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Before crossing hold short line for takeoff:

Lights: landing light on, strobes on
Camera: transponder to altitude
Action: fuel boost pumps on (if applicable), mixture set, record time

Landing check - "CGUMPS"

Carb heat: on (if applicable)
Gas:  fuel selector on both/fullest, boost pumps on (if applicable)
Undercarriage: down and all green lights (if applicable)
Mixture: set
Props: forward (if applicable)
Seatbelts: on


Instrument

Loss comms 91.185 Route to fly:
"AVE. F" (like a street)
A-Assigned
V-Vectored
E-Expected
F-Filed

Altitude to be flown
: highest one of these:
"MEA"
M-Min IFR altitude
E-Expected as advised by ATC
A-Assigned by ATC

Components of an ILS 91.175
"GLAM"
G - Glideslope
L - Localizer
A - Approach Lights
M - Marker Beacon


Multi-Engine Rating

Part 23 Vmc certification conditions:
"SMACFUM":
S - Standard ISO temp. and pressure
M - Maximum power set in the operating engine
A - Aft-most C.G.
C - Critical engine windmilling
F - Flaps takeoff & gear up
U - Up to 5 degrees bank into the operating engine
M - Max takeoff weight


Rules of Thumb

VNAV calculation (used for crossing restrictions or final descents):
Alt/1000 x 4 if GS <100 kts
Alt/1000 x 5 if GS 100-150 kts
Alt/1000 x 6 if GS 150-200 kts
Alt/1000 x 7 if GS >200 kts
Multiply your altitude to lose (in thousands) by 4, 5, 6, or 7 as appropriate. To descend from FL 300 to a airport with an elevation of 2000' MSL with a 250 kt GS: 7 x 28 = 196 miles out. To cross a fix at 9,000' from 15,000' going 185 kts: 6 x 6 = 36 miles out. This rule works for both light piston aircraft and jets. This should work for all normal descents (500-1000 FPM).

Descent Rate in FPM using Groundspeed:
Alt/Dis x GS/60
To estimate the rate of descent required for a non-standard glideslope, it Altitude/Distance times GroundSpeed/60.

Descent Rate in FPM using Time to Fix:
Alt/Time
Simply altitude to lose divided by the time to the fix.

Climb Gradient:
CG = ROC*60/GS
Your climb gradient is equal to your rate of  climb multiplied by 60 and divided by your ground speed.
ROC = 1200 FPM
GS = 100
then CG = 1200*60/100 = 720 ft/nm