Aviation Acronyms and Mnemonics

Memory aids are a huge asset to pilots.  It's hard enough to come up with lists or do public math when you're sitting in a briefing room. It's much harder in flight.  But if you have a word or phrase to recite, the execution can become much easier.  I hope these help...

• Aircraft categories:  TURN PALE
• Airports/Airfields
• Preflight info for off station airfields
• NW KRAFT
• RAW FAT
• WANTS (WX, alternates, NOTAMs, TOLD, SIDs/STARs)
• Sign types:  MIDDLR
• Airspace
• FEET SO 14-50 (Class E airspace types)
• McPRAWN (special use airspace)
• ATC
• IPAD (initial call to ATC, page 3)
• Before landing
• CGUMPS
• GPS:  Gear, Prop (forward), Speed brakes (closed)
• Before takeoff
• LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION: Version 1 or Version 2.
• Cloud clearances (see Airspace)
• Compass, see Magnetic Compass
• Decision Making:  DECIDE
• Documents, required
• ARROW (required documents) or AROW (if the radio license is not required)
• I use SPARROW (adds supplements, placards) or SPARROWED (adds supplements, placards, external data plate and deviation card).
• Engine Failure (ASEL, several versions)
• ABCDE
• ALARMS
• PL(ease) START
• Speed, Field, Faults, Flaps, Final (IN THAT ORDER!)
• Equipment +
• A FAST MOOSE (day VFR)
• APES (night VFR)
• ATOMS x 2 (day VFR required equipment)
• DECARAT (IFR required equipment + day or night VFR equipment)
• FLAPS (night VFR)
• GOOSE A CAT (day VFR required equipment)
• GRAB CARD (IFR required equipment + day or night VFR equipment)
• TOMATO FLAMES (day VFR)
• See also:  A FAST MOOSE, ATOMS x 2, GOOSE A CAT
• TOMATO FLAMES + FLAPS (VFR day/night)
• Go around
• 5Cs or 4Cs / 4Cs
• TADS (page 4)
• Hazardous attitudes (I'M AIR)
• Impulsiveness / Macho / Anti-authority / Invulnerability / Resignation
• IFR / Approaches
• 5Ts (approaches) or 6Ts (page 4)
• 6As (approaches, page 4)
• AVE F (lost comm routing, IFR,in order)
• CIA (fundamentals of instrument flight)
• Clearance:  CRAFTS or In Clear Deep Rivers And Hot Springs, Fish Swim
• Mandatory reports:
• FAME Performance
• MARVELOUS VFR C500
• N-DRUMS
• MEA (lost comm altitudes, IFR, highest)
• PAINMOM (approach brief)
• Procedure/Plate (ensure briefing the same version)
• Altimeter (get the latest)
• Initial rate of decent (gameplan for precision vs non-precision)
• NAVAIDs (set navigation aids and inbound course)
• Missed approach (brief it)
• Ops Check (check your aircraft instruments/fuel)
• Minimums (briefed and set if you have bugs)
• Position report: I Play The Accordion For Nothing, No Reason
•  APTATEN - Aircraft ID, position, time (crossing fix), altitude, type of flight plan, ETA (to next reporting point), name (of next reporting point).
• Procedure turns (when not to): SHARPTT
• WIRETAP (IFR and nearing destination)
• Illusions
• GAARF (landing)
• ICE FLAGGS (in flight)
• Inspections
• AV1ATES (the "I" is actually a "1") or Explained.
• Lost / Lost Comm
• IFR, see IFR
• VFR, 4Cs or 5Cs
• Magnetic Compass
• ANDS (dip errors)
• UNOS (turns)
• Two Virginians Make Delightful Company (true heading to compass)
• PAST (determining critical engine AMEL)
• Personal Minimums
• IM SAFE
• PAvE (Pilot, aircraft, environment, external pressure)
• External pressure can be PAWT (passengers, airspace, wx and time)
• PDF from FAA
• PAWT (external pressure): passengers, airspace, wx and time
• Position Reports: see IFR above
• Reports, required/mandatory
• IFR (see above)
• NTSB:  P-FACTION
• SMACFUM (determining Vmc for AMEL)
• Transponder Codes (my version)
• 7500 - "high five" or hijack
• 7600 - in the military J6 is communications
• 7700 - highest number = highest concern, i.e., emergency
• Weather
• Briefing:  SACrED WiNd (or the Standard Brief from AWC)
• Charts: CoPS WARS
• Written Truth / Magnetic Speaker (winds)

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Rules of Thumb (ROT)

Rules of thumb (ROT) are quick ways / mental aids to calculate a large array of ground and in-flight information which can simplify your life (and let your brain get back to other things).  These are alphabetical.  

See also: Aviation Mnemonics

NOTES:

• CG = climb gradient (FPNM), also degrees nose up from level
• DG = descent gradient (FPNM), also degrees nose down from level 
• DIST = distance
• FPM = feet per minute (vertical speed indicator, this is a RATE & depends on groundspeed)
• FPNM = feet per nautical mile (this is a GRADIENT and doesn't change with groundspeed)
• GS = ground speed (divide GS / 60 to get NMPM)
• HAT = height above touchdown
• MPM = miles per minute (a version of groundspeed [GS])
• NMPM = nautical miles per minute (GS / 60)
• PDP = planned decision point (in conjunction with a visual descent point [VDP])

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• 5 rules-of-thumb you can use on your next flight.
• Crosswind, takeoff and landing, descents, ILS
• 5 rules-of-thumb you can use on your next flight.
• Glideslopes, descents, course corrections, windshear, gusty approaches.
• 50/70 Rule (for aborting takeoffs).
• It should be 50% of planned takeoff distance, not runway. 
• 60-1 rule (probably the most universal)
• Altitude: see Descents below.
• Approaches (in gusty winds):  add half the gust factor to normal final speed
• Civil Twilight:  usually 20-35 after sunset
• Climb gradient
• Climb gradient (FPNM) to climb rate (FPM) using ground speed (GS)
• NMPM x FPNM = FPM (350 FPNM needed @ 80kts = 466 FPM)
• FPNM = DG (angle) x NMPM (GS) x 100.
• Course corrections (1 degree is 1 nm at 60 nm from a VOR station)
• Crosswind (estimate)
• 30 degrees off = 50% wind speed
• 45 degrees off = 75% wind speed
• 60 degrees or more off = ~100%
• Descents:
• 1 degree of descent = 100 feet lost in 1 NM (this is gradient)
• Altitude to lose/distance = FPNM (which is also degrees nose down)
• Altitude to lose/time = FPM (which is vertical speed)
• Pro tips for private pilots: descend like a jet jockey.
• When to begin descents?
• 3-6 Rule:  ALT/3 (distance) and 5 or 6 x GS (descent rate)
• ALT/FPM x GS (5000’/500 x 1.5 = 15NM)
• ALT/3 (for 3°)  (5000’/3 = 16.67NM).  This is altitude to lose.
• Degrees = ALT/DIST (3.3° = 10000' / 30 nm)
• Required rate:  ALT/DIST x GS (4900’/7NM x 1.5 = 1050 FPM)
• Fuel:
• Distance / GS = Time
• Time x Fuel Burn Rate
• Glideslope descent rates (for 3 degrees)
• Groundspeed / 2 and add a zero (90 kts = 450 FPM)
• Groundspeed x 5, (120 kts = 600 FPM)
• Remember, this is a RATE not a GRADIENT!
• 3 degree glideslopes always have a 300 FPNM gradient
• Two easy rules-of-thumb for calculating a 3-degree glide slope.
• Gusty wind approaches:  add half the gust factor to normal final speed
• ILS course width:
• Crossing the threshold, 1/2 dot localizer deflection = about 1/2 the runway width. So a half dot off as you approach the runway, you'll be looking at the runway edge lights
• Knowledge Check/Quizzes:
• If you have a 100 knot groundspeed...6Qs.
• You're flying toward fix that's 20 NM… 6Qs.
• Questions by Fly the Wing.
• Landing distance:  10% weight increase = 20% takeoff & landing distance increase
• Master Equation: MPM x FPNM = FPM (or groundspeed x gradient = rate)
• I call this the master equation because it can get you almost anywhere
• Mental math for pilots. (bm)
• Mental math for pilots. (FI).
• PDP = TIME to MAP – (10% of HAT)
• Required rate:  ALT/DIST x GS (4900’/7NM x 1.5 = 1050 FPM)
• Takeoff
• 7 ROT for takeoff performance.
• Abort decision (the 50/70 rule).
• My opinion: should be 50% of planned takeoff distance, not runway.
• Reality Check: The 70-50 rule needs to go away. (AOPA)
• Distance:
• 10% weight increase = 20% takeoff & landing distance increase
• Increases about 10% for every additional 1,000 feet of density altitude
• Useful aviation formulas every pilot should know. (FI).
• Weather / Weather Related:
• Hot weather: 3 rules of thumb.
• Summer flying, 3 ROTs.
• Windshear is double peak wind:  if a microburst is 30 kts, you could get 60 kts shear
• VDP (visual descent point)
• FPM = DIST x GS
• HAT/3 = DIST @ 300 FPNM (adjust for DME)

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