Aviation References

AviationWise courses contain the complete texts and images for over 32 references. These documents contain everything you might need to know to fly an airplane in U.S. airspace as either a student pilot, a private pilot or an instrument-rated pilot. Below is a partial list of the references:

Student, Private and Commercial Pilots

The Airplane Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-3)

This Handbook is one of the best sources of general information for the beginning student pilot. It introduces the student to the basic skills and knowledge needed for piloting an airplane, everything from selecting a training school to cross-country navigation. It also contains basic information for private pilots on transitioning to other types of airplanes such as seaplanes, skiplanes and multi-engine airplanes.

The Presolo Written Test (AC 61-101)

This circular provides guidance to flights instructors concerning development and administration of pre-solo tests to student pilots.

The Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (AC 61-23C)

This Handbook introduces the student to the broad spectrum of knowledge the student must acquire to become a pilot. It contains far more specific information on airplane operations than does the Airplane Flying Handbook and is useful to pilots seeking advanced ratings as well as students.

Aviation Weather (AC 00-6A)

Aviation Weather provides the basic weather knowledge all pilots must have to fly safely. It will not make the student a weather professional, but it will allow the student will learn enough to recognize and avoid hazardous weather.

Aviation Weather Services (AC 00-45E)

While Aviation Weather provides the knowledge which allows pilots to make decisions about weather conditions, Aviation Weather Services provides the pilot with information on how and where to get the weather information. Through a wide variety of sources, the Federal Government provides a wealth of information on weather conditions and forecasts. Aviation Weather Services shows the pilot how and were to access and interpret these sources both before and during flight.

Medical Handbook for Pilots (AC 67-2)

The Medical Handbook provides details on physical and psychological phenomena which affect all pilots and how to avoid hazards associated with them. It also has information which allows a pilot to judge the pilot's own fitness for flight.

Aeronautical Decision Making (AC 60-22)

Aeronautical decision making - making the right decision at the right time - is critical to safety. Very few aviation accidents are cause by total mechanical failure. The vast majority of accidents can be attributed to poor decision making on the part of the pilot in command. Aeronautical Decision Making attempts to show pilots how to make the right decision at the right time.

Aircraft Wake Turbulence (AC 90-23E)

This circular summarizes what is known about aircraft wake turbulence, the consequences of encountering it, and how to avoid it.

For All Pilots

The Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM)

The AIM is the definitive word on how to fly in U.S. airspace. It contains the fundamental information on flight and Air Traffic Control procedures for use in the National Airspace System of the U.S. It also contains items of interest to pilots concerning health and medical factors, flight safety, a pilot/controller glossary of aviation terms, and information on safety, accident and hazard reporting.

The Weight and Balance Handbook (FAA-H-8083-1)

The Weight and Balance Handbook describes proper procedures for weighing an aircraft and for loading an aircraft before flight. It contains the theory as well as the practical applications of weighing and balancing an aircraft.

The Advisory Circular Checklist (AC 00-2)

This circular transmits the revised checklist of the Federal Aviation Administration's FAA) Advisory Circulars (AC's). It also lists certain other FAA publications sold by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO).

The Pilot Windshear Guide (AC 00-54)

This circular contains information on the hazardous phenomena known as windshear. It is intended to be provided to pilots during windshear ground training and to be retained as a windshear information reference for future use. The Windshear Guide provide information on how to recognize windshear and how to recover from a hazardous windshear condition if inadvertently encountered.

Traffic Advisory Practices at Airports Without Operating Control Towers (AC 90-42F)

This circular offers guidance on recommended communications procedures at non-controlled airports.

Single-Pilot Taxi Operations (AC 91-73)

This Circular provides guidelines for the development and implementation of standard pilot procedures for conducting safe aircraft operations on the airport surface.

Currency and Additional Qualification Requirements for Certificated Pilots (AC 61-98A)

This advisory circular (AC) provides information for certificated pilots and flight instructors to use in complying with the flight review required by Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) Section 61.56, the recent flight experience requirements of FAR Section 61.57, and the general limitations contained in FAR Section 61.31(d), (e), and (g). It also provides guidance regarding transition to other makes and models of aircraft.

Airworthiness Approval of GPS Navigation Equipment (AC 20-138)

This circular establishes an acceptable means, but not the only means, of obtaining airworthiness approval of Global Positioning System (GPS) equipment for use as a supplemental navigation system for oceanic and remote, domestic en route, terminal, and non-precision instrument approach operations.

Unreliable Airspeed Indications (AC 91-43)

This advisory circular is issued to reemphasize to general aviation instrument-rated pilots the need to determine the proper operation of gyroscopic instruments, the importance of instrument cross-checks and proficiency in partial-panel (emergency) operations.

Gyroscopic Instruments - Good Operating Practices (AC 91-46)

The purpose of this Advisory Circular is to alert pilots to the possibility of erroneous airspeed/Mach indications that may be caused by blocking or freezing of the pitot system, and corrective action to be taken.

On Landings (FAA-P-8087-40)

The purpose of this series of publications is to provide the flying public with safety information that is handy and easy to review. Many of the publications in this series summarize material contained in FAA Aviation Safety Program audio-visual presentations. Each of the three "On Landings" handouts (Part I, Part II. and Part III), contains material intended to supplement the "On Landings" audio-visual presentation.

Federal Regulations

Federal Aviation Regulation, Part 61

Part 61 of the Federal Regulations concerns the certification of pilots. It contains the rules concerning who can become a pilot, what that pilot can fly, and when and where that pilot can fly it.

Federal Aviation Regulation, Part 91

Part 91 of the Federal Regulations concerns general flight operations and flight rules. It contains all of the rules pilots must follow while operating an aircraft in the National Airspace System.

Federal Aviation Regulation, Part 1

Part 1 of the Federal Regulations contains the definitions and abbreviations for terms used by pilots, controllers, and others associated with the National Airspace System.

Federal Aviation Regulation, Part 21

Part 21 of the Federal Regulations contains the certification procedures for aviation-related products and parts.

Federal Aviation Regulation, Part 39

This part prescribes airworthiness directives that apply to aircraft, aircraft engines, propellers, or appliances when an unsafe condition exists in a product and that condition is likely to exist or develop in other products of the same type design.

Federal Aviation Regulation, Part 43

This part concerns aircraft maintenance - who can maintain an aircraft, when and how it must be maintained, what records must be kept, and who must keep them.

Federal Aviation Regulation, Part 71

This part designates airspace classes, airways, air routes, and reporting points.

Federal Aviation Regulation, Part 830

This part contains the rules regarding the notification and reporting of aircraft accidents or incidents and overdue aircraft, how aircraft wreckage must be preserved, and what can be done with mail, cargo, and records.

Instrument Student Pilot and Instrument PIlots

The Instrument Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-15)

The Instrument Flying Handbook is designed to be used by pilots and instructors preparing for instrument rating tests. All of the aeronautical knowledge and skills required to operate in instrument meteorological conditions are detailed.

For the Rotorcraft Student Pilot

The Rotorcraft Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-21)

Like the Airplane Flying Handbook, This truly excellent publication contains all of the basic information needed to learn to fly a helicopter or gyrocopter.