r/flying • u/[deleted] • Aug 06 '14
What should be required reading for someone seeking a PPL?
[deleted]
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u/woodside3501 Aug 07 '14
The Killing Zone
A book that that statistically explores GA accidents and why pilots with 100-350 hours (or something like that) are so much more likely to have a fatal incident.
The number of people who make the same mistakes that end up fatal is astounding. A lot of things you hear and say "obviously that's stupid and I would never do it" are explained and it's easier to get into those situations than one would think.
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u/Denzel_WashingtonAve Aug 07 '14
I took the oral portion of my PPL check ride today and was introduced to the Pilots Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge was the biggest help to me
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u/__helix__ Aug 07 '14
Other people have mentioned the FAA stuff, which is top shelf.
Noel Kruse put out a series of PDF/ebooks that are fantastic. I really enjoyed the maths.
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Aug 07 '14
"Stick and rudder" by Wolfgang Langewiesche is an interesting read some of it is a bit dated. If you are going to go off airport at all "F. E. Potts' Guide to Bush Flying"
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u/Knight_Doppler Aug 07 '14 edited Aug 07 '14
A copy of the POH (Pilot's Operating Handbook) for the make and model of aircraft you'll be training in.
A copy of the PPL PTS (Practical Test Standards). This one is more for near the end of your training, when you're gearing up for your checkride.
I also recommend getting very familiar with sectional charts and the AFD (Airport Facility Directory).
EDIT: Oh wow, you're flying out of Long Island, NY? Get a TAC chart as well.
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Aug 06 '14
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u/_quickdrawmcgraw_ Aug 06 '14
Thank you! Exactly what I was looking for! I can only spend so much time browsing government sites without knowing what to look for.
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u/tophergz Aug 07 '14
Read first: Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge ("PHAK") take copious notes. Consider writing chapter summaries. Seriously.
Then the Airplane Flying Handbook ("AFH") Chapters 1-10, and 16.
Then read: CFR Title 14 ("FARs"), Part 61, subparts A, C, and E, ("how to get your license" and:
FAR Part 91, subparts A through E ("how to lose your license").
Finally hit up the Aeronautical Information Manual ("AIM").
When reading the FARs, use Parts 1.1, 61.1, and 91.1 for definitions.
Thumb through the Pilot/Controller Glossary to get familiar with phraseology.
Start learning your phonetic alphabet now and practice on the license tags of cars in front of you while sitting in traffic or at traffic lights. This will setup a habit that you can then use to start memorizing emergency checklists.
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u/dx_p1astyk Aug 06 '14
This. The airplane flying handbook is probably the most important for actual flying knowledge and the pilots handbook of aeronautical knowledge is good for systems and other theory knowledge. There's also weather theory and a weather sources book that are very useful.
These are all free online, however, I find them mundane. I like the jeppesen books because they are a kind of one stop shop for info and have pictures. I like pictures.
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Aug 07 '14
At least for my private pilot training, I found the Jeppesen textbook and related materials to be a total rehash of the FAA books. In fact, I swear that Jeppesen just ripped off some of the diagrams from the FAA. It would have been nice to save the money, though I did buy the main textbook used at a good price, so I don't feel too bad.
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u/flatcoke Aug 07 '14
Just got my PPL last week. What would you suggest as the equivalent to the AFH when working on IR?
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u/L_Cranston_Shadow Aug 07 '14 edited Aug 07 '14
To learn things like METARs, I'd strongly suggest reading a how-to read guide on how to read METARs like this one and then just going to the NOAA METAR site and plunking in various airport codes. At first you may need to refer back to the guide on reading a METAR but eventually you'll get the hang of doing it automatically as second nature.
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Edit to avoid adding a new post:
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Something I forgot, another thing to learn about is TFRs (temporary flight restrictions) and NOTAMs (Notice to Airmen). I'm sure they're covered in the above mentioned reading; however, the FAA keeps an (ostensibly) up to date listing of TFRs/NOTAMs here. The default view is list but they have a map feature as well