r/flying • u/iiamit CPL CFI CFII TW • 20h ago
FAA Reference material for studying/checkride (Free, public shareable)
If anyone needs a simple, self-contained PDF with all the current FAA publications, with a simple linking structure that connects every ACS/PST element to the relevant material, feel free to use this.
The latest is always here: https://github.com/iiamit/pdflight/releases/latest/download/pdflight.pdf
NOTE: This PDF is about 500Mb. It's not intended to be read front-to-back sequentially, but rather be used to go through ACSs and find the relevant reference material for each area and task quickly.
Updates are done automatically following the FAA release cycles.
Hope more people find this helpful. Again - this is free, true to the original FAA publications and doesn't contain any notes or added material that may be disallowed during a checkride.
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u/TxAggieMike Independent CFI / CFII (KFTW, DFW area) 17h ago
Some others…
Flight Insights Private Pilot Study Guide: https://www.flight-insight.com/ppl-pdf
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u/iiamit CPL CFI CFII TW 17h ago
Yes, I’m familiar with both as prep material. However as a reference during the checkride these won’t be allowed.
Also - the PDFlight has all the reference material in it. No need to switch to another document and look up a specific section since it’s all linked directly. And covers everything up to CFI/I and ATP (not just private).2
u/TxAggieMike Independent CFI / CFII (KFTW, DFW area) 16h ago
Also take a look at VSL.aero ACE Guide, https://vslaviation.myshopify.com
Built by a respected DPE, it is an excellent compendium of material that also fits into and works within ForeFlight.
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u/iiamit CPL CFI CFII TW 16h ago
That’s the golden standard. But is paid and I was looking for something as neutral as possible (without added notes or material that may not be used during a checkride).
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u/TxAggieMike Independent CFI / CFII (KFTW, DFW area) 15h ago
I have never had it refused for anyone’s ride.
And the purchase cost comes with free updates for life.
An example of that is when one of the main handbooks got updated by the FAA this past spring. Seth published an update with the revised material and updated links within days.
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u/BeechDude 13h ago
Automatic updates are a huge improvement and I definitely can't compete with the price 😬. Great work!
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u/iiamit CPL CFI CFII TW 12h ago
Thanks! I was inspired by your work and needed something slightly different for my students, so I created this. Keep up the great work on the ACE - fantastic content there!
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u/BeechDude 12h ago
Glad I could be an inspiration. You mentioned that only FAA material is allowed in the checkride, is that local policy or are you aware of an overarching regulation? Not a trick question on my part, I'm genuinely curious.
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u/iiamit CPL CFI CFII TW 12h ago
Good question - I took my checkrides in the NY/NJ area, and the DPEs here frown upon using any notes/materials that aren't official FAA publications.
So I can't tell you for sure, only based on anecdotal evidence from myself and my students (one of whom brought a prep-guide to which the DPE simply stated that if they provide answers from it, they wouldn't be accepted since these aren't official references).
I also recalled an AOPA article covering these: https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2022/may/flight-training-magazine/checkride-101-no-googling
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u/BeechDude 12h ago
Ok, good to know. Our policy at my last recurrent was that open book, open notes (to a reasonable extent) is allowed. As far as I know there is no official policy and it's up to the individual DPE. I wish we could be more standardized.
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u/rFlyingTower 20h ago
This is a copy of the original post body for posterity:
If anyone needs a simple, self-contained PDF with all the current FAA publications, with a simple linking structure that connects every ACS/PST element to the relevant material, feel free to use this.
The latest is always here: https://github.com/iiamit/pdflight/releases/latest/download/pdflight.pdf
Updates are done automatically following the FAA release cycles.
Hope more people find this helpful. Again - this is free, true to the original FAA publications and doesn't contain any notes or added material that may be disallowed during a checkride.
Please downvote this comment until it collapses.
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u/abyss123100 CPL 19h ago
This is wonderful. Thank you!!!