What does FLAPS stand for for night flight?

FLAPS is the mnemonic for additional night VFR equipment required by FAR 91.205(c): Fuses or Circuit Breakers, Landing Light (if for hire), Anti-Collision Lights, Position Lights (also called Navigation Lights), and Source of Electricity (alternator or generator). All ATOMATOFLAMES equipment is also required at night.

What are the currency requirements to carry passengers?

To carry passengers, a pilot must have completed 3 takeoffs and 3 landings within the preceding 90 days in the same category, class, and type (if a type rating is required). For night passenger currency, those 3 landings must be to a full stop between 1 hour after sunset and 1 hour before sunrise. For tailwheel aircraft, all landings must be full stop.

What is density altitude and why does it matter?

Density altitude is pressure altitude corrected for non-standard temperature. High density altitude (high elevation, high temperature, high humidity) reduces air density, which degrades three critical systems: propeller efficiency, engine power output, and wing lift. The result is longer takeoff rolls, reduced climb rates, and higher true airspeeds at the same indicated airspeed. Dallas Executive Airport (KRBD) at 660 ft MSL can see density altitudes above 4,000 ft on hot Texas summer days.

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1. Required Aircraft Equipment — FAR 91.205

Before every flight, you must confirm your aircraft has all legally required equipment. FAR 91.205 defines two equipment lists — one for daytime VFR, one for night VFR.

DAY VFRATOMATOFLAMES

AAirspeed Indicator
TTachometer
OOil Pressure Gauge
MManifold Pressure (if equipped)
AAltimeter
TTemperature Gauge (if equipped)
OOil Temperature Gauge
FFuel Quantity Indicator (each tank)
LLanding Gear Position Indicator (if equipped)
AAnti-Collision Lights
MMagnetic Compass
EELT
SSafety Belts

NIGHT VFR+ FLAPS

All ATOMATOFLAMES equipment is also required at night, plus:

FFuses or Circuit Breakers
LLanding Light (if for hire)
AAnti-Collision Lights
PPosition Lights (Navigation Lights)
SSource of Electricity (Alternator or Generator)

Night Time Definitions

Nav lights required: Sunset to sunrise
Log night flight time: Evening/morning civil twilight
Log night landings: 1 hr after sunset – 1 hr before sunrise

Inoperative Equipment — FAR 91.213

If any of the following are broken, you may NOT fly:

ATOMATOFLAMES items
FLAPS items (at night only)
Kinds of Equipment List (KOEL)
Type Certificate Data Sheet (TCDS) requirements
Airworthiness Directives (ADs)

For any other inoperative item, you may fly if you:

Remove or disable the inoperative equipment
Label it inoperative inside the cockpit
Record it in the maintenance logbook
Determine as PIC that it is safe to fly

2. Required Aircraft Inspections — AVIATE

Letter	Inspection	Interval	Notes
A	Annual	12 calendar months	Must be signed by an IA mechanic
V	VOR Check	30 days	IFR operations only
I	100-Hour	100 hrs tach time	For-hire operations only; A&P may sign
A	Altimeter/Static	24 calendar months	IFR operations only
T	Transponder	24 calendar months	All aircraft in Class A, B, C airspace
E	ELT	12 months or ½ battery life or 1 hr cumulative use	Whichever comes first

3. Pilot Requirements

SELF CHECKIMSAFE

IIllness
MMedication
SStress (Acute vs Chronic)
AAlcohol (8 hrs bottle to throttle, 0.04 BAC)
FFatigue (Acute vs Chronic)
EEmotion / Eating

Required Documents to Fly

Pilot Certificate (Student or Private)
Medical Certificate (or valid driver's license under BasicMed)
Government-issued Photo ID
Logbook with Endorsements (student pilots)

Currency Requirements

PIC: Flight Review within 24 calendar months
Passengers: 3 T/O & landings within 90 days (full stop at night/tailwheel)

Medical Certificate Validity Periods

Class	Age	Operation	Valid For
1st Class	Under 40	ATP	12 months
1st Class	40 or older	ATP	6 months
1st Class	Any	Commercial / Private	12 / 60 months
2nd Class	Under 40	Private	60 months
2nd Class	40 or older	Private	24 months
3rd Class	Under 40	Private	60 months
3rd Class	40 or older	Private	24 months

✈️

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4. Aerodynamics

Key Definitions

Chord Line — A line from the leading edge to the trailing edge of an airfoil (changes with flap deployment).
Angle of Attack (AOA) — The angle between the chord line and the relative wind.
Critical AOA — The angle beyond which lift decreases rapidly — the aircraft stalls. Occurs at same AOA regardless of airspeed or aircraft attitude.

4 Phases of a Spin + PARE Recovery

Entry (aggravated or uncoordinated stall)
Developing (2–3 rotations)
Fully Developed (stabilized rotation/descent)
Recovery

PARE Recovery

PPower — Idle
AAilerons — Neutral
RRudder — Opposite rotation
EElevator — Forward (reduce AOA)

4 Left-Turning Tendencies

1. Torque

Prop spins clockwise (from pilot's view). Equal/opposite reaction rolls the aircraft left.

2. P-Factor

At positive AOA, the descending blade produces more thrust than the ascending blade → left yaw.

3. Spiraling Slipstream

Propwash spirals around the fuselage and strikes the left side of the vertical stabilizer → left yaw.

4. Gyroscopic Precession

The spinning prop acts as a gyro. A pitch force (e.g., tail wheel rising on takeoff) is felt 90° later as left yaw.

5. Airspace

SPECIAL USEMCPRAWN

MMOA — Military Operating Area
CCFA — Controlled Firing Area
PProhibited
RRestricted
AAlert
WWarning
NNSA — National Security Area

Other Airspace to Know

MTR — Military Training Route
Watch for fast-moving aircraft (>250 kts)
TFR — Temporary Flight Restriction
Always check NOTAMs before flying
TRSA — Terminal Radar Service Area
Radar services provided around Class D airports
SFRA — Special Flight Rules Area
e.g., Washington DC — research before flying

Training in Dallas? Parrish Aviation students at Dallas Executive Airport (KRBD) operate daily within DFW's Class B airspace, adjacent Class C (DAL), and surrounding Class D airports. See our DFW Airspace Breakdown guide for a detailed visual breakdown.

6. Weather

Current vs Forecast Weather

Current

PIREP
METAR
Radar
Satellite

Forecast

Winds/Temps Aloft
Prog Charts
TAF
AIRMET / SIGMET

3 Stages of a Thunderstorm

1
Cumulus — Updrafts dominate. Clouds building upward. No precipitation.
2
Mature — Most intense stage. Updrafts AND downdrafts. Precipitation begins. Turbulence, icing, lightning.
3
Dissipating — Downdrafts dominate. Precipitation decreasing. Storm dying.

METAR Decode — Sample: KRBD

METAR KRBD 280753Z AUTO 19011KT 10SM CLR 28/22 A2982 RMK AO2

KRBDDallas Executive Airport

280753Z28th of month, 0753 UTC

AUTOATC closed, computer-generated

19011KTWind 190° at 11 knots

10SM10 statute miles visibility

CLRSky clear — no clouds below 12,000'

28/22Temp 28°C / Dewpoint 22°C

A2982Altimeter 29.82 inHg

AO2Precipitation discrimination equipment

7. Aircraft Systems (Cessna 172)

ENGINELHAND

LLycoming — Manufacturer
HHorizontally Opposed — Cylinder arrangement
AAir-Cooled — Cooling method
NNormally Aspirated — No supercharger/turbo
DDirect Drive — Prop and crankshaft same RPM

Lycoming O-320-E2D · 150 HP · 2,700 RPM max

Primary Flight Controls

Control	Movement	Axis
Aileron	Roll	Longitudinal
Elevator	Pitch	Lateral
Rudder	Yaw	Vertical

Secondary Controls (C172)

Flaps — Plain/Slotted (increase descent rate, reduce ground roll)
Trim — Tab on elevator (sets hands-off airspeed)

Compass Errors — VDMONA

VVariation

Difference between true and magnetic north

DDeviation

Caused by aircraft magnetic fields — corrected by compass card

MMagnetic Dip

Compass card tilts toward earth's magnetic poles

OOscillation

Turbulence causes compass to swing

NNortherly Turning Errors (UNOS)

Undershoot North, Overshoot South in turns

AAcceleration Errors (ANDS)

Accelerate North, Decelerate South (in northern hemisphere)

8. V-Speeds

Speed	Definition	Key Point
VA	Maneuvering Speed	Below VA: one full input won't break the aircraft. Changes with weight.
VFE	Max Flaps Extended Speed	Never exceed with flaps extended — risk of structural damage.
VNO	Max Structural Cruising Speed	Green/yellow arc boundary. Avoid turbulence above VNO.
VNE	Never Exceed Speed	Red line. Structural failure is possible above this speed.
VS	Stall Speed (clean)	Bottom of the green arc.
VSO	Stall Speed (landing config)	Bottom of the white arc.
VX	Best Angle of Climb	Most altitude per unit of distance — obstacle clearance.
VY	Best Rate of Climb	Most altitude per unit of time — standard climb speed.

9. Emergency Procedures

ENGINE FAILUREABCDE

AAirspeed — Best Glide immediately
BBest Place to Land — pick it now
CChecklist — restart attempt
DDeclare — 7700 / 121.5 MHz
EExecute / Egress — commit, land, get out

Squawk Codes

1200VFR flight (default)
7500Hijack
7600Lost Communications
7700Emergency

Min. Safe Altitudes — 91.119

Anywhere: Altitude that allows emergency landing without undue hazard
Congested areas: 1,000 ft above highest obstacle within 2,000 ft radius
Other areas: 500 ft above surface (500 ft from persons/vessels/structures over open water)

Frequently Asked Questions

What does ATOMATOFLAMES stand for?

ATOMATOFLAMES is the mnemonic for FAR 91.205 daytime VFR required equipment: Airspeed Indicator, Tachometer, Oil Pressure Gauge, Manifold Pressure Gauge (if equipped), Altimeter, Temperature Gauge (if equipped), Oil Temperature Gauge, Fuel Quantity Indicator (each tank), Landing Gear Position Indicator (if equipped), Anti-Collision Lights, Magnetic Compass, ELT, Safety Belts.

How long is a Private Pilot medical certificate valid?

A 3rd Class medical for private pilot operations is valid for 60 calendar months (under 40) or 24 calendar months (40 or older).

What are the four left-turning tendencies?

Torque, P-Factor, Spiraling Slipstream, and Gyroscopic Precession. All four cause the aircraft to yaw or roll left, most noticeably during full-power climbs.

What is density altitude?

Density altitude is pressure altitude corrected for non-standard temperature. High density altitude reduces propeller, engine, and wing performance — resulting in longer takeoff rolls and reduced climb rates.

How do I start flight training at Parrish Aviation?

Book a Discovery Flight — a 1-hour intro lesson from $150 — at Dallas Executive Airport (KRBD). You'll fly the aircraft with a CFI and discuss your training goals. Call (469) 886-8089 or visit parrishaviation.com/discovery-flight-dallas/.

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