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Learning to Fly

These are notes transcribed to the Web from my experiences on the way to my Private Pilot's certificate in the Cessna 172 Skyhawk. Some of them are applicable to student pilots in general.

For consistency, altitudes are given in hundreds of feet (hectofeet; hft) throughout (AGL or MSL).

Miscellaneous

• Category/Class/Type
• Required Equipment
• Required Inspections
• Taxiing Winds
• Flight Categories
• Interactive Airspeed Indicator (experimental)
• Interactive Standard Traffic Pattern (experimental)

Cessna 172 SP Flipbook

This printable PDF turns into a double-ended ‘flipbook’

KAP 140 Autopilot

Static Forces Model

Checklists

Cloud Types

Lighting

VFR Radio Procedures

Nighttime

Airspace

References

In my opinion ‘ground school’ doesn't adequately provide the information being an capable pilot or even to just pass the practical test. It doesn't properly integrate the knowledge with ‘cockpit reality’. Worse, ground school doesn't even provide a sense of what you should know. The following is a ‘suggested reading list”; if I would have had the list before beginning, ground school and flight training would have been a lot easier.

Items marked with “♥” are particularly important. Items marked with “♦” can be obtained in printed form.

• Federal Aviation Regulations/Aeronautical Information Manual ♦ ♥
• Pilot's Operating Handbook (POH) or Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) for your airplane ♦ ♥
• Advisory Circulars, in particular:
  • 00-6: Aviation Weather ♦
  • 00-24: Thunderstorms
  • 00-30: Clear Air Turbulence Avoidance
  • 00-45: Aviation Weather Services ♦
  • 00-46: Aviation Safety Reporting Program
  • 43-12: Preventive Maintenance
  • 60-22: Aeronautical Decision Making
  • 61-67: Stall and Spin Awareness Training
  • 61-134: General Aviation Controlled Flight into Terrain Awareness
  • 90-23: Aircraft Wake Turbulence
  • 90-48: Pilots' Role in Collision Avoidance
  • 90-66: Non-Towered Airport Flight Operations
  • 90-114: Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast Operations
  • 91-74: Flight In Icing Conditions
  • 91-92: Pilot's Guide to a Preflight Briefing
• FAA Handbooks:
  • Advanced Avionics Handbook ♦
  • Airplane Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-3 ♦ ♥)
  • Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (FAA-H-8083-25 ♦ ♥)
• ‘Regional’ Items:
  • Aeronautical Chart User's Guide ♦
  • Chart Supplement (formerly the Airport/Facility Directory)
  • Sectional and Terminal Area charts ♦ ♥
• Say Again, Please (Guide to Radio Communication) ♦ ♥
• Private Pilot Test Prep ♦ ♥
• Private Pilot Oral Exam Guide ♦ ♥
• Private Pilot Airman Certification Standards (ACS) ♦

Older Miscellaneous

• Traffic Pattern flying.
• Emergency Procedures for the Skyhawk.

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