Private pilot acronyms and mneonics in 2025

Here are the list of private pilot acronyms and mneonics which will help you in the Pilot exam:

ADM (Aeronautical Decision Making)

• Perceive
• Process
• Perform

PAVE Checklist

• Pilot in Command
• Aircraft Limitations
• Vironment (weather, winds)
• External Pressures – People/time

DECIDE Model

• Detect a Change
• Estimate the Need
• Choose the desired outcome
• Identify actions
• Do something
• Evaluate the Effect

Required Aircraft Documents (AROW)

• Airworthiness Certificate
• Radio license
• Registration
• Operating Limits (POH)
• Weight and Balance

Required Inspections (AV1ATE)

• Annual checkup
• VOR (30 days)
• 100 hours
• Altimeter (24 months)
• Transponder (24 months)
• ELT (12m/0.5 battery life/1hr use)

Preflight Actions (SAFETY)

• Seatbelts
• Air vents
• Fire extinguisher
• Exits & emergency procedures
• Talking & Traffic
• Y (Questions?)

IMSAFE Checklist (Pilot Health)

• Illness
• Medication
• Stress
• Alcohol <0.04, 8hrs
• Fatigue
• Emotion/Eating

Hazardous Attitudes & Antidotes

• Anti Authority – Follow the rules
• Impulsivity – Think first
• Invulnerability – It can happen to me
• Machismo – Taking chances is foolish
• Resignation – I am not helpless

Engine Components (ICE)

• Intake
• Compress
• Exhaust

Four-Stroke Engine Cycle (PIE)

• Power/Combustion
• Intake
• Exhaust

Four Forces of Flight (LDRT)

• Lift
• Drag
• Rust
• Thrust

Engine Instruments

• Tachometer
• Oil Pressure
• Manifold pressure
• Airspeed indicator
• Temp gauge
• Oil Temperature
• Fuel quantity

Lighting Requirements

• Anti Collision lights
• Landing lights
• Anti Collision lights
• Position Lights (NAV)

Lost Procedures (5 C’s)

• Climb
• Conserve
• Confess
• Circle
• Call

Airspace & Flight Restrictions

• TFR
• TRSA
• MOA
• Controlled firing
• Prohibited
• Restricted
• Alert
• Warning (coastal)
• National security (DC)
• SFRA/SFR

Performance & Emergency

• Best place to land
• Checklist
• Declare Emergency
• Execute plan

Navigation & Instruments

• Mag. Compass
• North
• South
• East
• West

Power Settings

• Gas (fullest/both tank)
• Undercarriage (wheels)
• Mixture full rich
• Props full
• Seatbelts

DECIDE (Decision-Making Model)

• Detect a Change
• Estimate the Need
• Choose the desired outcome
• Identify actions
• Do something
• Evaluate the Effect

CARATS (Required Aircraft Documents)

• Certificate of Airworthiness
• Airworthiness Directives
• Registration Certificate
• Aircraft Flight Manual
• Transponder Certificate
• Standard Operating Procedures

SPAR(R)OW (Required Aircraft Documents)

• Supplemental Type Certificate
• Pilot Operating Handbook
• Airworthiness Certificate
• Registration
• **(R)**adio License (if international)
• Operating Limitations
• Weather Briefing

AAV1ATES (Aircraft Inspections)

• Annual
• Airworthiness Directives
• VOR Check (30 Days)
• 100-hour
• Altimeter (24 months)
• Transponder (24 months)
• ELT (12 months / 0.5 battery life / 1-hour use)
• Static System (24 months)

ATOMATOFLAMES (Day VFR Required Equipment – 91.205b)

• Altimeter
• Tachometer
• Oil Pressure Gauge
• Manifold Pressure Gauge
• Airspeed Indicator
• Temperature Gauge
• Oil Temperature Gauge
• Fuel Gauge
• Landing Gear Position Indicator
• Anti-Collision Lights
• Magnetic Compass
• ELT
• Seatbelts

FLAPS (Night VFR Required Equipment – 91.205c)

• Fuses (or Circuit Breakers)
• Landing Light (if for hire)
• Anti-Collision Lights
• Position Lights (NAV)
• Source of Electricity

CoPS WARS (Types of Airspace)

• Controlled
• other (Special Use Airspace)
• Prohibited
• Special Flight Rules Area
• Warning Area
• Alert Area
• Restricted
• STFR (Temporary Flight Restrictions)

ICEFLAGGS (Pitot-Static System Instruments)

• Indicated Airspeed
• Calibrated Airspeed
• Equivalent Airspeed
• Free Air Temperature
• Local Air Pressure
• Altimeter
• Ground Speed
• Gyroscopic Instruments
• Static Pressure

GARRF (Runway Incursion Avoidance)

• Ground Markings
• Air Traffic Control (ATC) Instructions
• Radio Communication
• Runway Lighting
• Final Approach and Landing Checks

THISPLLT (Engine Fail Checklist)

• Troubleshoot
• Head to Best Landing Site
• Identify Emergency
• Setup for Approach
• Power to Idle
• Landing Gear
• Landing Checklist
• Transponder to 7700

FUPARVIS (Instrument Failures)

• Fuel System
• Unreliable Instruments
• Pitot-Static Blockage
• Altimeter Error
• Radio Malfunction
• Vacuum Failure
• Indicator Failure
• Static System

MCPRAWN (Airspace Entry Requirements)

• Mode C Transponder
• Clearance
• Pilot Certification
• Radio Communication
• Altitude Restriction
• Weather Minimums
• Navigation Equipment

NWKRAFT (Preflight Information – 91.103)

• NOTAMs
• Weather
• Known ATC Delays
• Runway Lengths
• Alternate Airports
• Fuel Requirements
• Takeoff/Landing Distances

MIDDLR (Landing Checklist)

• Mixture Full Rich
• Instruments Set
• Directional Control
• Deploy Flaps
• Landing Clearance
• Runway Alignment

CRAFT (IFR Clearance)

• Clearance Limit
• Route
• Altitude
• Frequency (Departure)
• Transponder Code

NDRUMS (VOR Check)

• Navigation Log
• Degrees off Course
• Repeat Check
• Use Dual System
• Monitor Ident Tone
• Secondary Check

DANCES (Situational Awareness)

• Distance from Destination
• Altitude Awareness
• Navigation Accuracy
• Communication Readiness
• Engine & Systems Monitoring
• Surrounding Traffic

SAFETY (Passenger Briefing)

• Seatbelts
• Air Vents
• Fire Extinguisher
• Exits & Emergency Procedures
• Traffic Talking
• Your Questions?

AHADS (Hazardous Attitudes & Antidotes)

• Anti-Authority → Follow the rules
• Hyper-Impulsivity → Think first
• Acting Invincible → It can happen to me
• Dangerous Machismo → Taking chances is foolish
• Self-Doubt → I am not helpless

CSDS (Collision Avoidance)

• Constant Vigilance
• Scan for Traffic
• Divert if Necessary
• Seek ATC Assistance

ARCH (Gyroscopic Instruments)

• Attitude Indicator
• Rate of Turn Indicator
• Compensated Heading Indicator
• Horizontal Situation Indicator

ARTLES (IFR Required Equipment)

• Altimeter
• Radio Communication
• Transponder
• Lighting
• Engine Instruments
• Stabilized Approach

ANC (Navigation)

• Automation Use
• Navigation Log
• Cross-Check Instruments

5 P’s (Risk Management)

• Plan
• Plane
• Pilot
• Passengers
• Programming

5 C’s (Lost Procedures)

• Climb
• Conserve
• Confess
• Circle
• Call

CAMI (Aviation Physiology)

• Carbon Monoxide
• Altitude Sickness
• Middle Ear Block
• Illusions

IPDAT (Weather Briefing)

• Icing
• Precipitation
• Density Altitude
• Altimeter Settings
• Turbulence

ICETGM (Thunderstorm Avoidance)

• Icing
• Ceiling & Visibility
• Expect Wind Shear
• Turbulence
• Gust Fronts
• Microbursts

3 P’s (Situational Awareness)

• Perceive
• Process
• Perform

TURNPALE (Risk Factors)

• Terrain
• Unexpected Weather
• Runway Conditions
• Navigation Errors
• Pilot Fatigue
• Altitude
• Loading
• Equipment

PFACTION (Pre-Takeoff Checks)

• Power
• Flaps
• Altimeter
• Compass
• Transponder
• Instruments
• Outside Scan
• Navigation