# Why are there so many steps to starting an engine on a plane? Why not a turn-key start? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 25, 2020, 9:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-so-many-steps-to-starting-an-engine-on-a-plane-why-not-a-turn-key-start/916306 "2020-07-25T09:15:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Showing post:** 54
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2020, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-so-many-steps-to-starting-an-engine-on-a-plane-why-not-a-turn-key-start/916306/54 "2020-07-28T14:45:13Z")
Here is a thread from 2014 on the topic. [[A Question for the Pilots Here.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-the-pilots-here/705816)] In there we hear from light plane pilots, airline types like me, and a wide variety of perspectives. I also give the ultra-abbreviated version of how much of the airliner-scale pre-start process can be skipped and still actually get the fires lit and the airplane airborne. Directly back at this thread's OP: The vid you chose shows a machine about as complicated as a locomotive or a 60' yacht. For a simple Cessna-like product with just one ICE that’s more comparable to a car, there a 3 steps to start the plane: electricity on, mixture knob/lever forward, turn key. Vroom! Contrast that with a manual transmission car: ensure transmission in neutral, depress brake and/or clutch, turn key. Vroom! An auto tran is simpler: depress brake, turn key. Vroom! --- _[View the full topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-so-many-steps-to-starting-an-engine-on-a-plane-why-not-a-turn-key-start/916306)._