Aviation Acronyms and Mnemonics
For student pilots or those getting ready for BFRs or practical tests, and for general review
Day VFR required equipment:
GOOSE A CAT
or A FAST MOOSE
or TOMATO FLAMES
or ATOMS x 2
G as gauge
O il temperature
O il pressure
S eat belts
E LT
A ltimeter
C ompass
A irspeed indicator
T achometer |
A irspeed indicator
F uel guages
A ltimeter
S eat belt/shoulder harness
T achometer
M agnetic compass
O il pressure guage
O il temp.guage
S afety gear
E LT |
T achometer
O il pressure
M anifold pressure
A ltimeter
T emperature sensor (liquid-cooled)
O il temperature (air cooled)
F uel gauge
L anding gear position
A irspeed indicator
M agnetic compass
E LT
S eat belts |
A ltimeter
T achometer
O il pressure
M agnetic compass
S eat belts
A irspeed indicator
T emperature sensor (liquid-cooled)
O il temperature (air cooled)
M anifold pressure
S trobe light (if plane certified after 3/96) |
Night VFR: FLAPS or APES
F uses (spares) or circuit breakers
L anding light (if for hire)
A nticollision lights
P osition lights
S ource of electricity |
A nticollision lights
P osition lights
E lectric source
S pare fuses or circuit breakers |
IFR required equipment: GRAB CARD
or DECARAT
G enerator
R adios
A ttitude indicator
B all
C lock
A djustable altimeter
R ate of turn indicator
D irectional gyro |
D irectional gyro
E lectric source
C lock
A ttitude indicator
R adios
A djustable altimeter
T urn and slip coordinator |
Preflight information required for flights away: RAW FAT
R unway lengths
A lternates
W eather
F uel requirements
A TC delays
T akeoff/landing distance data
Engine-out emergency: PL(ease!) START
or ABCDE
P itch for best glide
L anding site
S eat belts
T roubleshoot
A pproach
R adios
T urn off |
A irspeed
B est place to land
C hecklist
D eclare
E xecute |
Partial-panel compass turns: UNOS
U ndershoot
N orth
O vershoot
S outh
Compass dip: ANDS
A ccelerate
N orth
D ecelerate
S outh
IFR mandatory reports: FAME Performance
F ixes: arriving or leaving
A ltitude changes
M issed approach
E quipment: loss or problems
P erformance: poor climb/descend, TAS change
Airport sign types: MIDDLR
M andatory instruction
I nformation
D estination
D irection
L ocation
R unway distance remaining
Flight Clearance: CRAFTS
C learance
R outing
A ltitude
F requency
T ransponder
S pecial
Weather briefing: SACrED WiNd
S ynopsis
A dverse conditions
C urrent weather
E nroute forecast
D estination terminal forecast
W inds aloft
N otams
Weather charts: CoPS WARS
Co nstant pressure
P rognostic
S urface analysis
W eather depiction
A rea forecast (FA)
R adar summary (SD)
S evere weather outlook (AC)
Special use airspace: MCPRAWN (the Scottish shrimp!)
M ilitary Operations
C ontrolled Firing
P rohibited
R estricted
A lert
W arning
N ational Security
Aircraft certification categories: TURN PALE
T ransport
U tility
R estricted
N ormal
P rovisional
A crobatic
L imited
E xperimental
NTSB Notification: P-FACTION
P roperty damage more than $25,000
F ire, in flight
A ccident
C ollision, in flight
T urbine failure
I llness of crew member
O verdue aircraft
N o control: control failure of any sort
Mnemonics
Flight Clearance: CRAFTS
Clearance, Routing, Altitude, Frequency, Transponder, Special
Or, more correctly:
In Clear Deep Rivers And Hot Springs, Fish Swim.
ID, Cleared to, departure, routing, altitudes, hold instructions, special, frequency, squawk
IFR position report: IPTAFNNR
I Play The Accordion For Nothing, No Reason
or
I place time above type: next time, next remark.
ID, Position, Time (minutes past the hour), Altitude, Flight type, Next report's place and time, Next next report, Remarks
Example: "Cessna 7126Q, Manchester VOR, 22, 4000, IFR, Lebanon, 54, Burlington next, In clear between layers."
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