Aviation Books
FAR/AIM 2010: Federal Aviation Regulations/Aeronautical Information Manual
Adhering to a reputation for excellence, this definitive manual of the latest civil aviation directives has been fully updated and indexed to clearly reflect all the changes in the Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) and the Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM) over the past year. In addition to the regulations, AIM procedures, and redrawn AIM illustrations, this retypeset edition also includes a study guide for specific pilot certifications and ratings, a pilot/controller glossary, the NASA Aviation Safety reporting form, important FAA contact information, and a free e-mail service that accounts for regulation changes throughout the publication year via the Aviation Supplies & Academics website. A combined FAR/AIM index is also included.
Rod Machado’s Private Pilot Handbook: The Ultimate Private Pilot Book
Think about it as the human version of the FAA’s book, The Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (although you should have that book in your library too, FAA regulations change constantly). Rod Machado is an entertaining writer that has a knack for turning sometimes painful tomes such as the FAA handbooks into material more suited for human consumption. My suggestion is to read Machado’s book first then move on to the less readable FAA books. I couldn’t recommend this book more for those just beginning to take interest in learning to fly.
Buy at Amazon – Rod Machado’s Private Pilot Handbook: The Ultimate Private Pilot Book
Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge
Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge, created by the Federal Aviation Administration, is the official reference manual for pilots at all levels. An indispensable and invaluable encyclopedia, it deals with all aspects of aeronautical information. Chapters include: aircraft structure, principles of aerodynamics, flight controls, aircraft systems, and flight instruments. Flight manuals and documentation are also covered, as is specialized information on such matters as weight and balance, aircraft performance, weather, navigation, airport operations, aeromedical factors, and decision-making while flying. A detailed index and full glossary make this book easy to navigate and useful in quick reference situations. 300 color illustrations; 100 b&w illustrations.
Buy at Amazon – Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge
Weather Flying by Robert Buck
From the Back Cover
“One of the most worthwhile pieces of reading matter a pilot could own.”–AOPA Pilot. One of the world’s most respected veterans of the cockpit gives you the benefit of his decades of experience flying weather–as a world-record holder, as a commercial pilot with tens of thousands of hours in the air. Weather Flying is regarded throughout the industry as the bible on the topic of weather flying: How to judge it before you take off, how to handle it when you’re in the air, and how to decide when it would be saner to take those suitcases back to the hotel. Explaining clearly, with a practical eye to putting the information to use in the air, Buck tells you how to: cope with en route weather changes; fly turbulence and thunderstorms; get the most from your radar; deal with dangerous ice. When the most aviation accidents are due to bad or unforseen weather conditions, what you know can save your life and the lives of your passengers. Having Buck’s Weather Flying at hand is the next best thing to having him in the right-hand seat.Winner of the Flight Safety Foundation’s Publication Award; recommended by the FAA.
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Private Pilot Test Prep 2009: FAA Knowledge Tests
Applicants studying for the Private Pilot Knowledge Exam will find answers and explanations for every question in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) exam database in this guide. All of the more than 900 questions from the exam are arranged by subject category and are accompanied by specific study material. Each question is followed by the answer, an explanation, and a reference and subject code for further study in FAA materials. Basic aerodynamics, engine operation, flight instruments, performance, radio navigation, and meteorology are among the subjects covered.
Buy at Amazon – Private Pilot Test Prep 2009: FAA Knowledge Tests (Test Prep series)
Say Again, Please: Guide to Radio Communications by Bob Gardner
Providing a clear, conversational approach to radio communications, this sourcebook for pilots and aviation specialists features typical transmissions in order to explain how the air traffic control (ATC) system works and presents simulated flights to demonstrate the correct procedures. Topics cover every aspect of radio communication, including basic system and procedural comprehension, etiquette and rules, visual flight rules, instrument flight rules, emergency procedures, ATC facilities and their functions, and a review of airspace definitions. This revised edition also discusses Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and Land and Hold Short Operations (LAHSO). Beginners and professionals alike will find this an invaluable resource for communicating by radio.
Buy at Amazon – Say Again, Please: Guide to Radio Communications (Focus Series)
Private Pilot for Airplane Single-Engine Land and Sea Practical Test Standards
The Practical Test Standards (PTS) series guides student pilots, flight instructors, and FAA-designated examiners through checkrides, the final test in acquiring a pilot license. Each PTS guide details the skill and knowledge that must be successfully demonstrated before an examiner can issue a certificate or rating. The knowledge requirements detail which subjects will be covered-which weather reports and forecasts candidates will be asked to analyze, which physiological conditions (such as dehydration, spatial disorientation, and hypoxia) candidates will need to discuss, and what kind of flight planning exercises will need to be demonstrated. The skill requirements include what kind of takeoff and landing must be performed, such as crosswind or short-field; how a steep turn should be executed, with specifics that include what bank angle and airspeed to use; and what areas will be tested on a continuous basis, such as the checklist usage, positive exchange of flight controls, and crew resource management. The tolerances are defined so the candidates know what altitude, airspeed, headings, and banks must be maintained to complete each maneuver successfully. Each PTS guide lists the knowledge and experience prerequisites for a particular certificate or rating and provides background information and study and reference materials.
Private Oral Exam Guide: The Comprehensive Guide to Prepare You for the FAA Oral Exam
Updated to reflect vital FAA regulatory, procedural, and training changes, this indispensable tool prepares private pilots for their one-on-one “checkride” with an FAA examiner. It answers the most commonly asked questions, clarifies the requirements of the written and oral portions, and presents study material for the exam. Topics covered include certification and documents, weather, airplane systems, and cross-country flight planning. This newly revised edition also includes a section on aeronautical decision-making and crew resource management.
Michael D. Hayes has been flying for more than 25 years and is a certified flight instructor. He is the author of several titles in the Oral Exam Guide series, including Instrumental Oral Exam Guide and Multi-Engine Oral Exam Guide. He has accumulated numerous certificates and ratings, including private and commercial single and multi-engine land ratings. He lives in Arlington, Texas.
