Pilot Information the Private Pilot License Process
So you are thinking of starting your Pilot Training, you will need to read a lot of handbooks and guides to get you through your training. Though there are many different manufacturers, they all pretty much have the same information it is just presented in a different way. There are many differences in the two major types of publications you will want to look out for.
There are two types of training manuals and handbooks out there are:
1: FAA Publications
2: Aftermarket publications
1: The FAA. The FAA writes these Publications. There are many of them that are referenced in the Private Pilot Practical Test Standards. The Pilot Examiners are designated and trained by the FAA, this is one thing you will want to remember. You will only want to get the Publications you need if you are on a tight budget.
Listed below are the most important FAA Publications that will have the information you will need for your Private Pilot License.
Airplane Flying Handbook: The Airplane Flying Handbook covers all your Private Pilot License maneuvers
Pilots Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge: This Publication will cover most of the aeronautical knowledge areas and many of the flight maneuvers required for your Aviation Weather: This book explains all aspects of weather. You will need to be able to explain different types of weather systems on your Private Pilot Practical Test
Aviation Weather Services: This is the FAA publication that explains how to interpret all of the weather info. This will explain to you how to read all the weather reports and forecasts available through the FAA and the flight service stations.
There are other publications known as advisory circulars. Detailed information on subjects are printed in the Publications put out by the FAA. An example of one of these publications is “Uncontrolled Airport Operations”
2: Aftermarket Publications: There are many publications that have been made up and known as industry standard. Many times the non FAA publications will have some things missing that are in the official Publications put out by the FAA. The ground Portion of your Private Pilot Flight Test will have questions related to the Faa Publications, The Pilot Examiner will expect you to understand the information in these Publications.
Perfect examples are the many airport guides that you can find published by many different companies. If you don't bring in the information put out by the FAA, it could result in a disapproval since you are not using what the FAA has published.
One thing that most students and many instructors don’t understand is the fact that the Practical test standards for your Private Pilot Practical test are based on the FAA publications. There is a section on the Practical Test Standards that will give you a list of publications that were used to make up the Practical Test Standards.
When you go up for your flight test, you should know what the FAA says about each of the areas of operation based on the FAA publication that is referenced. I have seen many times a student will reference a non FAA publication and some times it will result in a disapproval notice because the applicant is expected to have knowledge of the related FAA publication. Not what your flight instructor thinks the FAA wanted to say.
Once again remember that the Designated Pilot Examiner who will conduct your flight test is bound by the FAA Practical Test Standards. They must follow them in the evaluation process. Each area of operations listed in the Practical Test Standards will have a reference to the FAA Publication in it. This is what you will be expected to understand.
Just remember that you can use the aftermarket publications for your Private Pilot Flight Training but remember to bring the FAA Publications to your flight test and be able to explain them.
Good luck becoming a Trained Pilot and Hope to See You in the Sky
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