Aviation Mnemonics Every Pilot Should Know

The Memory Shortcuts That Could Save Your Life

Aviation mnemonics are memory aids that condense complex procedures and requirements into simple, memorable phrases. They are used daily by student pilots and airline captains alike. Here is the definitive collection.

Pre-Flight and Equipment Mnemonics

A TOMATO FLAMES (Required VFR Day Instruments)

• A -- Airspeed indicator
• T -- Tachometer
• O -- Oil pressure gauge
• M -- Manifold pressure (if applicable)
• A -- Altimeter
• T -- Temperature gauge (oil or coolant)
• O -- Oil temperature (if applicable)
• F -- Fuel quantity gauge
• L -- Landing gear position indicator
• A -- Anti-collision lights
• M -- Magnetic compass
• E -- ELT
• S -- Seatbelts/safety harnesses

FLAPS (Additional for Night VFR)

• F -- Fuses (spare set)
• L -- Landing light (if operated for hire)
• A -- Anti-collision lights
• P -- Position lights (nav lights)
• S -- Source of electricity (generator/alternator)

GRABCARD (Required IFR Instruments)

• G -- Generator/alternator
• R -- Radios (nav and comm)
• A -- Attitude indicator (artificial horizon)
• B -- Ball (slip/skid indicator)
• C -- Clock (with seconds)
• A -- Altimeter (adjustable)
• R -- Rate of turn indicator
• D -- Directional gyro (heading indicator)

AROW (Required Aircraft Documents)

• A -- Airworthiness certificate
• R -- Registration
• O -- Operating limitations (POH/AFM)
• W -- Weight and balance data

Emergency Mnemonics

The Five A's (Engine Fire in Flight)

• A -- Airspeed (best glide or as appropriate)
• A -- Air (mixture idle cutoff / fuel shutoff)
• A -- Airframe (configure for emergency landing)
• A -- Area (select suitable landing site)
• A -- Attempt restart (if fire is out and altitude permits)

ABC (Basic Emergency Priorities)

• A -- Aviate (fly the airplane first)
• B -- Brief (communicate the situation)
• C -- Confess (declare emergency to ATC)

5 T's (Procedure Turn/Holding Fix)

• T -- Turn (to the appropriate heading)
• T -- Time (start the timer)
• T -- Twist (set the OBS or course)
• T -- Throttle (adjust power as needed)
• T -- Talk (report position if required)

Navigation Mnemonics

East is Least, West is Best (Magnetic Variation)

When converting true heading to magnetic heading:

• Easterly variation: Subtract (true to magnetic)
• Westerly variation: Add (true to magnetic)
• Reverse when going from magnetic to true

Can Dead Men Vote Twice (Compass to True)

• C -- Compass heading
• D -- Deviation (add or subtract)
• M -- Magnetic heading
• V -- Variation (add or subtract)
• T -- True heading

Going the opposite direction (True to Compass): "True Virgins Make Dull Companions"

UNOS (VOR CDI Interpretation)

When heading TO a VOR station:

• Undershoot -- If CDI deflects left, turn left
• Needle -- Follow the needle
• Overshoot -- Never happened
• Standard -- This is standard tracking

Weather Mnemonics

The Four Types of Fog

• R -- Radiation fog (clear nights, calm wind, moist air)
• A -- Advection fog (warm air over cold surface)
• U -- Upslope fog (air forced up terrain)
• S -- Steam fog (cold air over warm water)

Remember: "RAUS" or "fog RAUS-es visibility" (a stretch, but memorable).

Cloud Types by Height

• High (above 20,000 ft): Cirrus, cirrostratus, cirrocumulus (ice crystals)
• Medium (6,500-20,000 ft): Altostratus, altocumulus
• Low (below 6,500 ft): Stratus, stratocumulus, nimbostratus

Mnemonic: "High Circus acts, Medium Alto voices, Low Street level"

Approach Mnemonics

GUMP Check (Pre-Landing)

• G -- Gas (fuel selector, mixture, boost pump)
• U -- Undercarriage (landing gear down and locked)
• M -- Mixture (rich or as required)
• P -- Propeller (forward / high RPM)

WIRE Check (Missed Approach)

• W -- Wings level
• I -- Instruments (check attitude, airspeed, altitude)
• R -- RPM (full power)
• E -- Establish climb (positive rate, gear up, flaps as appropriate)

Regulation Mnemonics

1-2-3 Rule (IFR Alternate Required)

If destination weather (1 hour before to 1 hour after ETA) is forecast below:

• 1 -- 1 hour before/after
• 2 -- 2,000 ft ceiling
• 3 -- 3 statute miles visibility

Then an alternate airport must be filed.

3-2-1 (Night Passenger Currency)

To carry passengers at night, you need:

• 3 takeoffs and landings
• within the previous 90 days
• to a full stop
• at night (1 hour after sunset to 1 hour before sunrise)

AVE-F MEA (Lost Communication -- Route)

• A -- Assigned (last assigned route)
• V -- Vectored (route to complete the vector)
• E -- Expected (route ATC told you to expect)
• F -- Filed (your filed flight plan route)

Follow whichever is the highest: Minimum, Expected, Altitude filed.

Creating Your Own Mnemonics

The most effective mnemonics are the ones you create yourself:

1. Identify the list -- What needs to be remembered?
2. Extract key elements -- First letters or key words
3. Create a phrase -- Make it vivid, funny, or personal
4. Test yourself -- Can you recall it from the phrase?
5. Review regularly -- Use spaced repetition

The Bottom Line

Mnemonics are not a substitute for understanding -- they are tools for quick recall in the cockpit and exam room. Learn the underlying concepts first, then use mnemonics to ensure you can access that knowledge quickly when it matters.

*Test your knowledge of all these topics with our [ATPL question bank](/) and [quiz tool](/tools/quiz). Mnemonics help you remember; practice questions help you apply.*