Flying involves plenty of memorization and much of what a pilot needs to remember may only be used occasionally or just in an emergency situation. Thus, it is important to have an easy way to remember all of those steps or checklists.
Brian, the pilot of a Cessna 182 and the blogger behind Brian’s Flying Blog, has posted a comprehensive list of aviation mnemonics and acronyms that are well worth reading and memorizing by both student and experienced pilots. He has also divided his list into VFR and IFR mnemonics and some of his examples include:
TOMATOFLAMES (VFR equipment)
tach, oil press, manifold press, altimeter, temp, oil pressure, fuel gauge, landing gear position, air speed, magnetic compass, elt, seat beltsCIGAR (Run-up before takeoff)
controls, instruments, gas, attitude (trim and flaps), run-upALARMS (Emergency Engine Failure)
airspeed, landing site, air restart, radios, mayday, secure planeTTTTT (IFR Holding Patterns)
turn, time, twist, throttle, talk
Brian has also included some useful links to pilot and flying mnemonics resources on the web along with the customized checklist he uses when he takes his Cessna 182 up for a spin.
You know, I always thought the chorus in Pink Floyd's Learning to Fly was from the TTTT acronym:
"Turn Time and Twist, just an earthbound misfit, I"
Turns out it's actually "Tongue-tied and twisted"
Wise instructor taught me about the FIELD acronym for final approach on forced landings:
F – Fuel off
I – Ignition off
E – Electrics off (after flaps set)
L – Lapstraps tight
D – Doors open
I'm going to start singing that song wrong, I like Pat's version better.
That's an interesting list and very useful.
A good one for a missed approach.
C C C C C
CRAM – Power
CLIMB – Pull up
CLEAN – Gear and Flaps (when appropriate)
COOL – Open the Cowl flaps
COMMUNICATE – "Going missed"
A good all purpose check for Complex GA aircraft
GUMPS CLIF
G – Gas
U – Undercarriage
M -Mixture
P – Power / Prop
S- Seat belts
C – Cowl flaps
L – Lights
I – (Engine) Instruments
F- Flaps
A great check on short final for all retract / complex
MPUF
M- Mixture Full forward
P – Prop Full forward
U – Undercarriage (3 Green)
F- Flaps set for landing