Jason Schappert has recently created a short video with a great acronym to remember what instruments are required for VFR flights. His acronym for day flights: A-TOMATO-FLAMES. Here is what it stands for:
- A – Altimeter
- T – Tachometer
- O – Oil Temperature Gauge
- M – Manifold Pressure Gauge (If applicable)
- A – Airspeed Indicator
- T – Temperature Gauge (For each liquid cooled engine)
- O – Oil Pressure Gauge
- F – Fuel Gauges
- L – Landing Gear Position Indicator (If applicable)
- A – Anti Collision Lights (For aircraft manufactured after March 11, 1996)
- M – Magnetic Compass
- E – ELT
- S – Seat Belts
And if you happen to be flying at night, just add FLAPS:
- F – Fuses
- L – Landing Light
- A – Anti Collision Lights
- P – Position Lights
- S – Source of Power
Hence and on your next checkride, just remember: A-TOMATO-FLAMES-FLAPS
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I used to fly a ‘Powered Parachute’ microlight in the UK – so my instrument checklist was quite easy. ‘A’ for altimeter. That was it!
I sometimes added ‘C’ for compass (on a lanyard around my neck) and in the later years a primitive ‘GPS’ – no moving map, just a dotted line so I could find my way back!
The simple life