BUMPH

In Australian aviation, BUMFH (pronounced 'BUMPH') is a mnemonic for the pre-landing checks carried out by pilots of light aircraft when approaching an airport with intention to land. In aviation practice elsewhere, the GUMPS check is more commonly used.

BUMFHW is an acronym for

*Brakes - Unlocked so that wheels are free to rotate on touchdown (heels on the floor)
*Undercarriage - Down and locked (or "welded" in the case of fixed-gear aircraft)
*Mixture - Set to full rich (or as appropriate to temperature and altitude)
*Fuel - Fuel is on and suffient for landing and/or go arounds.
*Hatches and Harnesses - Locked and secured.
*Windsock - Favoring Runway.

These provide only the bare minimum of pre-landing checks, but a more complete list doesn't provide a neat acronym. In this sense the mnemonic should probably be used only as a reminder rather than a complete set of checks.

A more complete check would include:

* Brakes
* Undercarriage
* Mixture
* Carb heat - apply and check for icing (This step is omitted in aircraft with fuel injection systems)
* Fuel - select correct tank and check there's enough to perform a go around if necessary, fuel pump ON
* Flaps - select landing or descending flap
* Hatches and Harness
* Transponder - select as appropriate
* Landing Light - switch on

Other uses

The word 'bumph' is also English slang for paper - of any sort. It is used on its own as in 'there's a whole pile of bumph on my desk, and also with some other words, eg 'loo bumph' is toilet paper.

'Bumph' or 'Bumf', when alluding to excessive paperwork was an armed forces contraction for Bum Fodder during the Second World War and was in regularly used throughout the Commonwealth. "Bum fodder" was itself a slang term for toilet paper.

ee also

HASELL