📋 Cheat Sheet — Mnemonics & Numbers

61.57(c): 6 approaches + holding + intercept/track in the preceding 6 calendar months. Grace: next 6 mo (regain with safety pilot/sim). Then IPC.
61.65(d): 50 hr XC PIC (10 airplane) • 40 hr instrument (15 with CFII; 3 hr within 2 cal. months before test) • 250 NM IFR XC, approach at each airport, 3 kinds of approaches.
91.167 fuel: destination + alternate (if req.) + 45 min. 91.169: 1-2-3 rule: 1 hr before/after ETA, 2,000 ceiling / 3 SM.
Alternate minimums (none published): precision 600-2, non-precision 800-2. RNAV-only alternate: plan LNAV/circling, not LPV.

Mnemonic	Means
GRABCARD (91.205(d))	Generator • Radios (comm/nav) • Altimeter (sensitive) • Ball • Clock (sweep second) • Attitude • Rate of turn • Direction (DG)
ATOMATOFLAMES (VFR day)	Airspeed • Tach • Oil pressure • Manifold pressure • Altimeter • Temp (liquid-cooled) • Oil temp • Fuel gauge • Landing gear position • Anti-collision • Mag compass • ELT • Seat belts
FLAPS (VFR night)	Fuses • Landing light (for hire) • Anti-collision • Position lights • Source of electricity
AVIATE (inspections)	Annual (12) • VOR (30 days) • 100-hr • Altimeter/static (24 mo) • Transponder (24 mo) • ELT (12 mo)
ARROW	Airworthiness • Registration • Radio license • Operating limitations • Weight & balance

VOT ±4° • ground checkpoint ±4° • airborne checkpoint ±6° • dual VOR 4° apart. Log: date, place, error, signature.

CRAFT: Clearance limit • Route • Altitude • Frequency • Transponder.
AVE-F (91.185 route): Assigned • Vectors • Expected • Filed. Altitude: highest of MEA, expected, assigned. Squawk 7600. VMC: stay VFR, land ASAP.
7500 hijack • 7600 comm failure • 7700 emergency.

(b)	Authorized DA/MDA = highest of approach, PIC, aircraft equipment
(c)	Descend below DA/MDA only with: normal descent position + required flight visibility + 1 of 10 visual references. Approach lights alone: not below 100 ft above TDZE unless red terminating/side row bars
(d)	Landing: flight visibility not less than the approach visibility
(e)	Missed approach immediately when requirements not met (at/below MDA, at MAP/DA, any time until touchdown; or lose sight of airport circling)
(f)	Takeoff minimums/ODPs — 121/125/129/135 only
(g)	Military airports: use military minimums
(h)	RVR→vis table
(i)	Vectors/unpublished: hold last assigned altitude until established on a published segment
(j)	No procedure turn: radar vector to final, timed approach from hold, NoPT — unless cleared
(k)	ILS components + outer marker substitutes

RVR	1600	2400	3200	4000	4500	5000	6000
SM	¼	½	⅝	¾	⅞	1	1¼

Cat	A	B	C	D	E
Speed (kt)	<91	91–120	121–140	141–165	>165
Legacy circling radius NM	1.3	1.5	1.7	2.3	4.5
Expanded (MDA ≤1000 MSL; inverse-C symbol)	1.3	1.7	2.7	3.6	4.5

Expanded radii grow with circling MDA (MSL). Use the higher category if you actually fly faster.

CDI full-scale (non-WAAS): enroute 2 NM • terminal 1 NM (within 30 NM) • approach 0.3 NM (from 2 NM before FAF).
LPV (WAAS, DA ~200 HAT) • LNAV/VNAV (DA; WAAS or baro-VNAV w/ temp limits) • LP (WAAS, MDA) • LNAV (MDA, any IFR GPS). LNAV+V = advisory only → MDA.
RAIM check for non-WAAS at ETA ±1 hr. Loss of integrity on approach → missed. DB current (28-day). AC 90-107 (WAAS), AC 90-108 (RNAV in lieu of ADF/DME), AIM 1-1-17.
Alternate planning: LNAV or circling (not LPV); LNAV/VNAV DA only with WAAS + approved baro-VNAV.

Speeds: MHA–6,000 200 • 6,001–14,000 230 • >14,000 265 KIAS. Legs: 1 min (≤14,000), 1.5 min above.
Entry (right turns), d = heading − inbound course: 0–110 & 290–360 direct • 110–180 teardrop • 180–290 parallel. Left turns: mirror.
Time outbound from abeam fix/wings level (later). Double drift correction outbound. Slow to hold speed within 3 min of fix. 3°/s or 30° bank (25° w/ FD).

Vacuum failure → AI + DG gone. Use TC, ASI, ALT, VSI, compass. UNOS: Undershoot North, Overshoot South. ANDS: Accelerate North, Decelerate South.
Std rate bank ≈ TAS/10 + 7. 3° descent ≈ GS × 5 fpm. Altimeter: 1 in Hg ≈ 1,000 ft. Pre-takeoff altimeter check: ±75 ft.
Pitot blocked/drain open: ASI → 0. Pitot + drain blocked: ASI acts like altimeter. Static blocked: alt frozen, VSI 0, ASI low in climb/high in descent → alternate static.
G1000: red X attitude/heading = AHRS; red X airspeed/altitude = ADC.

LIFR <500/<1 • IFR 500–<1000/1–<3 • MVFR 1000–3000/3–5 • VFR >3000/>5.
AIRMET Sierra IFR/mtn obscuration • Tango turbulence/wind/LLWS • Zulu icing/freezing level. SIGMET: severe ice/turb, ash, dust. Convective SIGMET: TS lines/embedded, hail ≥¾", gusts ≥50 kt.
Cloud base ≈ (T − Td in °C) × 400 ft. Fog likely at spread ≤4°F (2°C). Icing worst 0 to −10°C. Thunderstorms: stay 20 NM away.
Datalink weather = strategic only (5–15+ min old).

91.177: 1,000 ft (2,000 mountainous) above highest obstacle within 4 NM. 91.179 (uncontrolled, <18,000): course 0–179 odd, 180–359 even.
MEA (obstacle + nav) • MOCA (obstacle; nav within 22 NM) • MRA • MCA • MSA (25 NM, 1000 ft, emergency) • OROCA (off-route).

IMSAFE • PAVE • 3P (Perceive, Process, Perform) • 5P • DECIDE.
Hazardous attitudes: Anti-authority • Impulsivity • Invulnerability • Macho • Resignation.
Alcohol: 8 hr, BAC <0.04. O₂: crew >12,500 after 30 min; >14,000 always; >15,000 passengers.
Leans • graveyard spiral • somatogravic • Coriolis → trust instruments.