Rusty Pilot and BFR Notes
From The Dumping Ground
General
- Establish your own personal VFR minimums.
- Defensive VFR Flight Plan - Required in order to cross ADIZ (Air Defense Identification Zone) line.
- Night:
- For currency: Defined as 1 hour after sunset to 1 hour before sunrise.
- For logging: Beginning of civil twilight until the end of civil twilight.
- Pilots are required to have ALL AVAILABLE INFORMATION concerning a flight before taking off.
- NASA ASRS
- NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System
- 14 CFR 91.25 - Self-reported items cannot be used against the pilot.
- Navigation lights determine the right-of-way:
- Red - Yield.
- Green - Right-of-way.
- METAR
- Current observations.
- Issued every hour.
- TAF
- Forecast.
- Issued every 6 hours.
- Look for trends in weather forecasts.
- Request flight following when ready to taxi.
- For non-towered airports:
- Enter the pattern on a 45° angle on the mid-field downwind leg.
- Exit the pattern on either a straight out on the runway or a 45° angle.
- Contact on CTAF at 10 miles out.
- For towered airports:
- Contact the tower at 10 miles out, unless noted on the charts.
- 122.75: Air-to-Air contact.
- Complex Aircraft - An aircraft with retractable gear, flaps and a constant speed propeller.
- High Performance Aircraft - An aircraft that has an engine with more than 200 horsepower.
- Order of right-of-way:
- Aircraft in distress.
- Balloons.
- Gliders.
- Refueling aircraft (towing aircraft).
- Airship.
- Airplanes.
- Rotorcraft.
- Pressure Altitude = ((29.92 - Barometric Pressure) * 100) + Field Altitude
Acronyms
- AHRS - Attitude Heading Reference System (G1000)
- ADC - Air Data Computer (G1000)
- VASI - Visual Approach Slope Indicator
- PAPI - Precision Approach Path Indicator
- TRSA - Terminal Radar Service Area
- MOA - Military Operations Area
- AGL - Above Ground Level
- MSL - Mean Sea Level
Squawk Codes
- 1200 - VFR
- 7500 - Hijack
- 7600 - Loss of Communications
- 7700 - Emergency (Mayday)
Light Gun Signals
On Ground
- Steady Green - Cleared for takeoff
- Flashing Green - Cleared to taxi
- Steady Red - Stop
- Flashing Red - Taxi clear of runway
- Flashing White - Return to starting point on airport
- Alternating Red and Green - Exercise extreme caution
In Flight
- Steady Green - Cleared to land
- Flashing Green - Return to land
- Steady Red - Give way to other aircraft
- Flashing Red - Airport unsafe, do not land
- Alternating Red and Green - Exercise extreme caution
NOTAM Types
- D - Distant: Physical type
- FDC - Flight Data Center: Procedural types
Airmet Types
- Sierra - Mountain obscuration, visibility, IFR conditions
- Tango - Moderate turbulence
- Zulu - Moderate icing
Hypoxia Types
- Hypoxic - Altitude sickness
- Hypermic - Carbon Monoxide poisoning
- Histotoxic - Alcohol
- Stagnent - Block blood flow
Oxygen Requirements
- Above 12,500' MSL for greater than 3 minutes - Crew.
- Above 14,000' MSL - Crew.
- Above 15,000' MSL - Must be available to passengers.
- Above 5,000' MSL at night - Recommended for crew, but not required.
Pilot Evaluation
IMSAFE
- I - Illness
- M - Medication
- S - Stress
- A - Alcohol
- F - Fatigue
- E - Emotions (or Eating)
Information Needed Before Pre-Flight
- NOTAMS
- Weather
- Known ATC Delays
- Runway Lengths
- Alternates
- Fuel
- Takeoff and Landing Distances
VFR Equipment Requirements
TOMATO FLAMES
- T - Tachometer for each engine
- O - Oil temperature for each air-cooled engine
- M - Magnetic compass with deviation card
- A - Airspeed indicator
- T - Temperature gauge
- O - Oil pressure gauge
- F - Fuel gauge for each tank
- L - Landing gear position indicator
- A - Altimeter
- M - Manifold pressure gauge
- E - ELT
- S - Safety belts
Alternative (Day)
- Compass
- Altimeter
- Airspeed Indicator
- Anti-Collision Lights
- Fuel Indicator
- Flotation Device
- Oil Temperature Gauge
- Oil Pressure Gauge
- Tachometer
- Manifold Pressure Gauge
- ELT
- Gear Position Lights
- Seat Belts
Alternative (Night)
- Fuses
- Landing Light
- Anti-Collision Lights
- Position Lights
- Source of Electricity
Required Pilot Documents
- Endorsed Logbook
- Government Issued ID
- Medical
- Pilot Certificate
Medicals
- First Class (ATP): 12 calendar months (6 if over 40)
- Second Class (Commercial): 12 calendar months
- Second Class (Private): 60 calendar months (24 if over 40)
- Third Class (Private): 60 calendar months (24 if over 40)
Required Aircraft Documents
ARROW
- A - Airworthiness Certificate
- R - Radio Station License
- R - Registration Certificate
- O - Operating Limitations
- W - Weight and Balance
Required Aircraft Maintenance
AV1GATE
- A - Annual
- V - VOR (30 days)
- 1 - 100-hour inspection (required if aircraft is used for hire or flight instruction for hire - 91.409(b))
- G - GPS (28 days)
- A - Altimeter (24 calendar months)
- T - Transponder (24 calendar months)
- E - ELT (12 calendar months, or 1/2 battery life, or after 1 hour of cumulative use)
Required Reporting
- Flight control system malfunction or failure.
- Inability of any required crew member to perform normal flight duties as a result of injury or illness.
- In-flight fire.
- Aircraft collision in flight.
- Damage to property other than the aircraft estimated to exceed $25,000.
- Release of all or a portion of the blade from an aircraft excluding release only by ground contact.
Airspaces
Entry Requirements
- A - ATC Clearance
- B - ATC Clearance
- C - 2-way radio communication prior to entry
- D - 2-way radio communication prior to entry
Equipment Requirements =
- A - IFR
- B - 2-way radio and transponder (ADS-B in 2020)
- C - 2-way radio and transponder (ADS-B in 2020)
- D - 2-way radio
VFR Minimums
Class G Airspace
- Under 1,200' AGL (day): 1sm visibility and clear of clouds.
- Under 1,200' AGL (night): 3sm visibility, 500' below, 1,000' above, 2,000' horizontal
- 1,200' AGL up to 10,000' MSL (day): 1sm visibility, 500' below, 1,000' above, 2,000' horizontal
- 1,200' AGO up to 10,000' MSL (night): 3sm visibility, 500' below, 1,000' above, 2,000' horizontal
Class E Airspace
- Below FL010 MSL: 3sm visibility, 500' below, 1,000' above, 2,000' horizontal
- FL010 and above: 5sm visibility, 1,000' below, 1,000' above, 1sm horizontal
Class C & D Airspace
- 3sm visibility, 500' below, 1,000' above, 2,000' horizontal
Class B Airspace
- 3sm visibility, clear of clouds
V-Speeds
Cessna 172SP w/G1000 (Paragon)
- VS0 - 40
- VS1 - 48
- VR - 55
- VBG - 68
- VX - 62
- VY - 74
- VFE - 110 (10°), 85 (20°+)
- VA - 90-105
- VNO - 129
- VNE - 163
Cessna 172SP (RexAir)
- VS0 - 42
- VS1 - 48
- VR - 55
- VBG - 68
- VX - 62
- VY - 74
- VFE - 110 (10°), 85 (20°+)
- VA - 99
- VNO - 129
- VNE - 163
Piper Arrow (RexAir)
- VS0 - 56
- VS1 - 62
- VR - 56
- VBG - 81-91
- VX - 83
- VY - 87
- VFE - 109
- VA - 101-114
- VNO - 148
- VNE - 186
- VLE - 130
- VLR - 109
Biennial Flight Review
Duration of Medical Certificate (FAR 61.23)
- First Class (ATP): 12 calendar months (6 if over 40)
- Second Class (Commercial): 12 calendar months
- Second Class (Private): 60 calendar months (24 if over 40)
- Third Class (Private): 60 calendar months (24 if over 40)
- Recent Flight Experience (FAR 61.57)
- Careless or Reckless Operation (FAR 91.13)
- Alcohol or Drugs (FAR 91.17)
- Pre-Flight Action (FAR 91.103, AIM 5-1-1)
- Crew Members at Stations (FAR 91.105)
- Use of Safety Belts (FAR 91.107)
- Right-of-Way Rules (FAR 91.113)
- Aircraft Speed (FAR 91.117)
- Minimum Safe Altitudes: General (FAR 91.119)
- Altimeter Settings (FAR 91.121, AIM 7-2)
- ATC Light Signals (FAR 91.125, AIM 4-3-13)
- Class G Airspace (FAR 91.126, AIM 3-3)
- Class E Airspace (FAR 91.127, AIM 3-2-6)
- Class D Airspace (FAR 91.129, AIM 3-2-5)
- Class C Airspace (FAR 91.130, AIM 3-2-4)
- Class B Airspace (FAR 91.131, AIM 3-2-3)
- Restricted and Prohibited Airspaces (Warning, Alert Areas, MOA's) (FAR 91.133, AIM 3-4)
- Class A Airspace (FAR 91.135, AIM 3-2-2)
- Temporary Flight Restrictions (FAR 91.137, AIM 3-5-3)
- VFR Fuel Requirements (FAR 91.151)
- Basic VFR Weather Minimums (FAR 91.155, AIM 3-1-4)
- Special VFR Minimums (FAR 91.157)
- VFR Cruising Altitude (FAR 91.159, AIM 3-1-5)
- Required Equipment (FAR 91.205)
- Emergency Locator Transmitter (FAR 91.207)
- Aircraft Lights (FAR 91.209)
- Supplemental Oxygen (FAR 91.211)
- Transponder Equipment and Use (FAR 91.215)
- Navigation Aids (AIM 1-1)
- Airport Lighting and Marking Aids (AIM 2-1, 2-3)
- ATC and Services Available to Pilots (AIM 4-1)
- Airport Operations (AIM 4-3)
- Emergency Procedures (AIM 6)
- Safety of Flight / Meteorology (AIM 7-1)
- Wake Turbulence (AIM 7-3)
- Medical Facts (AIM 8)
- Weight and Balance
- Flight Planning
- Aeronautical Charts