ATOMATOFLAMES
Part 91.205 regulation specifies the required equipment for an aircraft to be legal.
ATOMATOFLAMES is the acronym that can be used to remember VFR required equipment for day flight.
A - Airspeed indicator
T - Tachometer for each engine
O - Oil pressure for each engine
M - Magnetic compass
A - Altimeter
T - Temperature gauge for each liquid-cooled engine
O - Oil temperature gauge for each air-cooled engine
F - Fuel gauges
L - Landing gear position indicator, if the aircraft has retractable gear
A - Anti-collision light, red or white
M - Manifold pressure gauge for each altitude engine
E - ELT (emergency locator transmitter, if required by FAR Part 91.207)
S - Safety gear, including seat belts and shoulder harness plus floatation gear if the flight is operated beyond glide distance from shore
Required Equipment for VFR Night Flight - FLAPS
You need the equipment from ATOMATOFLAMES plus FLAPS for VFR night flying.
F - Fuses (one spare set, or three of each kind used; must be accessible to the pilot)
L - Landing lights (only required when operating for hire)
A - Anti-collision light, red or white
P - Position lights (red, green, and white navigation lights)
S - Source of electricity, adequate for all the installed equipment (e.g. the alternator)
Required Equipment for IFR Flight - GRAB CARD D
You need the equipment from ATOMATOFLAMES, FLAPS, and GRAB CARD D for IFR flight.
G – Generator or alternator
R – Radios, both comm and nav, appropriate for the flight
A – Altimeter (sensitive, adjustable for barometric pressure)
B – Ball (slip-skid indicator)
C – Clock with a sweeping seconds hand or digital display
A – Attitude indicator
R – Rate of turn indicator
D – Directional gyro
D – DME, if operating above FL240