Rod Machado's Private Pilot eHandbook - lacapnm.org · The FAA private pilot exam Biennial flight reviews Updating and refreshing your knowledge A complete information manual by one

Learn everything you need for:The FAA private pilot exam

Biennial flight reviewsUpdating and refreshing your knowledge

A complete information manual by one of aviation’smost knowledgeable and experienced teachers

More than 1,100 original color illustrations and photos

Second Edition

This book is licensed specifically for your use. It is marked with yourlicense number, order info and tracking information at the bottom ofeach page. Thank you for respecting our intellectual property rights.

Licensed exclusively for DeWayne Britton ([email protected]) Transaction: #0002858938

Rod Machado’s Private Pilot Handbook

Written and illustrated by Rod Machado

Published by The Aviation Speakers Bureau

Rod Machado’s Private Pilot Handbook i

© Mark Rasmussen - Fotolia


Second Edition Rod Machado’s Private Pilot eHandbook

April 2013ISBN 978-0-9823560-1-2

Please visit (and bookmark) our web site for any additionalbook updates: www.rodmachado.com

Published by: The Aviation Speakers Bureau, P.O. Box 6030, San Clemente, CA 92674-6030

All rights reserved. The contents of this manual are protected by copyright throughout the worldunder the Berne Union and the Universal Copyright Convention. No part of this ebook may be trans-mitted electronically, copied or provided for use by anyone other than the registered owner.

No part of this publication may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever—electronic, photographic,photocopying, facsimile, screen copy, text copy—or stored in a retrieval system without the priorwritten permission of the author: Rod Machado, care of: The Aviation Speakers Bureau.

Printed and bound in the United States of America

Nothing in this text supersedes any operational documents or procedures issued by the FederalAviation Administration (FAA), the aircraft and avionics manufacturers, any aircraft’s Pilot OperatingHandbook (POH), flight schools or the operators of the aircraft.

The author has made every effort in the preparation of this book to ensure the accuracy of theinformation. However, the information is sold without warranty either expressed or implied. Neitherthe author nor the publisher will be liable for any damages caused or alleged to be caused directly,indirectly, incidentally or consequentially by the information in this book.

The opinions in this book are solely those of the author and not the publisher.

Don’t even think about using any performance chart in this book for performance computations inyour airplane. Go get a performance chart appropriate for your airplane and use it. Also, don’t eventhink about using this book for navigation. In other words, there are aeronautical chart excerpts inthis book, but none of them should in any way be used in lieu of current charts for any type of infor-mation. All of the charts, graphs and tables in this book are for training purposes only.

Cover layout by Diane TitteringtonFront cover artwork by Sam LyonsAll material created, written and produced by Rod MachadoAll illustrations in this book designed and drawn by Rod Machado (QuarkXPress, Corel, Photoshop)Photographs (unless marked otherwise or in the public domain) by Rod Machado

Copyright 1996, 2008, 2013 by Rod Machado

Copyright Informationii


Editors..................................................................R1, R2

Aviation Speakers Bureau...........................................R2

Product Information...............................................R3-R5

Index....................................................................R6-R10

Glossary...............................................................R11-R22

Chapter One - Pages A1-10Airplane Components:Getting to KnowYour Airplane

1

5

12

11

9

10

8

13

14

17

16

15

7

6

4

3

2

Chapter Seventeen - Pages Q1-40Pilot Potpourri:Neat Aeronautical Information

Chapter Sixteen - Pages P1-20Weight and Balance:Let’s Wait and Balance

Chapter Fifteen - Pages O1-26Airplane Performance Charts:Know Before You Go

Chapter Fourteen - Pages N1-46Flight Planning:Getting There From Here

Chapter Thirteen - Pages M1-40Weather Charts and Briefings:PIREPS, Progs and METARS

Chapter Twelve - Pages L1-58Understanding Weather:Looking for Friendly Skies

Chapter Eleven - Pages K1-44Radio Navigation:The Frequency Flyer Program

Chapter Ten - Pages J1-16Aviation Maps: The Art of the Chart

Chapter Nine - Pages I1-36Airspace: The Wild Blue,Green and Red Yonder

Chapter Eight - Pages H1-22Radio Operations:Aviation Spoken Here

Chapter Seven - Pages G1-32Airport Operations:No Doctor Needed

Chapter Six - Pages F1-52Federal Aviation Regulations:How FAR Can We Go?

Chapter Five - Pages E1-42Flight Instruments:Clocks, Tops and Toys

Chapter Four - Pages D1-16Electrical Systems:Knowing What’s Watt

Chapter Three - Pages C1-38Engines:Knowledge of EnginesIs Power

Chapter Two - Pages B1-52Aerodynamics:The Wing is the Thing

Acknowledgments.......................................................ivForeword.......................................................................vDedication....................................................................viAbout the Author......................................................viiPrevious Cover.....................................................viiiIntroduction.................................................................ix

Table of Contents iii


The author wishes to acknowledge the help and or supportof the following individuals, companies or groups:

Brian Weiss of WORD’SWORTH, Santa Monica, CA.

Diane Titterington of The Aviation Speakers Bureau, San Clemente, CA.

Diamond Aircraft Corporation. Diamond was instrumentalin helping with graphs, charts, pictures and much, much,more. Thanks for all the help!

The New Piper Aircraft Corporation. Charts and graphsprovided by Piper are to be used for information purposesonly. The Pilot’s Operating Handbook is the only truesource of information.

The Cessna Aircraft Corporation. Cessna authorized theuse of their materials with the understanding that they areto be used for training purposes only, not the actual oper-ation of an aircraft.Air Time Aviation of Palomar airport, CA.

Robert Crystal of Simulator & Instrument Training Center in Van Nuys, CA.

Bill Johnson of Instrument Service Inc. of Van Nuys, CA.

John & Joanne Italiano of Windsock pilot supplies in Newport Beach, CA.

Jeannie and Fernando Molina at the Pilot Supply Shop at Long Beach Airport

Danny Mortensen, President of Airline Ground Schools

Skip Forster, President of Results Pilot Training, San Jose, CA.

Captain James P. Johnson of James Johnson Associates

Christopher W. Tompkins

John A. Ryan

Grahame K. Gates

Douglas L. Mather

Dave Gwinn

Al Chelini

Sarah Cochrane

Douglas Fairbairn

Ken Dravis

Captain Ralph Butcher

Tim Peterson

Captain John Dill

Captain Al Englehardt

Captain Ed Shaffer

Gwen Ledbetter

Ed Helmick

Don Eick

Sherry Knight

Ron Marks

Chad Gregory Holcomb

C.J. Logue

Jackie Spanitz

Aviation Supplies and Academics (ASA)

Pat O’Brien of Mag Time, John Wayne Airport, CA

Iceman Aviation Supplies, Ontario, Canada

Simon Wheaton Smith

All the folks at ASRS, Moffett Field, CA

Paul & Linda Neumann

Phil Hewitt

Paul Stebelton

Dave Franson

Kim Wheeler

Barry Wallis

Gene Croxton

Rich and Ron Lovick

Fred L Gibbs

Joe Castrey of Southern Aviation Maintenance

Flight Training Magazine

Fotolia Photo source

Clipart from the following companies:3G Graphics, Archive Arts, BBL Typographic, Cartesia Software,Image Club Graphics Inc., Management Graphics Ltd., One MileUp Inc., Studio Piazza Xilo Inc., Techpool Studios Inc., TotemGraphics Inc., TNT Designs, SmartPics.The instructor at American Flyers responsible for the “F111,C152, 1 Coke memory aid” (your name here when identified).

Acknowledgmentsiv


There are many exhilarating activities youcan try, but few offer challenges and rewardscomparable to learning to fly. It is an activitythat requires the unique combination of phys-ical skills needed to fly the airplane whileengaged in the mental activities of analysis andproblem solving. Learning to fly gives you the sat-isfaction of seeing yourself make great strides inlearning, and at the same time it challenges you tolearn more. You acquire the ability needed to take theairplane up solo rather quickly, but you will spend the restof your flying career improving your skills and judgment.

There are a variety of courses, video programs and books available to help you acquirethe knowledge and attitudes needed to become a pilot. Which resources you use will depend onyour individual preferences, but Rod Machado’s Private Pilot Handbook should certainly be one ofthe learning tools you use. Educators know that people learn more readily if written material issupported with pictures; if examples are used to support ideas; if analogies are used to tie the

unknown to the known and ifideas are linked together in amemorable manner. Rod doesan amazing job of buildingthis book around these con-cepts. In addition, he focuseson just the information that isof great practical importanceto pilots, which helps keepthe task of learning the mate-rial reasonable. He also doesa magnificent job of usinghumor to get you throughthe tough material and keepyou alert regardless of thetopic. Books only providevalue if people will readthem, and Rod makes itvery easy to get value fromthis book.

Rod Machado’s Private Pilot Handbook is an essential resource for anyone who is learning to fly.The material can be easily understood by those with no previous aviation experience. For thosewho already have their certificates, it is an excellent way to update your knowledge, get a refresh-er on material you once knew, and learn material you were never able to understand because itwas too boring or presented in a manner that was incomprehensible. The book is also an excellentresource for flight instructors who want to expand their “toolkit” of explanations, examples, andvisual aids to help their students gain insights into the wonderful world of flight.

Dr. Gerry Fairbairn is a professor of aviation at Daniel Webster College and lives in New Boston, New Hampshire.He has been a flight instructor since 1965 and is an aviation lecturer for the AOPA Air Safety Foundation.

Dr. Gerry Fairbairn

Foreword v


DEDICATION

This book is dedicated to three very important people whose contributionshad a considerable influence on my aviation career.

Amelia Reid gave me my first job in aviation as a teenager. I fueled and tax-ied airplanes at Amelia Reid Aviation at Reid-Hillview airport in NorthernCalifornia. I was in heaven and will always be grateful for that opportunity.

Jan Sakert is perhaps the most charismatic, clever and humorous speakerI’ve ever heard. He gave me the opportunity to teach aviation groundschool and learn the business of speaking and teaching. He was alwayswise, infinitely supportive and a very patient man. His podium demeanor stillinfluences my behavior to this day.

Mr. Paul Stebelton is one of the most understanding, friendly and sinceremen I’ve ever met. As an Accident Prevention Specialist in the Long BeachFSDO, he allowed me to do aviation safety programs to my heart’s content.There were times when my antics got Paul in hot water with the higher-ups,but his support never wavered. He was one of the few educators I’ve metwho realized the value of humor in education.

Dedicationvi


Rod Machado traded his motorcycle for fly-ing lessons at the age of 16. His parents weredelighted he gave up riding with the vegetar-ian motorcycle gang known as the Sprouts.Captured by the romance and adventure offlight in a Taylorcraft L-2 at Amelia Reid Aviationin San Jose, California, Rod has remained hookedever since. In fact, he is one of the few airline-trans-port-rated pilots who still gets excited by a Cessna 150fly-by.

Rod is a professional speaker who travels across theUnited States and Europe delighting his listeners with upbeat and livelypresentations. Machado truly loves mixing it up with the audience. His unusual talent for sim-plifying the difficult and adding humor to make the lessons stick has made him a popular lectur-er both in and out of aviation. Rod speaks on both aviation and non-aviation topics, including riskassessment, IFR charts, aviation weather, in-flight emergencies, and safety awareness. He is alsoknown for his rapid fire, humorous banquet presentations.

A pilot since 1970 and an active flightinstructor since 1973, Rod is also a NationalAviation Safety Counselor. He has over 8,000hours of flight experience earned the hardway—one CFI hour at a time. Since 1978,Rod has taught hundreds and hundreds offlight instructor revalidation clinics and safe-ty seminars across the United States andEurope. He was named the 1991 WesternRegion Flight Instructor of the Year. You canread his monthly column, “License toLearn,” in AOPA Pilot magazine as well ashis monthly columns in Flight TrainingMagazine.

Rod’s eclectic interests are reflected by hisequally varied academic credentials. Heholds degrees in aviation science and psy-chology.

Rod believes you must take time to exer-cise or you’ll have to take time to be sick.Holding black belts in the Korean disci-plines of Tae Kwon Do and Hapkido andranking in Gracie Jujitsu, he gets his exer-cise from practicing and teaching martialarts. He also runs 20 miles a week andclaims it’s uphill both ways.

Visit Rod’s web site at www.rodmachado.com.

About the Author vii

Rod MachadoLicensed exclusively for DeWayne Britton ([email protected]) Transaction: #0002858938

“This book is an aviation bible. Obey thesecommandments and your rewards are endless.”

Cliff Robertson

Rod Machado’s Private Pilot Handbookviii

About the ArtistSince childhood, Sam’s love of aviationhas led him down the road to his pre-sent career as a world renowned avia-tion artist. Sam has flown aircraft fromJ-3 Cubs to F-15, 16 and 18’s, whichgives him a unique perspective forpainting award winning aviation paint-ings from the classics to modern jets.

For more information on Aviation Art by Sam Lyons

contact:(800) 544-4992

or www.lyonsstudio.com

The Book Cover

Flying & Flapjacks

Sam Lyons


Basic aviation knowledge is to the pilotwhat the fish is to the angler —an indispens-able part of the union. One cannot existwithout the other. Yet, learning the basics ofaviation is sometimes considered the leastenjoyable part of the process. In some small way Ihope this book changes that perception.

I wrote this book to make the process of basicaviation education a pleasant one. A little humor wasan important ingredient, along with a reasonableamount of simplification. I’ve always believed that newideas are easier to learn if you can compare them to things youalready know. Throughout this book I try to make these connections. That’swhy I speak of aerodynamics in terms of how automobiles climb hills.

You do not need to be a physicist, aerodynamicist, scientist or engineer to become a pilot. Infact, the only math you’ll need in this book is grocery-store math. That’s basic adds, takeaways,times and goes-intos. If you need a cash chaperone at a grocery store, or think that doing additionin an airplane at 10,000 feet is higher math, then you might want to consider taking up sailinginstead of flying. This is the extent of the technical knowledge required for the book. The rest ofthe information can be understood using your common, everyday experience. (Believe me when Isay that you know a lot more about the science of flying than you think you do. Honest!)

You’ve probably noticed this book contains quite a few pictures to supplement the text. Theseare not just for the learning impaired. In some cases the pictures and their accompanying text

offer a slightly different subject explanation than thatcontained in the body text. This isn’t unintentionalredundancy—it’s quite intentional. It’s often nice to seesomething presented in more than one way. Picturesalso allow you to review major concepts without havingto reread entire sections of material. Most important,it’s my book and I like pictures.When asked, “How do you eat an elephant?” I hope yousay, “Give me another menu” instead of, “one bite at atime.” That’s why I’ve included something known asPostflight Briefings at the end of most chapters. Theseare alternate menus. Some topics can be frustrating ifconsumed as a whole. It simply makes good sense toput them at the end of the chapter where they can beabsorbed at your convenience once the necessarygroundwork of knowledge has been laid.

If you’re like me (and I know I am), you enjoy hearing about the experiences of others.Therefore, I’ve included excerpts from the Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS) files. Theseare reports sent to NASA by pilots describing their experiences, ideas and faux pas. They’re theclosest thing you get to real experience without being there.

Airplanes. Airplanes. Airplanes. Few words in the English language seem to embody as muchadventure, reward and pleasure. That’s what flying is all about, isn’t it? I hope your experiencelearning to fly is filled with wonder and excitement. I hope this book makes the process of flighttraining more enjoyable for you.

Rod Machado

Introduction ix

Rod Machado


Rod Machado’s Private Pilot Handbookx

Updating Your Book

Because the world of aviation changes quickly, you should make it a regularpractice to update your book by visiting my web site located at:

http://www.rodmachado.com

Visit the book/slide update page for any changes that may affect this text orchanges in the FAA knowledge exam.

Author’s NoteAny errors found in this book are solely the responsibility of the author, Rod Machado.


Rod Machado's Private Pilot eHandbook - lacapnm.org · The FAA private pilot exam Biennial flight reviews Updating and refreshing your knowledge A complete information manual by one

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