Air Pilots Manual - must have latest versions?

[Ants]

Hi all,

I am just embarking on my JAA PPL training, booked a course at Ormond Beach in May (yes I have seen all the OBA posts and spoken to past students). Anyway I want to get on top of the theory side of things now, and have got a full set of the acclaimed Trevor Thom Air Pilots Manuals, however my versions are the 7th editions (circa 2004), and I see there is now an 8th edition (2006). Has that much really changed in between the two editions that I should need to now go and buy the latest editions of all 7 books????

As part of my course package I get a the set of 5 AFE / Jeremy M Pratt books, I am not sure how these compare as its the Trevor Thom books?

Any experience on these appreciated before I start to read them all!

Many thanks,

Anthony

[stickandrudderman]

You might be better of posting this in one of the wannabee forums.

[Whirlybird]

You should be OK with 2004 books. The only thing which might have changed slightly is Air Law, which seems to change all the time. However, if you're getting a set of Jeremy Pratt's books too, those will be up-to-date anyway.

Which is best, Trevor Thom or Jeremy Pratt? It's a matter of personal opinion, and if you do a search, you'll find plenty of those opinions on here! Basically, Jeremy Pratt is a bit more detailed and easy to read, and Trevor Thom more concise...so less pages to wade through! But people pass their exams every year with both, so it doesn't matter that much. And you'll have both, so see what you prefer.

[gcolyer]

Met and Nav have changed. They changed between 2005 and 2006!!

[BigAl's]

I believe there's more colourdy pictures in the latest edition. I have some of each as they changed half way through for me.

Generally really liked them. There are a couple of holes in each subject, so use the confuser to hoover these up... the explanations are good in the confuser, so it's nice to understand the answer

Enjoy

[Wessex Boy]

I am using a slightly old set of Trevor Thoms to get back up to speed, and a new Pratt Air Law and PPL Confuser for my Air Law & Oral exams

[tiggermoth]

I used the Trevor Thom and the Pratt books (I'd got the Trevor Thom books before I booked my training). You may as well order your Pratt books becasue they are included in the price of the course at OBA - if you don't order them, then you'll need to subtract that amount off.

As it's been said before, get a new Air Law book, it's likely to have changed.

Pratt books I found were easy to read but not easy to learn. The Trevor Thom books were dryer but had more like a text book, so easier to learn. I have three Navigation Trevor Thom books (becasue I had wanted to learn to fly on two other times) - there is not really enough differerece to justify buying another book.

T.

[FiiS]

Hi guys - was gonna ask the same question - eBay is flogging an ancient set of books but I only want Nav at this stage - Amazon only do the 7th editions - and Pooleys charge full whack at £20 each (I know, that's what they cost, but there's a lot of cost in this game as we all know!!)

To clarify - do people mostly agree that for Nav (3 + 5), getting an older set of books wouldn't matter? I'll be backed up by my instructor of course but it's good to have for reference and the practise element at home. I've got the Confuser which is largely responsible for my passes so far, it's an excellent tool!

[coodem]

You will be fine with those books and the confuser. Make sure you either take your exams before you go, or make sure you are ready to take them as soon as you get to OBA. It makes life so much easier, if you dont have to worry about the studying.

I'm off to OBA on Friday for 10 days to do some hour building and get an IMC.

Good luck

[IO540]

I think the 1000ft v. 1500ft rule has changed and apart from that the Thom books are the same good olde English WW2 stuff which worked for us in WW1, worked for us again in WW2 (we beat the Germans twice ) so it must be good

[Fuji Abound]

Careful - dont mention the war .