Pre-flight

IMSAFE — Personal Readiness

Before anything else. #memorize

Letter	Factor	Ask yourself
I	Illness	Any symptoms, medications, feeling off?
M	Medication	Any drugs (prescribed or OTC) that could impair?
S	Stress	Financial, work, family — am I distracted?
A	Alcohol	8 hours bottle to throttle — really
F	Fatigue	Rested enough? Sleep debt?
E	Eating/Emotion	Hydrated? Fed? Emotionally stable?

Flight Planning

Plan route — terrain, water, airspace, alternates
Standard weather briefing — 1800wxbrief.com or 1-800-WX-BRIEF
Finish nav log with current weather
Compute T/O and landing distances vs. runway lengths
Compute fuel requirements (include reserves)
Compute weight & balance
File flight plan
Get abbreviated briefing — ATC delays, NOTAMs, TFRs

Go / No-Go — PAVE

Don’t launch with marginal factors in 2+ categories. #memorize

Letter	Category	Ask yourself
P	Pilot	Current, rested, healthy, not stressed?
A	Aircraft	Airworthy, fueled, documented?
enV	Environment	Weather, terrain, time of day, NOTAMs?
E	External pressures	Schedule pressure, “get-there-itis”?

Counteract pressure: use SOPs, allow extra time, have alternates, be willing to get stranded, manage others’ schedule expectations.

Required Documents — AROW

Aircraft must have all four on board.

Letter	Document	Notes
A	Airworthiness certificate	Must be displayed in aircraft
R	Registration	Renew every 3 years
O	Operating handbook / AFM	Or operating limitations
W	Weight & balance data	Current for this configuration

Minimum Equipment — VFR Day (ATOMATOFLAMES)

Letter	Item
A	Altimeter
T	Tachometer (each engine)
O	Oil pressure gauge
M	Manifold pressure gauge (if applicable)
A	Airspeed indicator
T	Temperature gauge (liquid-cooled) or oil temp
O	Oil temperature gauge
F	Fuel quantity gauges
L	Landing gear indicator (if retractable)
A	Anti-collision lights
M	Magnetic compass
E	ELT
S	Seatbelts (and shoulder harness at each front seat)

Night VFR additions — FLAPS: Fuses (one spare set), Landing light (if for hire), Anti-collision lights (red & white), Position lights (red/green/white), Source of power (alternator or generator).

Position lights: sunset to sunrise. Anti-collision: all operations.

Passenger Briefing

Cell phones off / airplane mode; no smoking
Seatbelts — demonstrate; wear during all ground movement, T/O, landing
Sterile cockpit in terminal area — no non-essential conversation
Don’t touch anything in the cockpit
Airsickness bags (location)
Involve them — explain what you’re doing
Emergency: 121.5 / squawk 7700; show how to use door
Help sight traffic

Departure and Arrival

After takeoff:

Fuel pump OFF (check POH)
Landing light OFF
Transponder ALT
Open flight plan with FSS if filed (122.2)
Request flight following if desired
Continue / turn-back decision point

Landing:

Be ready to go around — always. Stabilized by 500 ft AGL: on speed, on path, configured, on centerline. If not — go around, no debate.

Post-flight:

Order fuel if needed
Secure aircraft — keys, tie-down, pitot cover
Record Hobbs / tach times in logbook
Close flight plan within 30 min of ETA or SAR begins

Emergencies

Engine Out

Memory items — in order. #memorize

Airspeed → best glide (check POH for your aircraft)
Find best landing area within glide range now
Run checklist — attempt restart
Declare: 121.5 / squawk 7700
Execute — fly to landing, shut down before touchdown

Rule of thumb: ~9:1 glide ratio for most trainers. At 3,000 ft AGL → ~4.5 nm range. Pick your field early. #askCFI

Engine Fire During Start

Throttle — FULL OPEN (draw fire into engine)
Mixture — IDLE CUT-OFF
Fuel pump — OFF
Fuel selector — OFF
Starter — crank (if not already running)
Fire continues: extinguish, evacuate

Engine Fire in Flight

Throttle — CLOSED
Mixture — IDLE CUT-OFF
Fuel pump — OFF
Fuel selector — OFF
Cabin heat — CLOSED
Emergency descent, land immediately

Electrical Fire

Master switch — OFF
Avionics — ALL OFF
Vents — CLOSED
Cabin heat — CLOSED
Extinguish if smoke persists
Bring avionics back up ONE AT A TIME to isolate fault

Alternator Failure

Reduce electrical load — shed non-essentials
Check alternator circuit breaker — reset if popped
Attempt reset: ALT switch OFF 1 second, then back ON
If not restored: land as soon as practicable on battery

Battery gives ~30 min with load shed. Prioritize: comm, transponder, primary nav. Turn off: strobes, landing light, nav lights (daytime).

Spin Recovery — PARE

Check POH — some aircraft differ. #memorize

P — Power: throttle IDLE
A — Ailerons: NEUTRAL
R — Rudder: FULL OPPOSITE direction of spin
E — Elevator: BRISK FORWARD to break stall
Rotation stops: neutralize rudder, recover from dive smoothly

Lost Procedures — 4 Cs

Step	Action
Circle	Maintain altitude, stay in one area, get your bearings
Conserve	Lean mixture, reduce to max range airspeed, manage fuel
Communicate	121.5 or ATC; squawk 7700; request DF steer
Comply	Follow ATC instructions

Lost Comm — 7600

Squawk 7600. Then:

Try all assigned frequencies; try 121.5
Near controlled airspace: remain outside/above until traffic flow is clear
Advise tower of type, position, altitude, intent — request light signals
Enter pattern, self-announce, watch for light gun signals

Light Gun Signals

Signal	On ground	In flight
Steady green	Cleared for takeoff	Cleared to land
Flashing green	Cleared to taxi	Return for landing
Steady red	Stop	Give way, continue circling
Flashing red	Taxi clear of runway	Airport unsafe — do not land
Flashing white	Return to start	—
Alt. red & green	Extreme caution	Extreme caution

Acknowledge: rock wings (air/day), move ailerons/rudder (ground/day), blink landing/nav lights (night). #memorize

Special Maneuvers

Soft field takeoff: Keep taxi speed up. Flaps as recommended. Rotate early — lift nose gear ASAP. Accelerate in ground effect. Climb at Vy once clear.

Short field takeoff: Flaps as recommended. Full power before brake release. Climb at Vx until obstacles cleared, then Vy.

Soft field landing: Power on approach. Hold aircraft off as long as possible. Hold nose gear off after touchdown. Avoid brakes unless necessary.

Short field landing: Power on, steeper approach. Cross threshold at POH Vref. Hold AOA high, full braking after rollout begins.

Systems Scan

Overview


CTRL	PWR	WX	NAV	ELEC	COM	PAX

Seven systems. One mental sweep. Every few minutes in cruise.

In cruise, cycle all seven. When workload increases, focus on the core three (Controls, Power, Weather). In an emergency: aviate first — expand the scan as bandwidth returns.

Tier	Systems
Core — always	Controls & Performance, Powerplant, Weather
Situational — regularly	Navigation, Communications
Background — periodic	Lights & Electrical, Passengers

Every sweep includes: “What if this fails right now?”

Controls and Performance

“Is the airplane doing what I expect it to do?”

Primary flight instruments — reading correctly?
Calibration & functioning — pitot, static, vacuum
Controls & surfaces — free and correct?
V-speeds & performance — on profile?
Flaps — configuration appropriate?
Gear — position confirmed?
Weight & balance — still within limits?

What fails? Vacuum, pitot icing, control jam.

Powerplant

“Do I have the power I need, and will I keep it?”

Engine — temps and pressures in the green?
Propeller — RPM appropriate for phase?
Fuel system — quantity, selector, flow
Engine instruments — any trends?
Performance — getting expected power?

What fails? Partial power loss, fuel starvation, rough running.

Weather

“What’s the weather doing, and what’s it going to do?”

Safety — ceilings, visibility, icing, convection
Performance — winds, density altitude, turbulence
NOTAMs — any new TFRs or changes?
Trend — getting better or worse?

What fails? Unexpected IMC, icing encounter, severe turbulence.

“Do I know where I am and where I’m going?”

Nav radios & instruments — tuned and identified?
GPS / ForeFlight — position confirmed?
Course — on track? ETA reasonable?
Airspace — what’s ahead? Class B/C/D boundaries?

What fails? GPS loss, VOR unreliable, lost/disoriented.

Communications

“Can I talk to who I need to, and have I been?”

Radios — correct frequency? Volume up?
Calls — any pending or expected?
ATIS/AWOS — current information?
Squawk — correct code set?

What fails? Radio out, stuck mic, wrong frequency.

Lights and Electrical

“Is the electrical system healthy and are my lights right?”

Exterior lights — appropriate for phase and conditions?
Interior lights — panel, cabin as needed
Electrical — ammeter, voltage, load
Breakers — any popped?

What fails? Alternator failure, electrical fire, total electrical loss.

Passengers

“Are my passengers safe, informed, and okay?”

Briefings — completed for this phase? Understood?
Comfort — temperature, airsickness, anxiety, noise
Seatbelts — secured when appropriate?
Situational awareness — do they know what’s happening?

What fails? Passenger incapacitation, panic, interference with controls.

Airspace

Airspace Classes

Class	Chart symbol	Dimensions	Entry requirements	Notes
A	—	18,000 MSL – FL600	IFR clearance, Mode C	Set 29.92, FLs only
B	Solid blue	Surface – ~10,000 MSL	ATC clearance, PPL+, Mode C, 2-way radio	Mode C in 30 nm veil; 200 kt limit below B
C	Solid magenta	Surface–4,000 AGL (5 nm); 1,200–4,000 AGL (5–10 nm)	2-way radio contact, Mode C	Mode C above C up to 10,000
D	Dashed blue	Surface – ~2,500 AGL, ~4 nm	2-way radio contact	200 kt ≤4 nm below 2,500
E	Magenta/blue gradients	700 AGL, 1,200 AGL, or 14,500 MSL	None for VFR	Victor airways 4 nm each side
G	Undesignated	Surface to overlying E	None	Also: >14,500 MSL & <1,500 AGL

VFR Weather Minimums

Airspace	Flight vis	Below clouds	Above clouds	Horiz
Class B	3 sm	Clear of clouds	—	—
Class C, D, E <10,000 ft	3 sm	500 ft	1,000 ft	2,000 ft
Class E ≥10,000 ft MSL	5 sm	1,000 ft	1,000 ft	1 sm
Class G ≤1,200 AGL (day)	1 sm	Clear of clouds	—	—
Class G ≤1,200 AGL (night)	3 sm	500 ft	1,000 ft	2,000 ft
Class G >1,200 AGL, <10,000 ft (day)	1 sm	500 ft	1,000 ft	2,000 ft
Class G >1,200 AGL, <10,000 ft (night)	3 sm	1,000 ft	1,000 ft	2,000 ft
Class G ≥10,000 ft MSL	5 sm	1,000 ft	1,000 ft	1 sm

Special VFR: 1 sm, clear of clouds, daytime only.

Speed Limits

Where	Limit
Below 10,000 ft MSL	250 KIAS
Within 4 nm, below 2,500 AGL of Class C or D	200 KIAS
VFR corridors / underlying Class B	200 KIAS

Transponder Codes

Know all four cold. #memorize

Code	Meaning
1200	VFR (no ATC assignment)
7500	Hijacking
7600	Lost comm
7700	Emergency

Special Use Airspace

Type	What it means
Prohibited (P-###)	No flight, period
Restricted (R-###)	Need permission; hazards present
Warning (W-###)	≥3 nm offshore; hazardous activities
Alert (A-###)	Unusual aerial activity; high student traffic
MOA	Military ops — VFR legal, get advisories from ATC
TFR	Temporary — VIP, disasters, sporting events; check NOTAMs

Minimum Safe Altitudes

Where	Minimum
Anywhere	High enough for emergency landing without undue hazard
Congested area	1,000 ft above highest obstacle within 2,000 ft horizontal
Uncongested area	500 ft above the surface
Open water / sparsely populated	500 ft from any person, vehicle, vessel, or structure

Comms

The Formula

WHO / WHO / WHERE / INTENTION / REQUEST

Minuteman Traffic, Cessna 1234A, 5 miles south, inbound full stop, Runway 3, Minuteman.

When doubtful, say more. State position, altitude, and intentions clearly.

Uncontrolled Airport — Call Sequence

5–10 miles out: request traffic info
Overflying the field
Entering 45 to downwind
Entering downwind
Turning base
Turning final (touch-and-go or full stop?)
Clear of active runway
Departing runway (staying in pattern?)
Departing pattern (direction)

Controlled Airport — Hanscom Examples

Situation	Call
Initial VFR request	Boston Approach, [Callsign], VFR request.
Flight following	[Callsign] over [position] at [altitude], VFR direct [dest], request flight following.
Inbound with ATIS	[Callsign] over [position] at [altitude], VFR, landing Hanscom with [info].
Level off	Boston Approach, [Callsign] level [altitude].
Climb/descent	Boston Approach, [Callsign] leaving [alt] climbing/descending to [alt].

Home Airports

Airport	CTAF / Tower	Notes
6B6 Minute Man	122.8	Uncontrolled; left traffic Rwy 3/21
KBED Hanscom	Twr 132.55	Class D; Boston Approach 124.4 / 118.45
KFIT Fitchburg	Twr 123.0	Class D (part-time); check NOTAMs

KBED D-ATIS: 135.675. Boston Approach: 124.4 (south/east), 118.45 (north/west).

Key Frequencies

Frequency	Use
121.5 MHz	Guard / emergency
122.0	Flight Watch (en-route wx — give nearest VOR)
122.2	FSS (most areas)
7700	Emergency transponder
7600	Lost comm transponder

Flight Plan

Close within 30 min of ETA — SAR begins if not closed
Amend if destination or ETA changes by >15 min
File at 1800wxbrief.com or via phone

IFR Clearance Readback Format

Cleared to [destination] via [route] · Climb to [altitude] · Departure frequency [freq] · Squawk [code]

Performance

V-Speeds

Always use your specific aircraft’s POH values. #askCFI

Symbol	Name	Use it for
Vs0	Stall, landing config	Approach/landing stall reference
Vs1	Stall, clean	Cruise stall reference
Vfe	Max flap extended	Don’t extend flaps above this
Va	Maneuvering speed	Full deflection safe below this; decreases with lower weight
Vno	Max structural cruise	Green arc top; above here smooth air only
Vne	Never exceed	Red line
Vx	Best angle of climb	Max altitude per distance — obstacle clearance
Vy	Best rate of climb	Max altitude per time — normal climb
Vg	Best glide	Max range without power — know this cold

Standard Rate Turn

Bank angle for standard rate (3°/sec):

Bank angle ≈ Airspeed ÷ 6

Examples: 90 kts → 15° | 120 kts → 20° | 150 kts → 25°

Fuel

Item	Value
Avgas weight	6.0 lbs/gallon
VFR day reserve	30 min at cruise
VFR night reserve	45 min at cruise

Partial tanks → condensation risk. Always sump; check color (avgas = blue or red; Jet A = clear/straw).

Standard Atmosphere

Parameter	Sea level	Lapse rate
Pressure	29.92 inHg	~1.00 inHg per 1,000 ft
Temperature	15°C / 59°F	~2°C per 1,000 ft

Density altitude increases with high temperature, high elevation, high humidity. Rule of thumb: every 1,000 ft density altitude → ~3% performance degradation.

Pitot-Static Failures

Failure	Effect
Pitot blocked, drain open	Reads 0 KIAS
Pitot blocked, drain also blocked	IAS increases with altitude
Static blocked, pitot open	IAS decreases in climb, increases in descent

Gyroscopic Instruments

Instrument	Power source
Turn coordinator	Electric
Attitude indicator	Vacuum (typically)
Heading indicator (DG)	Vacuum (typically)

Cross-check DG with compass every 15 min. Vacuum failure takes out both AI and HI.

Compass Errors

Error	Behavior
Magnetic variation	Earth’s field offset from true north — check isogonic lines
Deviation	EM interference from aircraft — check deviation card
Acceleration (ANDS)	Accel → apparent turn toward N; Decel → apparent turn toward S
Turning near N	Compass lags — lead your roll-out
Turning near S	Compass leads — roll out early

Lead/lag magnitude ≈ latitude. At ~42°N (New England), plan for ~42° lag/lead near N/S.

Regulations

Currency Requirements

Requirement	Rule
Flight review	Every 24 calendar months — 1 hr ground + 1 hr flight minimum (FAR 61.56)
Passenger currency (day)	3 T/O and landings in 90 days, same category/class (FAR 61.57)
Passenger currency (night)	3 T/O and full-stop landings at night in 90 days

BasicMed

Alternative to traditional FAA medical (FAR 61.113).

Must have held a valid FAA medical at any point after July 14, 2006
Must not have had most recent medical denied, revoked, or suspended
Complete AOPA online medical education course (~2–3 hrs, free)
See any state-licensed physician — they complete the CMEC form
Valid for 48 calendar months
Limits: max 18,000 ft MSL, max 250 KIAS, no compensation, max 6 occupants, U.S. airspace

Key FAR 91 Numbers

Topic	Rule
Alcohol (time)	No flying within 8 hours of consuming alcohol
Alcohol (BAC)	No flying with BAC ≥ 0.04%
Seat belts	All occupants during T/O, landing, and taxi (91.107)
Altimeter	Below 18,000: local setting within 100 nm; above: 29.92
Speed (general)	250 KIAS below 10,000 ft MSL

Approach Lighting

System	On-path indication
VASI	Red over white (“red over white, you’re alright”)
PAPI	2 white / 2 red
Tricolor	Green

Airport Signs and Lighting

Type	Colors	Examples
Mandatory instruction	White on red	Runway hold short, ILS critical area
Location	Yellow on black	Current taxiway/runway identifier
Direction / destination	Black on yellow	Taxiway directions, exits
Runway distance remaining	White on black	1, 2, 3… (thousands of feet)

Taxiway lights: blue edge, green centerline. Airport beacon on during daylight = IFR conditions.

Pilot-controlled lighting: 7 clicks = high, 5 = medium, 3 = low (in 5 seconds). Lights stay on 15 minutes after last activation.