A & M Aviation

Ground School Materials

Our instructors recommend either of the following; the choice is up to you:

King School's Cessna Flight Training Private Pilot Course
Sporty's Learn to Fly Course Private Pilot Prep Course, which is available in three formats: online, DVD, or iOS app.

Flight Training

Let's Go Flying! the Aircraft Owner's and Pilot's Association's (AOPA's) introduction to flight training
AOPA Flight Training A great place to start your investigation, and an opportunity to get 6 month free subscription
LearnToFly Cessna's site on learning to fly
FAA has something to say
Free online Ground School from Gold Seal
PilotEdge Air Traffic Control simulation
FlightSchoolList provides an aviation school directory

Paying for Training

We have found it best to have enough funds available up front so that you are not delaying lessons for financial reasons. Either save up sufficient funds, obtain scholarships, or obtain financing. Delays in training only serve to increase the overall cost, as you will need to revisit lessons that you have forgotten. Here are some links that may help with scholarships and financing. Note that we are not affiliated with any of these organizations and do not provide scholarships ourselves.

Scholarships

Search the Internet! There are many out there, and too often they go unclaimed because no one applied! There are hundreds or even thousands of dollars available! Some of the ones we're familiar with include:

The FAA lists many scholarships, some of which are for pilot training
The Ninety-Nines, the International Organization of Woman Pilots, has a number of scholarships available, both locally and nationally. These are available to pilots (including male and student pilots) who are members of the organization.
Women in Aviation International scholarships (for both women and men).
AOPA Learn to Fly Scholarship
Aviation Careers Podcast maintains an eBook of many available scholarships

Financing

Flight Planning

AOPA Internet Flight Planner (membership required, 18yo+)
Airnav - Information about any airport
CSC DUATS - Official Briefing
Lockheed Martin AFSS - Official briefing
SkyVector - Online charts
FlightAware - Track a plane's progress on an IFR flight plan
FltPlan.com - a highly recommended free Flight Planning website for General Aviation pilots.
Published NOTAMs - Not given by AFSS unless requested!
AeroPlanner - web-based flight planning service. Free for EAA members!
DUAT - Official Briefing (expires 7/15/2015)

Flight Organizations

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

Federal Resources

FAA Safety Team: Safer Skies through Education (SPANS) Seminars and the Wings program
National Transportation & Safety Board (NTSB) Aviation Database

Aviation Weather

Aviation Weather (AC 00-6A) The "official" book about understanding the weather from the people who write the tests.
Aviation Weather Services (AC 00-45G) 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.
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 & Aviation Media

University of North Dakota Aerocast
Uncontrolled Airspace
The Finer Points
Airspeed
Aviation Podcasts Network
Thirty ThousandFeet's listing of Podcasts
Airplanista Online Magazine

Public Benefit Flying

This is a chance to put a purpose behind your flights! You can enjoy the freedom of flight while making a contribution to the public good! Air Care Alliance serves as a clearinghouse for many of the organizations. We don't begin to list them all here!

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, glider, balloon, or a few other certificates, 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

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
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

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

KAP140 Pilot's Guide autopilot

Links

Objectives