Best Aviation Formulas and Rules of Thumb

Many people turn the other way when they hear about formulas.
So please wait just a second, don't go yet!
As a pilot and flight instructor I needed to answer many of my students as well as FAA, JAA and airline examiners questions. Teaching for more then seven years as well as working in US and Europe I've learned so many useful tricks.
Here, are truly the best aviation tools I can offer you to increase your safety and expertise level, quadruple your chances of passing any exam or interview. Here are all the best aviation tricks that took me seven years to learn !


Everyone knows that there are Pilots and flyers. Why do you think airlines test all candidates even though all have commercial licenses ? Because in flying we sometimes face situations where quick and potentially dangerous decisions have to be made. That's when everyone wishes Pilot not just flyer was flying the plane.
Ask yourself honestly which are you ?
Here are just few situations which should give you the answer: and keep in mind that wrong answer to any of this questions can have very serious consequences :

1)You are coming in for landing. Would you know if wind 130@30kts with runway 17 would exceed your plane's maximum x-wind component ?
Good Pilot will know this answer in seconds - no calculator or whizwheels needed !
Taking off or landing in this wind can be a deadly mistake !

2) Your Heading indicator just failed, Its a bumpy ride and compass is all over. You are in clouds and ATC asks you to make 60degrees turn.
Would you know how to do it?
I know, question is too easy ;-)

3) There is an obstacle 1000' high one mile off runway.
Will you be able to over fly it ?
What rate of climb would be required to safely pass over it ?
Answer is so simple it should take only few seconds without any help !
And please don't tell me you don't know this basic climb calculation as this is one of the most favorite question during any airline examination!

4 ) You need to make a 180degrees turn. Mountains are not too far left and right of you. At 120kts what will be your radius or diameter of turn. Hint: Don't think too much just look at 120 and you got your answer.

5 ) Best rate of climb of your aircraft is 80kts At 6.000ft what will be your new best rate of climb speed. Once again you are looking at the answer ! What a big speed difference between seal level and 6000 feet right.... ?

6 ) You estimated you will need 40 gal of fuel for your trip but encountered 20kts headwind. How much more fuel will you need ? Please don't tell me you need flight computer and more then 5 seconds to think. Once again if you can't answer this simple question don't even think of any airline interview !

7) At 120kts flying 3degrees ILS glide path what should be your required rate of descent.
How about at 4 or 5degrees ILS glide path ?
This is once again basic everyday instrument procedure. I use this rule of thumb few times a day!

and so on and on...........

Most of these problems can be solved in your head in seconds without using flight computers and calculators. Unfortunately very few know how.Very few are willing to make effort to learn it. Even when I ask flight instructors or captains I fly with, they always start looking for flight computers or worse yet give me that empty look which after a second turns into annoyed answer " That's why I have FMS! " .

really ?

Whether you are a student pilot, private pilot, flight instructor or commercial pilot you should know answers to these questions because it might save your life:
Here are some of the formulas you can find in this document:

Computing on the go in your head in just seconds !!!:

Obstacle clearance -
x-wind component as well as taiwind or headwind component
Wind correction angle
Density Altitude
Pressure Altitude
True Altitude
Stall speed with new weight or load factor

Maneuvering speed with new weight or load factor
rate of climb needed to over fly obstacle
Distance off course
Distance to station
Distance to start descend
Equal time point and Point of no return
Clouds levels based on temp. / due point
Runway reciprocal
Temp. conversions
ISA
Cloud bases
Load factor
Timed turns
Bank angles
Turn radius and diameter
Sine and cosine (the easy way)
Extra fuel with headwind
Required fpm with 3% and other gradients
Conversion of gradient to degrees and other way around
VHF or VOR reception range
Cone of confusion
World famous Weight shift formula
......
and many many more.

Over 30 easy and extremely useful formulas.

I have collected these formulas because they are quick to learn easy to execute and so essential in everyday flying. I have made no attempt to collect them all but rather you will find a collection of only the outstanding ones that I came across in my career and considered important for me personally to know. It will make you much safer and more confident pilot. Each formula is followed up with example to help you understand how it works.
Quick to memorize and execute will give you answers in seconds without calculator or flight computers. Amaze other pilots, embarrass your instructor, pass with ease any check ride or airline exam, become a knowledgeable pilot in eyes of your friends and be confident that in times of need you will have the answer.

If you would like to have this document please donate at least one dollor to help me maintein this website and just send me email with a request and I will email you right back !

This is me paying back to aviation community for all the great people along my way have given me over the years!

dariuszw@att.net or email@dariuszwielgat.com

Tel. +48.609.194.820
Skype id: dariuszw2