Barry Munsterteiger is the CEO and president of CheckMate Aviation. He is an instrument-rated pilot and owner of a Cessna 182, meaning he is trained and authorized to operate under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR), not only Visual Flight Rules (VFR). In public comments around the 2024 acquisition, he has described checklists as "the foundation of aviation safety" and has emphasized maintaining CheckMate's safety legacy while modernizing design and usability.

CheckMate states it offers over 1,000 individual checklist products covering more than 350 aircraft models. Coverage spans a wide range of general aviation aircraft, including common Cessna singles (e.g., 150/152, 172, 182 and variants), plus many models from Piper, Beechcraft, Cirrus, Mooney, Diamond, and others. It also includes Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) such as the Flight Design CTLS, with model-specific CheckMate+ cards. Rather than maintaining a single master list page, CheckMate's catalog and product/category pages show model availability; the company also notes it will add more on request if a specific aircraft is missing from the CheckMate+ line.

You can purchase CheckMate checklists in several ways: (1) Directly from CheckMate's website via their online store, which offers multiple product lines (CheckMate, CheckMate+, CheckMate Pro, and Aviation CheckBook) in different sizes and for different aircraft models. (2) Through aviation retailers such as Aircraft Spruce, PilotMall, and other pilot shops that stock CheckMate cards and allow ordering by aircraft make/model. (3) For custom or fleet needs, CheckMate Pro orders are typically placed directly with the company after providing aircraft-specific details (e.g., tail number, weights and balances, commonly used airports, or branding).

In aviation, safety briefing cards are concise reference cards designed to communicate key safety procedures and passenger briefing items (such as seatbelts, doors, emergency exits, no-smoking expectations, and sterile cockpit concepts). They also provide quick-access guidance for emergencies (e.g., engine failure, fire, forced landing, evacuation) in a visually organized, easy-to-scan format. In airline and charter operations, these cards support required passenger safety communication; in general aviation, a similar concept can be used as a compact prompt for thorough passenger briefings before every flight and as a reference for emergency actions. Many GA checklists (including products like CheckMate) include passenger-brief prompts and emergency flows, effectively serving as a safety briefing aid tailored to the aircraft.

CheckMate Aviation was founded in 1992 by D. Rich Lang and Carol Finnegan-Lang, who owned and operated the company for 32 years. During that period, the company developed a widely used single-card checklist approach designed to be logical, concise, and easy to keep accessible in the cockpit. It expanded to hundreds of aircraft models and multiple formats (including Standard and Compact sizes, plus Aviation CheckBook multipage formats for some products). By the time of the 2024 sale, CheckMate was described by the new owners as an "industry-standard" checklist system used widely in general aviation, including among flight schools and individual pilots.

The new owners are members of the Munsterteiger family. Barry Munsterteiger is the CEO and president of CheckMate Aviation, and he is an instrument-rated pilot and Cessna 182 owner. Sandra Munsterteiger is Barry's wife and a co-owner listed as part of the acquiring family. Cory Munsterteiger is Barry's brother and a co-owner as part of the family group that purchased the business in 2024 from the founders, D. Rich Lang and Carol Finnegan-Lang.

Checklist use is most effective in training when it becomes a habit pattern. Many instructors recommend introducing checklists from day one and using them in every lesson, aligning with evaluation standards that treat proper checklist use as a safety-of-flight item. A common technique is "flow-then-check": perform an organized cockpit flow (top-to-bottom or left-to-right) and then read the checklist to verify each item. Mnemonics (such as GUMPS) can help memory but are intended to complement—not replace—the written checklist. Training should also include abnormal and emergency scenarios using the real checklist to reinforce the habit under stress. Even in single-pilot operations, checklists support workload management and SRM/CRM by acting like a reliable co-pilot and providing a consistent script for normal, abnormal, and emergency operations.

To buy a CheckMate checklist for a Cessna 152, you can: (1) Purchase directly from CheckMate Aviation by searching for the Cessna 152 model and selecting the Standard (6.5" × 9") or Compact (5" × 7") card size, and choosing the available product line for that model (classic CheckMate format and/or CheckMate+ depending on current catalog). (2) Order through pilot shops/online retailers such as Aircraft Spruce or PilotMall by searching for "Cessna 152 CheckMate" listings. (3) If you operate multiple 152s (e.g., a flight school or club), request a custom CheckMate Pro version that can include tail numbers, local procedures, airport info, and branding.

The Munsterteiger family has indicated an approach of continuity plus modernization. They have emphasized preserving the safety-first philosophy and the "industry-standard" role of CheckMate checklists, while modernizing design and usability. Their updated branding includes redesigned products such as CheckMate+ (a cleaner, more modern layout and flow-based arrangement across phases of flight) and CheckMate Pro (which extends the same design updates with deeper customization for flight schools, clubs, and individual owners—such as tail numbers, weights and balances, frequently used airports, and branding). They also indicate ongoing expansion of model coverage and invite pilots to contact them if a model is missing from the CheckMate+ line.

Checklists support GA safety and efficiency by reducing human error and omissions (such as missed configuration items, fuel issues, or incomplete systems checks). They help manage workload by providing a structured sequence of actions, which is especially valuable in single-pilot operations where the checklist can function like a "reliable co-pilot." Checklists also support training and long-term habit formation, and they improve communication by providing a shared script for callouts and task sequencing in normal, abnormal, and emergency situations. Commercial systems like CheckMate package aircraft-specific normal, abnormal, and emergency procedures (often with key speeds and data) into a consistent, compact format intended to be quickly accessible.

In IFR operations, checklists help standardize complex procedures involving avionics setup, navigation configuration, approach briefings, and missed-approach planning. They reduce cognitive load during high-workload phases such as departures, holds, and approaches by shifting reliance away from memory and toward a structured, verified process. Checklists also become critical during IFR abnormal or emergency situations (e.g., electrical failures or partial-panel scenarios in IMC), where rapid access to aircraft-specific procedures matters. Training guidance encourages integrating these flows and checklist confirmations into instrument lessons so students build consistent IFR habits.

CheckMate+ is the modernized "base" product line featuring a clean, updated design and reorganized information architecture intended to match cockpit task flow across phases of flight (preflight through shutdown plus emergencies). It is offered in Standard (6.5" × 9") and Compact (5" × 7") laminated formats and is designed for specific aircraft models, with the company noting it will add more on request for models not yet listed. CheckMate Pro builds on CheckMate+ by adding deep personalization for fleets and individuals, including aircraft-specific procedures, weights and balances, tail numbers, frequently used airports, and organization branding, creating a bespoke card for a particular aircraft or fleet rather than a generic model template.

CheckMate Aviation began in 1992 under founders D. Rich Lang and Carol Finnegan-Lang and grew from a niche checklist provider into a widely recognized general aviation standard. Early growth centered on a durable laminated single-card format designed to keep normal, abnormal, and emergency procedures (plus key speeds/data) quickly accessible without flipping through booklets. Over time, CheckMate expanded to "over 350 aircraft" and more than 1,000 products, adding Standard and Compact card sizes and, for some users, a multi-page Aviation CheckBook format. By the 2010s, many pilots and instructors recommended CheckMate for clarity, durability, and all-in-one layout. In 2024, the company was acquired by the Munsterteiger family, who introduced updated lines (CheckMate+ and Pro) emphasizing modern design, flow-based organization, and customization while retaining the single-card philosophy.

Reviews commonly praise CheckMate checklists for putting "everything in one place" on a durable laminated card, following a flow-friendly order that feels thorough and practical. Many reviewers describe using CheckMate as a confirmation step after cockpit flows ("flow-then-check"), and they highlight durability and readability as major benefits. Instructor endorsements appear in reviews as well, with some CFIs preferring CheckMate over booklet-style checklists that require page flipping. Common caveats include size and kneeboard fit (some pilots find larger cards too big for certain kneeboards and prefer Compact), and occasional concerns about font size for pilots who need reading glasses. Some renters/club pilots note they may still be required to use an FBO or club-approved checklist for specific aircraft.

CheckMate lists two main physical sizes for CheckMate+ and Pro: Standard (6.5" × 9") and Compact (5" × 7"). Standard provides more surface area for spacing and readability (often helpful for quick scanning, yoke clipping, or cockpit prominence). Compact is easier to fit on smaller kneeboards, in side pockets, or in tight training cockpits, but can involve smaller text and denser formatting to fit similar content. Many pilots choose Standard for legibility and Compact for portability; functionally, both sizes carry aircraft-specific content and the same overall organization, with the main difference being ergonomics and cockpit integration.

CheckMate invites pilots and organizations to contact them for custom (CheckMate Pro) requests and for missing-model requests, especially for the CheckMate+ line. Their "Our Products" page notes they will be "adding more on request" and directs customers to contact them if they can't find a CheckMate+ for their aircraft. The main website includes a Contact page (accessible from the site navigation) where you can submit details about your aircraft make/model/variant and describe what you want included (e.g., tail numbers, weights and balances, frequently used airports, school/club branding, or special procedures). After you inquire, the company typically follows up with options, pricing, and proof layouts before printing—particularly for branded or fleet orders.