Hi, Can someone please explain the preflight paper work that pilots receive. Does the fuel sheet get signed and given back to the refueler or does it stay in the cockpit? Does the flight release get signed before heading out to a jet? etc. Also if a pilot is to fly 4 short flights does he or she get the 4 flight plans before the first flight or does the pilot receive it before every flight through Acars? Or a hard copy? Any pics or additional info would be appreciated. Thank you :-wave

"If we took all the paperwork we generate into the flightdeck the plane would never leave the ground...."There really isn't one correct answer to this since airlines do vary on how the paper is shuffled and what is on what form and what it is called.The dispatcher will generate the dispach package that will have weather, route(s), fuel and preliminary weight and balance. The Captain will review the package then contact the dispatcher should the Captain feel a routing or fuel change is needed. Carriers I know require both Captain's and dispatcher's signatures to release the flight-there is a dual responsibility. Granted I may be in Miami and the dispatcher is in Minneapolis. The plane don't move till the Capt and dispatcher agree on the plan.By the time the crew gets to the plane conditions change-the PAX/Cargo load may/will have changed, hazardous material loaded (don't get all excited, stuff like Dry Ice etc has to be noted and clipped to the yoke), passengers who are armed, prisoners, jumpseat rider(s), body being transported for funeral (changes body count but not Souls on Board) and the proper logbook entries made so maint can clear the mechanical write-ups.So the Capt will be at the podium pulling more "stuff" from the printer to update, revise the package....get an overview for the cabin staff, etc etcTHEN after the numbers are final, a message will be sent by ACARS (think aviation email) to the flight with final numbers used for setting trim, assumed temperature performance and any other "stuff" that can't change. Some ACARs have printers to print the finals off.In the old 727 days the flight engineer would radio on company frequency or thru ARINC to obtain the close-out.As for the 4 segment day question, the release is for each segement so prior to each departure there is that conference/note from dispatch with the latest and greatest prior to departure off the blocks. Again may be handled via voice and/or ACARsHope this helps...Tim757