What component must be checked to ensure proper idle conditions during engine start?

To ensure proper idle conditions during engine start, it is essential to check the engine instruments. These instruments provide critical information regarding the engine's operational parameters, such as RPM, temperatures, and pressures, which are vital for confirming that the engine is running within its normal idle specifications.

Monitoring these instruments allows the pilot to verify that the engine is starting correctly and that it will maintain a stable idle state. If the readings are outside the acceptable limits, it may indicate a problem that could affect engine performance, potentially leading to difficulties in maintaining idle or other operational issues.

While fuel distribution can influence engine performance, and throttle calibration is crucial for ensuring responsive controls, the immediate assessment aligned with engine start and idle conditions primarily relies on the readings provided by the engine instruments. Checking wing flaps is also important for overall aircraft configuration, but it is not directly related to engine idle conditions. Thus, observing engine instruments is the most relevant and crucial step during the engine start process.