the Save Changes button—only saved checklists are available for use with the SayIntentions.AI Copilot.

Cached drafts remain available for 24 hours from the time they were created. After that, they expire and cannot be restored.

Terminology

Checklist Hierarchy

Checklist Tuner v2 is built around a clear hierarchy that mirrors the way real-world aviation checklists are organized. The hierarchy flows from left to right in the user interface, ensuring a logical and consistent editing experience. You always begin by selecting an Aircraft, then move into a Collection, followed by Checklists, then Checklist Items, and finally down to Checklist Item Variables (optional).

This design keeps everything structured and makes it easy to scale from a single checklist to a fully automated, aircraft-specific set of procedures.

Aircraft

At the top level are Aircraft or Aircraft Families (e.g., the A320 or A319/A320/A321 family). Each aircraft can also have variants, which may reflect specific airlines, aircraft developers, or simulator platforms (MSFS 2024, MSFS 2020, Prepar3D, X-Plane, etc.). Variants exist because some checklist collections—particularly those with advanced automations—are specific to how a developer modeled the aircraft in a given simulator.

One aircraft can host many different Collections, and all aircraft entries are available to users across Checklist Tuner v2. You can browse community-shared collections tied to that aircraft in the Community Catalog, or manage your own private versions in My Checklists.

Collection

A Collection is like your digital checklist sheet—the organized set of procedures you’d typically find on paper. For example, a collection may include a Preflight Checklist, Before Start Checklist, Taxi Checklist, and so on.

Collections belong to an aircraft and can be shared with the community or kept private. They act as the framework where you group and categorize your checklists for a specific aircraft.

Checklist

Inside a collection, you’ll find the actual Checklists. These represent the procedures you perform at different phases of flight: Preflight, Taxi, Takeoff, Landing, Go-Around, etc. Checklists can also be categorized by type, such as Normal, Abnormal, Emergency, or Cold Weather.

Each checklist contains many Checklist Items that define the detailed steps to be read and executed.

Checklist Item

Checklist Items are the core building blocks of your procedures—the individual challenge/response lines such as “Lights — ON”, “Fuel Pumps — ON”, “APU — STARTED”.

Items can be as simple as a Copilot reading and awaiting your response, or as advanced as fully automated actions. They offer the most customization options in the hierarchy, including response handling, timing, audio playback, and integrations with simulator variables.

Checklist Item Variable

Finally, Checklist Item Variables bring automation into play. These are tied to simulator data references such as LVARs (local variables), KVARs (simulator key events), DREFs (X-Plane data references), and BVARs (behavior variables used in newer MSFS aircraft). A checklist item may have none, one, or many variables.

By assigning variables, you can:

• Define the variable name, type, and target value.

• Trigger cockpit actions automatically using supported events and variables.

• Have the Copilot perform ad hoc actions at any time, even outside of a checklist—for example, “Gear down”.

This layer is what enables Full Automatic Mode, allowing checklists to directly interact with the simulator environment.

Creating a Checklist Collection

Checklist Tuner v2 offers three ways to create new checklists:

1. Manual Creation

2. Importing from PDF

3. Cloning an Existing Collection

Manual Creation

Follow these steps to manually create a new checklist collection and build your own items from scratch:

Select or Create an Aircraft

1. Click the My Checklists tab.

2. Search for the aircraft you want to build checklists for.

   • Use the search bar to quickly find aircraft in long lists.

   • Apply the simulator filter to narrow down results.

3. If the aircraft you need isn’t listed, click the + Add button to create one.

   • Aircraft ICAO Code – Enter the ICAO code (e.g., A320).

   • Airline ICAO Code (Optional) – Enter if your checklist is airline-specific.

   • Aircraft Developer – Only specify if you plan to add automations; otherwise, leave the default.

   • Simulator – Choose the correct simulator (e.g., MSFS 2024, Prepar3D). If no automations are planned, leave this set to “All Simulators.”

   • Aircraft Family – If your checklist applies to multiple variants (e.g., A319/A320/A321), check “Yes” and provide the ICAO codes as a comma-separated list.

4. Click Create.

   • If an aircraft already exists with the same settings, you’ll be notified that duplicates aren’t allowed.

Create a Collection

1. In the My Collections column, click + Add.

2. Enter a name for your collection (e.g., FlightHound’s A320 Checklist).

3. Optionally, add notes to describe the collection.

4. Once ready, toggle Not Activated → Active to set this as the default collection for the SayIntentions.AI Copilot.

   • Only one collection can be active per aircraft at a time.

5. To make the collection visible to the community, toggle Shared from No to Yes.

Add Checklists

1. In the My Checklists column, click + Add.

2. Enter a checklist name (e.g., Preflight). Do not include the word “Checklist.”

3. Select the checklist type: Normal, Abnormal, Emergency, or Cold Weather.

4. Repeat to add additional checklists as needed.

   • Use the Up/Down arrows or drag-and-drop to reorder.

   • Use the trashcan icon to delete.

Add Checklist Items

1. Select the checklist you want to edit by clicking its card.

2. In the My Items column, click + Add.

3. Enter the challenge (e.g., FLAPS) and the response (e.g., UP).

4. Expand the item card for advanced configuration:

   • Type – Choose one:

     • Basic C/R – Copilot waits for Any Positive or Any Negative reply.

       • Positive reply examples: Check, On, Set, Good.

       • Negative reply examples: Off, Not Available, Inop.

     • No C/R – Copilot reads the item and waits the specified Speak Pause (seconds) before moving on.

     • Advanced C/R – Define exact phrases:

       • Add Positive Reply phrases (line-separated) that advance the checklist.

       • Add Negative Reply phrases that cause the Copilot to pause.

     • Full Automatic – Add simulator variable actions.

       • Set a Speak Pause (time to wait after actions complete).

       • Click + Add Variable and configure:

         • Variable Name

         • Category – LVAR, KVAR, BVAR, or DREF

         • Type – Default: Action (only supported type at this time)

         • Value – Numeric value for the action

       • Add as many variables as needed.

   • Copilot Speech – Choose whether the Copilot reads only the challenge or both challenge and response.

   • Pronunciation – Optionally add phonetic text for more natural Copilot speech.

Save Your Work

• Remember to click Save Changes often while editing.

• Although Checklist Tuner v2 auto-saves drafts, only clicking Save Changes commits your checklists for use with SayIntentions.AI Copilot.

PDF Import

Another way to create a checklist is by importing directly from a PDF. This method gives you a fast head start, automatically converting a checklist document into structured checklists and items within Checklist Tuner v2.

Select or Create an Aircraft

1. Follow the same steps as described in the Manual Creation section to select or create the aircraft where your collection will live.

Create a Collection from PDF

1. In the My Collections column, click Create from PDF (instead of + Add).

2. In the popup menu:
   a. Select the PDF checklist file you want to import.
   b. Enter a name for the new collection.
   c. Click Create when ready.

3. The PDF is uploaded to the SayIntentions.AI Cloud, where AI will analyze and structure it into checklists and items.

   • Each imported checklist item defaults to Basic Challenge/Response type.

   • The upload screen will display progress during processing.

   • Depending on the file size and complexity, this step may take a few minutes.

Review Imported Content

1. Once the import is complete, your new collection will appear in the My Collections column.

2. Open the collection to see all checklists and items created from the PDF.

3. Review each checklist carefully and make adjustments as needed:
   a. Edit checklist names and order.
   b. Update checklist items with the correct challenge/response behavior.
   c. Add variables (LVARs, KVARs, BVARs, DREFs) if you want automation.

4. Refer to the Manual Creation section for detailed steps on editing checklists, items, and variables.

Save Your Work

1. Click Save Changes once you’ve reviewed and edited your imported checklists.

2. Remember: while PDF import is a huge time saver, it’s still your responsibility to validate the content before use.

Cloning

Cloning lets you quickly build from what the community has already created. You can copy entire collections, or even down to individual checklists and items, and then customize them to fit your needs.

Browse the Community Catalog

1. Click the Community Catalog tab.

2. In the Aircraft column, search for the aircraft you want.

3. In the Collections column, browse the available collections.
   a. Each collection will display the name of the SayIntentions.AI user who shared it.
   b. Click a collection to view its checklists and checklist items in detail.

4. Continue exploring until you find a collection that matches your needs—or one that’s close enough to be a good starting point.

Clone the Collection

1. In the Collections column, click the Clone button for the collection you want.

2. A popup will appear asking which aircraft you’d like to clone this collection into.
   a. Select the target aircraft from the list.
   b. If the aircraft you need isn’t listed, go back to My Checklists and create it first, then return to clone.

3. Cloning can be useful in two ways:
   a. Apply one collection to a completely different aircraft.
   b. Clone into the same aircraft so you can customize the collection as your own.

Review and Modify

1. Once the collection has been cloned, it will appear under My Collections.

2. The process from here is the same as with PDF Import:
   a. Review the imported checklists and items.
   b. Make any modifications needed (names, item types, automations, variables).
   c. Save changes periodically to ensure your edits are committed.

Cloning at Different Levels

• You don’t have to clone only at the collection level. You can also:
  a. Clone a Checklist – Copy an individual checklist into one of your existing collections.
  b. Clone a Checklist Item – Copy a single item into one of your own checklists.

• When cloning checklists or items, the popup menu will also ask you to choose the collection and checklist where you’d like the clone placed (in addition to the aircraft).

First Flight Preparation 

When your collection is ready for use, activate it so the SayIntentions.AI desktop app can find it the next time you fly.

1. In the My Collections column, locate your collection card.

2. Toggle the red Not Activated button to green Activated.

3. Click Save Changes.

Note: Only one collection can be activated per aircraft at a time.

Sharing Your Checklist Collection

When you’re ready to contribute back to the community, you can share your collection so other SayIntentions.AI users can discover and clone it.

1. In the My Collections column, locate the collection you want to share.

2. Toggle the Shared: No button to Shared: Yes.

3. Click Save Changes to confirm.

Your collection will now appear in the Community Catalog, where other users can view and clone it. Sharing is a great way to help fellow simmers quickly access high-quality checklists and grow the community library.

Using Your Checklist Collection

Now that your checklist collection is ready, it’s time to put it to use in the simulator.

1. Launch your flight simulator and the SayIntentions.AI desktop app as usual.

2. In the SayIntentions app:
   a. Go to Settings > Intercom and make sure a Copilot is configured.
   b. Confirm your Intercom PTT (Push-to-Talk) is set up.

3. Open the Checklists tab.
   a. You’ll see your active collection listed, along with its checklists.
   b. Click any checklist to expand and view its items with challenge/response text.

4. Run a checklist:
   a. Click the Run Checklist button, or
   b. Ask your Copilot directly, e.g., “Run the Preflight Checklist.”

5. The Copilot will now step through the checklist exactly as you configured it—whether it’s basic challenge/response, no challenge/response, advanced challenge/response, or full automatic.

Note: If something isn’t working as expected, return to Checklist Tuner v2, make your edits, and click Save Changes. Then, in the SayIntentions desktop app, select New Flight to load the updated collection. You may need to repeat this process the first few times as you fine-tune your checklists to work exactly the way you want.