Green River College Aviation Technology

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United States
Auburn, WA
Green River College Aviation Technology

Earn an Associates or Bachelors degree in Commercial and Private Piloting, Aviation Management, Airline Dispatch and Air Traffic Control

09/09/2026

Welcome to Aviation Acronyms of the Week — dropping every Wednesday🛩️

This week’s topic: IFR Lost Comms: Altitude

This week we’re adding another helpful memory aid to our toolbox: MEA. This acronym helps pilots remember lost communication procedures regarding altitude. If you are on an IFR flight plan and you lose comms, use this acronym to determine the appropriate altitude to fly.

Minimum Safe Altitude
Expected Altitude
Assigned Altitude

Feel free to comment below any acronyms you’d like to see in the future! 👇

09/02/2026

Welcome to Aviation Acronyms of the Week — dropping every Wednesday🛩️

This week’s topic: The 5 T’s

This week we’re adding another helpful memory aid to our toolbox: The 5 T’s. This acronym helps pilots fly instrument procedures. Although this can be used during multipool phases of IFR flight, it is commonly used during the arrival and approach phases.

Let’s take for instance a climbing hold as can be found in some obstacle departure procedures:

Turn: Upon reaching your fix, start your turn
Time: When abeam your fix going outbound, start your timer.
Twist: If you need to change your course or adjust your CDI, do so.
Throttle: Set an appropriate power setting for the climb in hold.
Talk: Communicate what you are doing to other pilots in the area, or ATC if necessary.

The 5T’s are situational. There may be a time when one or more T’s can be excluded from the flow as they are not necessary.

Feel free to comment below any acronyms you’d like to see in the future! 👇

08/26/2026

Welcome to Aviation Acronyms of the Week — dropping every Wednesday🛩️

This week’s topic: Northerly Turning Error

This week we’re adding another helpful memory aid to our toolbox: UNOS. This acronym helps pilots remember how a magnetic compass will react during turns, especially when flying near northerly headings. Understanding these errors makes it easier to interpret your compass correctly and avoid navigation mistakes.

Undershoot
North
Overshoot
South

When turning toward a northerly heading, the magnetic compass will lag behind the actual heading due to magnetic dip.

Turning toward North: Undershoot the desired heading. This means that you should start rolling out before the compass reaches your desired heading.

Turning toward South: Overshoot the desired heading. This means that you should continue the turn past the desired heading before rolling out.

Feel free to comment below any acronyms you’d like to see in the future! 👇

08/12/2026

Welcome to Aviation Acronyms of the Week — dropping every Wednesday🛩️

This week’s topic: Acceleration Error

This week we’re adding a helpful memory aid to our toolbox: ANDS. This acronym helps pilots remember how a magnetic compass will react when experiencing the acceleration error. Understanding these errors makes it easier to interpret your compass correctly and avoid navigation mistakes.

To help counteract magnetic dip, the southern side of compasses have a weight added to them.

Accelerate: Causes the weight to lag behind, which results in a turn to the…

North!

Decelerate: Causes the weight to lead/ continue it’s forward motion, resulting in a turn to the…

South!

Feel free to comment below any acronyms you’d like to see in the future! 👇

08/05/2026

Welcome to Aviation Acronyms of the Week — dropping every Wednesday🛩️

This week’s topic: Compass Errors

This week we’re adding a helpful memory aid to our navigation toolbox: DOVMAN. This acronym helps pilots remember the common magnetic compass errors they’ll encounter in flight. Understanding these errors makes it easier to interpret your compass correctly and avoid navigation mistakes.

Deviation: Deviation is caused by magnetic fields within the aircraft itself. This error is unique to each aircraft and is corrected using the compass correction card.

Oscillation: The compass naturally oscillates or swings due to turbulence, aircraft movement, and magnetic forces. Allow it to stabilize before relying on the indication.

Variation: Variation is the difference between true north and magnetic north. It changes depending on your location and must be accounted for during flight planning.

Magnetic Dip: Magnetic dip causes the compass to tilt toward the Earth's magnetic poles, making it less reliable in steep turns or when accelerating.

Acceleration Error: On east or west headings, acceleration causes the compass to indicate a turn toward the north, while deceleration causes it to indicate a turn toward the south in the Northern Hemisphere. Remember ANDS

Northerly Turning Error: When turning through north or south, the compass lags or leads due to magnetic dip. Remember UNOS

Feel free to comment below any acronyms you’d like to see in the future! 👇

07/29/2026

Welcome to Aviation Acronyms of the Week — dropping every Wednesday (After a brief hiatus) 🛩️

This week’s topic: Landing Flows

This week we’re adding one of the most widely used before-landing flows to our toolbox: GUMPS. This quick check helps ensure the aircraft is configured correctly before landing and can help prevent common landing errors.

Gas: Check the proper fuel tank is selected, fuel quantity is sufficient, and the fuel pump is on if required.

Undercarriage: Verify the landing gear is down and locked (or confirm fixed gear as applicable).

Mixture: Set the mixture appropriately for landing, typically full rich unless operating at high-density altitude.

Power: Ensure that your power is set to a standard rpm to allow for more finite adjustments on final.

Seatbelts & Switches: Ensure seatbelts are secure and confirm required switches, such as landing light, fuel pump, and pitot heat (if needed), are in the correct position for landing.

Feel free to comment below any acronyms you’d like to see in the future! 👇

06/24/2026

Welcome to Aviation Acronyms of the Week — dropping every Wednesday🛩️

This week’s topic: Additional CFI Responsibilities

This week we’re going to add to our toolbox the acronym PEEP PASS. This acronym covers the additional flight instructor responsibilities listed in the Aviation Instructor Handbook, chapter 8 section 5.

Pilot Supervision
Evaluation of Student’s Pilot Ability
Endorsements. These are standard endorsements such as the ones for written tests listed in AC 61.67K.
Practical Test Recommendation
Pilot Proficiency
Additional Training and Endorsements: These are endorsements such as tailwheel, high performance, high altitude, etc.
See and Avoid Responsibility
Student Pre-Solo Thought Process: The CFI is responsible for developing and testing a student’s thought process before they solo.

Feel free to comment below any acronyms you’d like to see in the future! 👇

06/22/2026

Congratulations Gators!

Today we celebrate our newest graduates and future aviation professionals! ✈️

From day one to graduation day, our Gators have shown dedication, perseverance, and a passion for aviation. We couldn't be prouder of everything they've accomplished!

If you have any pictures from today that you would like to share, dm us or tag us!
College

06/17/2026

Welcome to Aviation Acronyms of the Week — dropping every Wednesday🛩️

This week’s topic: Mandatory IFR Reports

This week we’re going to add to our toolbox the acronym MARVELOUSVFRC500. This acronym covers the requirements in 91.183 and AIM 5-3-3 for IFR reporting points.

Missed Approach (AIM 5-3-3)
Airspeed +/- 10kts or 5% change of filed TAS (AIM 5-3-3)
Reaching a holding fix (AIM 5-3-3)
VFR on top (AIM 5-3-3)
ETA change +/- 2 minutes
Leaving a holding fix (AIM 5-3-3)
Outer marker (AIM 5-3-3)
Unforecasted weather (91.183)
Safety of flight issue (91.183)
Vacating an assigned altitude (AIM 5-3-3)
Final approach fix in non-radar (AIM 5-3-3)
Radio/Navigation equipment failure (AIM 5-3-3)
Compulsory reporting point (91.183)
Cannot maintain a 500 foot per minute climb/descent rate (AIM 5-3-3)

Feel free to comment below any acronyms you’d like to see in the future! 👇

06/15/2026

✈️ Moses Lake Airshow photo dump!!

We had a great time representing our school, meeting future students, and enjoying an incredible weekend of aviation. Thanks to all the performers who put on a show and everyone who took the time to stop by our booth!

Address

1221 D Street NE
Auburn, WA
98002

Telephone

+12538875816

Website

https://www.greenriver.edu/students/academics/degrees-programs/aviation-tech/

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