Spend more than 30 seconds in aviation and someone is probably going to throw out an acronym of some kind. We polled our team to find out what they think are most helpful, funny or useful acronyms they’ve:
Zeke: ABCDEF
“If you experience an engine failure, time is of the essence and you need to act as quickly as possible.”
Airspeed: Establish and trim for it
Best place to land: Choose it. Turn to it!
Checklist: Run it
Doors: Open once an off airport landing is guaranteed
Electrical: Off
Fuel: Off
Matt: WIRE
“With everything going on getting ready for an instrument approach, this simple acronym ensures that I’m ready for it.”
Weather
Instruments
Radio?
Environment
Julian: GUMPS
“I don’t want to be one those statistics of people that land their airplane gear up. GUMPS helps keep me safe from that. Do it three times before you land! (downwind, base, final)”
Gas
Undercarriage
Mixture
Prop
Seatbelts
Annie: FATWORKS
“This is the as NWKRAFT but I learned FATWORK and it still makes me chuckle. Whichever one you use, this is perfect for making sure you have everything ready to go as part of your preflight planning.”
Fuel
Alternates
Takeoff (departure procedure)
Weather
Other pertinent information
Runway lengths
Known ATC delays
Tori: TIM loves BCN
“I came across this one as a way of making sure that a student has all the endorsements they need before heading out on their check ride.”
TSA: you need to have your TSA clearance
IACRA: this is the FAA system used to process pilot applications. Gotta have it completed.
Medical. You need a valid medical!
Loves…we just throw “loves” in there to make it work. The rest of these are the subparts of FAA Part 61.87 that need to be done:
B: aeronautical knowledge test completed and corrected
C: Pre solo flight training completed.
N: You need to have your 90 day solo endorsement current in your logbook.
Conor: AIRBAG
“The most important acronym I have found…”
ATIS
Information
Ready to get the ATIS?
Better get the ATIS
ATIS…again
GET THE ATIS