Hi,I thought it might be worth asking if anyone knows any phrases or words which help to remember flying checks. About the only thing I know was something I read for a downwind check in a light single-engine plane which was something like 'the Selector Contents Pressure the Pump and the Mixture Brakes the Security'.Anything would be cool (for any aircraft),ThanksP

A common one I have always used for the big items is "GUMP"Gas, Undercarriage, Mixture, PropGas would be boost pumps and proper tank selectionUndercarriage is obviousMixture, usually full richProp, full forward(flat)pitch This works for all aircraft and will keep you out of trouble most of the time. There are a few others but I have always liked this one.Hornit

PAPER.Checklists are printed on (usually laminated) paper or card and kept at hand so you can't forget an item on them.

Here in NZ where I fly the four main ones I have encountered are:Pre landing:BUMPFH - Brakes, Undercarriage, Mixture (rich), Pitch (fine), Fuel, Hatches / Harnesses Pre stall practise: HASELL - Height, Airframe (configuration i.e flaps power etc), Security (no loose objects to smack you around the head), Engine (temps & pressures), Location (not to scare any pple on the ground), Lookout (clearing turns to make sure you not gonna hit someone below you).also - between stalls:HELL - abbreviated version of aboveBefore take-off:TTMPFFIIHCL - Trim, Throttle friction nut, Pitch, fuel (cocks, contents, primer locked, quantity), Flaps, Ignition (both), Instruments (none broken, DI aligned, QNH set, no contact breakers popped), Harnesses & Hatches, Controls full & free & correctly rigged, Lights.The last one`s not a word but its committed to memory. Incidentally a lot of vital actions in aircraft are learned rather than referred to on paper. If my engine quits at 250 feet after take-off I am going to get the nose down, trim for 65kts, and FMI (Fuel, mixture, ignition) checks very quickly, instead of looking for a bloody piece of paper.Hope this helpsrottenlungs

FREDA or FREHA = Fuel, Radios, engine, heading indicator or direction indicator, altitude. I used this every ten minutes in small GA flying in cruise.

The classic acronyms are:CIFFTR (for takeoff) and GUMP (for landing)ControlsInstrumentsFuelFlapsTrimRunupGasUndercarriageMixturePropsKen

There was an interesting article written by a military fighter pilot who argued against the use of checklists.In some ways you dont really know an aircraft until you can fly it without checklists and the time you are most likely to make a mistake if you are totally checklist reliant is the very time you cant use it. ie when you are in heavy cloud and turbulence or dealing with a problem or unexpected development.Mental checklists well known cover you in all eventualities especially when you dont have the time to grab bits of card or all your concentration is needed outside.I am not recommending NOT using checklists especially in complex types or when new to type but having both, mental and paper is a far safer option.Peter

for military pilots (especially fast jet jocks) the requirements are of course somewhat different for certain parts of the flight regimen at least because their operations are performed at speeds that often leave no time for formal checklists.I agree that knowing the checklist inside and out so you CAN perform it blind is a very good thing, but you shouldn't have to rely on mindgames to do so...

Jwenting, Just curious how many aircraft types you have flown? A lot of experienced pilots use these mnemonics believe it or not. Yes I use published checklists at all times, but when your flying different equipment or unfamiliar aircraft then using these little tools will keep you from missing the big things. You see even using checklists folks have forgotten things like landing gear etc. At work We use the checklist religiuosly but for instance, on final approach somewhere shortly before touchdown I still touch the gear and flaps and make sure we are set up for the missed, not on the checklist at all. If your not doing something in an aircraft then you forgot something, age old saying in aviation.Hornit

Here's a site with a list of some of them:http://www.flight-instructor.de/misc/aviation-acronyms.shtml

One I use is "Lights, Camera, Action" before takeoff in a smaller aircraft: (In my case a Cessna 152)Lights- Nav, beacon, etcCamera- Transponder set ALT and squawk (VFR: 1200 for me..)Action- Start on the left, proceed right then down; Primer in and locked, master switch on both, magnetos on both, carb heat off, mixture full rich, fuel shutoff valve on.Jason :)

Thanks all for all the info - this stuff's great!Personally yeah I hate checklists because I instantly start reading and my brain switches off and I stop flying and it becomes like follwing the instructions of a diy manual or something. I guess it's a personal preference thing (for simming anyway!)Thanks againPierre

OopsJust read my last post and I think it sounds a bit dumb. I think what i needed to say was checklists are vital but I'd much rather have them translated into remembered phrases / words for flying.For anyone who's actually still reading, thanks!Pierre

>>>>for military pilots (especially fast jet jocks) the requirements are of course somewhat different for certain parts of the flight regimen at least because their operations are performed at speeds that often leave no time for formal checklists. I agree that knowing the checklist inside and out so you CAN perform it blind is a very good thing,<<<>>>but you shouldn't have to rely on mindgames to do so...;)Douglas

The one I learned for writing down IFR clearances is CRAFT:C - Clearance limit (cleared to)R - RouteA - AltitudeF - Departure FrequenceyT - TransponderBefore getting your IFR clearance, write CRAFT vertically on a peice of paper. Then when they read your clearance back just fill in the blanks. In flight sim it doesn't really matter since you always get as filed, but you're not always that lucky in the real world.A more realistic example:Cessna 700MS cleared to XYZ VOR, fly direct ABC VOR then Victor-123 to XYZ, expect as filed at XYZ, climb and maintain four-thousand, expect six-thousand at ABC VOR, contact departure on 123.45, squawk, 3456.C - XYZ VOR exp A/F @ XYZR - D-> ABC, V123 - XYZA - 4000, exp 6000 @ ABCF - 123.45T - 3456