It's not like the engine start procedure on one of those things is a turnkey solution. The amount of domain knowledge needed serves as a form of soft security.

So soft, you can find the QRH in both the cockpit and online[0]. Or more fun learn it in an accurate simulator e.g.: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0Z1WFDz81k

[0] https://flyuk.aero/assets/downloads/resources/checklists/UKV...

I still don’t see the key as the problem here. The problem is society not talking to this individual earlier and trying to help.

"DOCUMENTATION ..........................................ON BOARD"

Wait... isn't that what you'd be reading right there? Or is the documentation and checklist not the same thing?

The checklist is what you'd be reading, usually a laminated one-page card kept in a convenient spot. The documentation that the checklist refers to is the full "user manual" for the plane, with things like the quick reference handbook (QRH) that includes the step-by-step procedures covering what to do for every single warning light, emergency condition, etc. Also "documentation" here could also cover the mandatory things you have to have in the plane like the airworthiness certificate, registration, FCC radio license, insurance certificate, etc.

So I guess the short answer to your question is yes, in this context the documentation and checklist are not the same thing.

Ah thank you!

Yet there’s plenty of knowledge out there if you know where to look.

Want to steal an Airbus A320? Here’s the complete startup procedure:

https://youtu.be/uqKeSO6msDk

Keep in mind that almost all of this was safety checks, if you don't care about that then there were only a few pretty simple steps.

Right but my point is if you're premeditating the theft to the point where you've studied the manuals/practiced in flight simulators then a key isn't going to be the thing stopping you. I mean will that person realistically go "oh man, I've spent 100 hours learning how to pilot this thing, snuck into the plane, properly fueled the plane and did weight balancing but shit I don't have the keys, guess I'll just go home!". Nah, that guy is hot wiring that plane or stealing the keys on his way into the plane.

> Surprising it has taken decades for someone to try this.

It last happened 7 years ago. From the article:

> Colton Harris-Moore, nicknamed the Barefoot Bandit, was sentenced in 2011 for stealing small planes, which he had learned to fly himself as a teenager after reading flight manuals.

A big difference is probably that now everyone carries a video camera around and we have videos of things like this which go viral more easily.

This is quiet entertaining:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colton_Harris_Moore

He is a Trump supporter BTW.