Private Pilot Manuals

So you are thinking of getting a private pilot license. There are lots of books and materials you will need 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 is a difference however in the two major types of publications that you want to be aware of.

There are two types of training manuals and handbooks out there are:

1: FAA Publications

2: Aftermarket publications

1: The FAA. Publications are written and printed by the FAA. There are many of them that are referenced in the Private Pilot Practical Test Standards. One thing you want to understand is the fact that the Pilot Examiners are also Designated and Trained by the FAA. If you are on a budget, you want to get what you need for the Private Pilot Flight Test.

Below I have listed the main publications that have the information you will need for your Private Pilot Training.

Airplane Flying Handbook: The Airplane Flying Handbook covers all your private pilot training 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 private pilot training

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. These are publications put out by the FAA that are specific information about a given subject. 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. There are in cases some things missing that are published in the FAA publications. The Designated Pilot Examiner that will do your flight test will expect you to be able to understand and use the FAA publications for a reference during the oral portion of your Private Pilot Flight Test.


Perfect examples are the many airport guides that you can find published by many different companies. If you bring these publications into a flight test and not the FAA publications, in some cases it can result in a notice of disapproval for the reason that you aren’t 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. In the reference section of the practical test standards, there is a list of all the publications that are 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 someone else thinks the FAA was trying 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. You will also notice a reference to the FAA publication in each area of operation listed in the practical test standards. This is what you are expected to know.

So remember that if you are using aftermarket publications and manuals for your flight training; that is fine, just make sure you bring the FAA Publications to your flight test and be able to explain them.


To find all the FAA publications needed for your private pilot training, please visit me at the link below:

Airfreddy's Pivate Pilot Manual

Hope to See You in the Sky

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