Use the applicable alternate minimums when planning an IFR alternate; check for the black-triangle “A” and determine whether “NA” prohibits alternate minimums.
Use Category A reduced visibility only when operating a Category A helicopter and only down to the stated lower limit.
Use the Inoperative Components Table before deciding whether an approach may be flown with an inoperative component.
Use DA when the RNAV minimum line provides vertical guidance; use MDA for LNAV or circling procedures.
Use the airport sketch before every intended landing, including alternates, to plan taxi routes and identify runway crossings, lighting, obstacles, and elevation information.
Use FSS for briefings, flight-plan processing, and clearance delivery.
Use TRACON for terminal radar services and transition between departure and en-route airspace.
Use ARTCC for IFR separation in the en-route structure.
Query the controller when an assigned altitude appears unusually low because MVAs are not published.
Request deviation, altitude change, or routing assistance when weather affects the route.
Use off-center viewing and scanning at night rather than staring directly at a suspected obstacle or light.
Use VASI, PAPI, or electronic glideslope information when available to mitigate visual approach illusions.
Use the magnetic compass to periodically reset the heading indicator.
Use an alternate static source when the primary static system is blocked.
Use the ICAO cold-temperature table for corrections to charted IFR altitudes in cold conditions.
Use an ODP when obstacle clearance is the relevant departure concern and no SID is assigned.
Use a SID when assigned by ATC for standardized routing and traffic management.
Use a 45° turn, holding pattern, or teardrop according to the published course-reversal procedure.
Proceed directly inbound when the chart shows NoPT.
Use MEA when both obstacle clearance and full airway navigation reception are required.
Use MOCA when the charted airway altitude provides the required obstacle clearance but navigation reception is limited to 22 NM from the nearest NAVAID.
Use trend vectors as supporting information, not as replacements for primary and supporting instrument cross-checks.