A & M Aviation

Flight Training

Be A Pilot AOPA's introduction to flight training
AOPA Project Pilot AOPA can help you find a mentor
AOPA Flight Training A great place to start your investigation
LearnToFly Cessna's site on learning to fly
The Ninety-Nines have something to say too!
Pilot Finance Financing for your flight training
FAA has something to say
Free online Ground School from Gold Seal

Flight Planning

AOPA Internet Flight Planner (membership required)
Airnav Information about any airport
DUAT -Official Briefing
CSC DUATS -Official Briefing
Lockheed Martin AFSS
SkyVector - Online Sectionals
FlightCentral
FlightAware Track a plane's progress on an IFR flight plan
FltPlan.com a free Flight Planning website for General Aviation pilots.
Published NOTAMs Not given by AFSS unless requested!
AeroPlannerweb-based flight planning service. Free for EAA members!

Flight Organizations

Ninety-Nines, International Oranization of Women Pilots
Women in Aviation, International Another organization for women pilots
Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Concentrating on light sport/sport pilot and home-built
Aircraft Owner's & Pilot's Association (AOPA) The grand-daddy of pilot organizations
U.S. Pilot's Association a grassroots organization of general aviation pilots
Air Safety Foundation (ASF) an offshoot of AOPA, providing a lot of safety education

Federal Resources

FAA Safety Team: Safer Skies through Education (SPANS) Seminars and the Wings program
National Transportation & Safety Board (NTSB) Aviation Branch
Notices to Airmen (NOTAMS)

Aviation Weather

Aviation Weather (AC 00-6) The "official" book about understanding the weather from the people who write the tests.
Aviation Weather Services (AC 00-45F) and the companion "official" book about how to get a weather briefing; also from the people who write the tests.
aviationweather.gov NOAA has put together some really good weather information here. It does not constitute an official briefing, however!
JesseWeather shows weather trends. It also provides notifications when the weather is better or worse than the criteria you set! Get notified when you can get some solo time or can get some actual instrument time!
intellicast This private site has some very good severe weather radar.
noaa.gov If you're interested in overall or non-aviation weather, this is a good place to start.
Chesapeake Aviation Training has a series of intensive training CD-ROMs and one-on-one online consultation by CFI and former NWS meteorologist Scott Dennstaedt focused on weather.
RUCsoundings for the Skew(t) Log(P) diagrams.

Online Communities

Pilots of America, aka the Blue Board, is one of the best gathering places of general aviation enthusiasts on the Internet. It is also open to conversations outside of the aviation realm. They have annual gatherings, including the Gaston's flyin that's one of our 2009 destinations.
MyTransponder, like FaceBook for Pilots
studentpilot a forum run by Neil Glaser of PilotMall.com
AOPA Forums, aka the Red Board, is an extremely active general aviation community that focuses solely on aviation.
Purple Board was started as a combination of the "red board" and the "purple board".

Podcasts

Public Benefit Flying

Aviation Interests

Cessna Pilot's Association
Fly 2 Lunch a free $100 Hamburger site
Adventure Pilot Fun places to go on and around airports nationwide
Illinois Aviation Museum at Bolingbrook
National Association of Flight Instructors (NAFI)
Society of Aviation and Flight Educators

Buying a Plane

Many planes will be shown at the Cavalcade of Planes.

Trade-a-Plane has many available and is available free in the A & M Lobby
Diamond aircraft
Cessna Aircraft

Getting your Certificate

Aviation Medical Examiners Unless going for a Sport Pilot, you'll need a medical!
Application for Certificate (IACRA) You can fill out your application online!
Airman Certificate and/or Rating Application for Pilots, Flight Instructors and Ground Instructors (8710-1) or print it out yourself
Airman Certificate and/or Rating Application for Sport Pilot (8710-11)
Update your address with the FAA if you already have a certificate and have moved

Pilot Blogs

Purdue a student pilot out of Joliet, IL
Matt Teller, Beech 1900 first officer
Rob Schaffer, a student pilot in PA

FAA Source Documents

This is the "official source" for much of the information you'll need when flying. They actually have a good deal of very useful information. A word of warning, though. While you can certainly print out the documents here, it is actually cheaper in many cases to purchase them printed and bound.

Student Pilot's Guide (FAA-H-8083-27A)
Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs)
Aeronautical Information Manual
Airplane Flying Handbook (FAA_H-8083-3A)
Pilot/Controller Glossary
Aviation Weather (AC 00-6)
Aviation Weather Services (AC 00-45F)
Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (FAA-H-8083-25)
Instrument Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-15A)
Instrument Procedures Handbook (FAA-H-8261-1A)
Certification: Pilots and Flight & Ground Instructors (including endorsements) (AC 61-65E)

GPS Operating Guides & Simulators

KLN89B

KLN90B

KLN94

Pilot's Guide

Quick Reference Guide

Garmin 430/530

Garmin G1000

Cockpit Reference Guide (System Software Version 0563.03 or later), Rev. A, Mar, 2007
Cockpit Reference Guide Addendum (Cessna Nav III), Rev. A, Jul, 2005
Pilot's Guide (System Software Version 0563.03 or later), Rev. A, Mar, 2007
Garmin G1000 PC Trainer (for purchase from Garmin)

Other Avionics

STEC30 Pilot's Operating Handbook autopilot
KAP140 Pilot's Guide autopilot
Avidyne TAS600 (Ryan 9900BX TCAD)

Links

Objectives