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What instruments do I need for a VFR flight?

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

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Nick says

    February 27, 2010 at 10:14

    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 πŸ™‚

    Reply
    • Guy says

      July 16, 2020 at 18:44

      Great acronym, but I was told that the anti collision lights are for aircraft CERTIFICATED after that date, not manufactured. Thus, a C 172, original certification date was in 1957, hence, C172 does not require anti collision lights. At least thats how I was told this.

      Reply
  2. Tom A says

    September 2, 2018 at 05:38

    Landing light at night is only required for flights that are for hire. . Elt not required for single seat aircraft.

    Reply
  3. Michael Godines says

    October 15, 2019 at 06:15

    Thats what my instructor taught me. Here’s one for systems EPIIC FEELL

    Engine
    Propellor
    Induction
    Ignition
    Cooling
    Fuel
    Environmental control
    Electrical
    Lubrication
    Landing gear.

    Have a blessed day!

    Reply
  4. Guy LaPlante says

    May 10, 2020 at 19:42

    Helpful acronym, but the anti collision lights is not for MANUFACTURED post March 11, 1986, but CERTIFICATED after that date, thus, a 1977 Cessna 172N for example, manufactured of course in 1977 is not REQUIRED to have anti collision lights as the C-172 series was type certificated in the late 1950’s. An aircraft, however, type certificated post 1996, would be required to have them. The seat belt requirement from the end of “FLAMES” is actually shoulder harnesses,, and is for aircraft MANUFACTURED, not CERTIFICATED after July 18, 1978. My C172N example would not be required to have shoulder harnesses eirher.

    Reply
  5. Gary Jones says

    January 18, 2022 at 10:12

    Thanks for the information. All good stuff. Another site was really wrong they forgot to list what FLAPS meant. But did list it. GUMPS – Gas, Undercarriage, Mixture, Prop, and Switches. I mod this to GRUMPSS- Gas, Radio/Transponder, Undercarriage. Mixture, Prop, Seat Belts/Shoulder Harnesses, and Switches. Cyndy has made it GLUMPS – L = Landing Light. Rod M. – Before Takeoff – Lights, Camera & Action ( Lights as required, transponder, fly the plane ). Cheers (A tribute to my friend, mentor and brother in arms Maj. Dennis Pearson Ret. USAF T-38, F-4 & F-15)

    Reply

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Matthew Stibbe
Matthew Stibbe is CEO of Articulate Marketing and Turbine, the easy, online way to deal with office paperwork. He has an FAA CPL/IR and an EASA PPL/IR and sometimes flies a Cirrus SR-22. He also writes about wine at Vincarta and being a better manager at Geek Boss.
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