Book Category: General Subjects

Purpose of the ATC System Reference: FAA Order JO 7110.65 The primary purpose of the ATC system is to prevent a collision involving aircraft operating in the system. In addition, the ATC system: Communication Facilities Reference: AIM 4-2-6 When calling a ground station, pilots should say the facility’s name, then the facility type. Examples: Flight […]

Transportation Security Administration Reference: 49 CFR 1500.3 The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is the authority for all civil aviation security functions in the U.S., including GA. Regulations issued by the TSA are contained in Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations (49 CFR), Chapter XII, and are referred to as Transportation Security Regulations (TSRs). […]

Pilot’s Bill of Rights Reference: FSIMS 14-1-3 In 2012, U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe, an accomplished pilot with over 11,000 hours, persuaded Congress to pass the Pilot’s Bill of Rights to give pilots more rights when dealing with FAA investigations. Senator Inhofe was himself under an FAA investigation for landing on a closed runway a year […]

What is a Pilot Deviation? A pilot deviation results from a pilot action that violates a Federal Aviation Regulation. The majority of pilot deviations (69%) occur during GA operations. Types of Deviations Pilot deviations are classified as either airborne deviations (77%) or surface deviations (23%). Airborne Deviations Airborne deviations occur when a pilot deviates from […]

Introduction to the Federal Aviation Regulations The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is responsible for regulating and overseeing civil aviation within the United States. The FAA is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and has district offices (FSDOs) throughout the U.S. Links: History of the Federal Aviation Regulations Before 1926, flying was unregulated. No licensing or certification was […]

Temporary Flight Restrictions References: 14 CFR 91.137, 14 CFR 91.139, 14 CFR 91.141, 14 CFR 91.143, 14 CFR 91.145, 14 CFR 99.7, AC 91-63, Aeronautical Chart User’s Guide Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) restrict certain aircraft from operating within a defined area on a temporary basis to protect persons or property in the air or on […]

Categories of Airspace Reference: AIM 3-1-1 There are two categories of airspace: Note: Class F airspace is defined by ICAO and is similar to how the U.S. classifies Special Use airspace. Within these two categories, there are four types of airspace: The categories and types of airspace are dictated by: Hierarchy of Overlapping Airspace Designations […]

Runway Markings References: AIM 2-3-3, AC 150/5340-1 Chevrons are yellow markings aligned with the runway that show pavement that is unusable for landing, takeoff, and taxiing. Demarcation bars delineate displaced runway thresholds from unusable pavement, such as blast pads, slipways, or taxiways that precede the threshold. A demarcation bar is yellow since it is not […]

Airframe A fixed-wing aircraft’s airframe consists of five units: the fuselage, wings, stabilizers, flight control surfaces, and landing gear. Fuselage Structures Truss Structure: A rigid framework composed of members, such as beams, struts, and bars to resist deformation by applied loads. The truss-framed fuselage is typically covered with fabric. Semi-Monocoque Structure: Most of the strength […]

Powerplant Classifications Most small airplanes have reciprocating engines. The name is derived from the back-and-forth, or reciprocating, movement of the pistons. Common means of classifying reciprocating engines are: Horizontally opposed engines are most common in small aircraft. They have an even number of cylinders because a cylinder on one side of the crankcase “opposes” a […]