FAA text book

[Motorola]

Hi what is the recommended text book for student helo pilots studying for FAA PPL and/or CPL please? I already have fixed wing ATPL.

ASA seem to have a few different books on helo principles of flight and handling, etc.

https://www.asa2fly.com/Helicopters-C488.aspx

Thanks, m

[Bell_ringer]

https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aviation/helicopter_flying_handbook/

[Ascend Charlie]

Bear in mind that there are a lot of errors in that publication, and much of the aerodynamics is only partly explained, which leads to students, and their low-time instructors, passing on misinformation. There is a list of amendments - but if it is an electronic publication, why not amend it and avoid the error notifications?

[[email protected]]

Does it still refer to gyroscopic precession as an explanation for phase lag?

[SASless]

You must remember it is the government.....and simple questions have complicated answers.

The FAA runs on complicated answers to simple questions.


One must use FAA answers to FAA questions on the Exams.

just as I had to learn the CAA had it’s own special style as did the FAA.

[timprice]

At least they list all the answers to questions even if wrong, I suppose that's progress:D

[Ascend Charlie]

Crab, yes, and they tell you that "flapping to equality" is still happening in forward flight, i.e. the advancing blade is flapping UP.

[MarcK]

Since you already have the basics in hand, and just need to study for the test, I recommend https://www.dauntless-soft.com/ for practice tests, with FAA explanations.

[Paul Cantrell]

Hi what is the recommended text book for student helo pilots studying for FAA PPL and/or CPL please? I already have fixed wing ATPL.

ASA seem to have a few different books on helo principles of flight and handling, etc.

https://www.asa2fly.com/Helicopters-C488.aspx

Thanks, m

Well, since you already have an ATP you won't have to take the written (at least, if it's a USA ATP), so I assume you're just trying to get up to speed for the oral part of the practical test. In that case, the FAA's old textbook, the Rotorcraft Flying Handbook (https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aircraft/media/faa-h-8083-21.pdf) is worth a read. That book was written in 2000. Previously we used a reprint of the Army Field Training manual which was both sad and funny (for the happy and sad Bell 47 pictures). The Rotorcraft Flying Handbook is divided into two parts: the first part is helicopters, and the second part is gyrocopters, so I suggest you just read the first part.

The current textbook The Helicopter Flying Handbook (https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aviation/helicopter_flying_handbook/) is pretty bad. I'm not sure why they thought they needed a rewrite vs just doing a little update, but it's filled with lots of mistakes. While the Rotorcraft Flying Handbook seems to have been authored by someone knowledgable, the Helicopter Flying Handbook appears to have been edited together from 3-4 sources by someone not knowledgable about helicopters. There are some pretty bad mistakes in it.

Those two books are free for the downloading. I also would recommend Principles of Helicopter Flight by W.J. Wagtendonk, and Cyclic and Collective by our own Shawn Coyle. There are other good books out there, but those are the three I would recommend (I don't recommend the Helicopter Flying Handbook unless you have to take the FAA written - then you want to read it just to pass the written test).

[Robbiee]

Well, since you already have an ATP you won't have to take the written (at least, if it's a USA ATP), so I assume you're just trying to get up to speed for the oral part of the practical test. In that case, the FAA's old textbook, the Rotorcraft Flying Handbook (https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aircraft/media/faa-h-8083-21.pdf) is worth a read. That book was written in 2000. Previously we used a reprint of the Army Field Training manual which was both sad and funny (for the happy and sad Bell 47 pictures). The Rotorcraft Flying Handbook is divided into two parts: the first part is helicopters, and the second part is gyrocopters, so I suggest you just read the first part.

The current textbook The Helicopter Flying Handbook (https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aviation/helicopter_flying_handbook/) is pretty bad. I'm not sure why they thought they needed a rewrite vs just doing a little update, but it's filled with lots of mistakes. While the Rotorcraft Flying Handbook seems to have been authored by someone knowledgable, the Helicopter Flying Handbook appears to have been edited together from 3-4 sources by someone not knowledgable about helicopters. There are some pretty bad mistakes in it.

Those two books are free for the downloading. I also would recommend Principles of Helicopter Flight (https://www.amazon.com/Principles-Helicopter-Flight-W-J-Wagtendonk/dp/1560276495) by W.J. Wagtendonk, and Cyclic and Collective (https://www.amazon.com/Cyclic-Collective-Shawn-Coyle/dp/0557090660/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_14_img_1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=3M7E34Y886ZBM4APY9RV) by our own Shawn Coyle. There are other good books out there, but those are the three I would recommend (I don't recommend the Helicopter Flying Handbook unless you have to take the FAA written - then you want to read it just to pass the written test).

Yeah, ditto on this. I'm so glad I kept my old Rotorcraft Flying Handbook, as I do not like the new one at all!

[Motorola]

Thanks all for saving me $$ on text books, M

[SASless]

Motorola, Check your PM Mailbox.