Flying entire life without AFD

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Champcar said:
When I fly I always try to have as much info as I can with me for my route and surrounding areas. I don't get why pilots make things so difficult, just carry the 4 dollar book. Its a trivial thing to argue about.
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I think the argument is about whether or not you're flying illegally without it. It says that you've got to be aware of all pertinent information along the route of your flight. It doesn't say how you become aware of that information. It just says you have to.
 
I bought one just to show the examiner "Look I'm legal!" for the private checkride, never opened it. I have the "Blue book", which has all the same info as the AFD for CA's airports, with pictures and a whole lot more.
 
I generally only buy them for checkrides too. Airnav gives me a lot more information in a lot less time.
 
Douglas said:
What's the blue book?

I had somebody showing me some other once but I can't remember what it was called or if it was "blue".
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http://www.pilotsguide.com/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=1&c=1
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That blue book rocks. Used it all the time as a PPL. Carried the AFD with me but the blue book really had all I ever needed and the presentation -considering the AFD is government produced- was about 100% better.
 
It REALLY helps when I'm flying into an airport for the first time. All the reporting points and stuff are right there. I remember flying into SCK, that airport was very very hard to find despite the size of the runways. I got to look at the book and say "Well I'm here and 5 miles ahead is this landmark so I'm guessing the airport is here and I'll enter on the 45 accordingly." Didn't see the airport until I entered the pattern almost but I was able to figure all that out, and call in with an appropriate checkpoint, all with the GPS turned off.

IMO the blue book should be all student pilots get out here, the GPS should just be there if you're REALLY lost as a backup, and they shouldn't teach you to use the autopilot until right before the check ride so you don't get lazy. But of course everyone else my age always tells me "DOOODE WHY DON'T U FLY T3H G1000 ITS SOO KOO!".
 
tonyw said:
I think the argument is about whether or not you're flying illegally without it. It says that you've got to be aware of all pertinent information along the route of your flight. It doesn't say how you become aware of that information. It just says you have to.
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I understand that. Why argue over the legality of something that is 4 dollar and gives you plenty of information in a pinch if needed? We all know the regs have a lot of gray areas, do you really want to argue your interpretation of a reg with the FAA, because you'll lose.
 
ChasenSFO said:
It REALLY helps when I'm flying into an airport for the first time. All the reporting points and stuff are right there. I remember flying into SCK, that airport was very very hard to find despite the size of the runways. I got to look at the book and say "Well I'm here and 5 miles ahead is this landmark so I'm guessing the airport is here and I'll enter on the 45 accordingly." Didn't see the airport until I entered the pattern almost but I was able to figure all that out, and call in with an appropriate checkpoint, all with the GPS turned off.

IMO the blue book should be all student pilots get out here, the GPS should just be there if you're REALLY lost as a backup, and they shouldn't teach you to use the autopilot until right before the check ride so you don't get lazy. But of course everyone else my age always tells me "DOOODE WHY DON'T U FLY T3H G1000 ITS SOO KOO!".
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Let's see how KOO they fly with their G100000 and the rest of their magic turned off!
 
subpilot said:
Falconvalley,
Good post except I don't think ramp checks look at your flight planning and whether you have an AFD onboard or not.
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The usually don't and they do have guidance on what they should check but they can check anything they want. Emit any type of ignorance and some of them will smell it right out of you. That being said, I've have far more pleasant experiences with Feds.
 
Champcar said:
I understand that. Why argue over the legality of something that is 4 dollar and gives you plenty of information in a pinch if needed? We all know the regs have a lot of gray areas, do you really want to argue your interpretation of a reg with the FAA, because you'll lose.
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Wasn't it only a couple threads back we were championing the carrying of flotation devices for crossing Lake Erie, even if not-for-hire? Heck, by the end of that thread, I had my life jacket, raft, and pyrotechnic devices ready for crossing Spot Pond. Now we're trying to decide if an A/FD is worth it? Seems ironic.
 
Bernoulli Fan said:
by the end of that thread, I had my life jacket, raft, and pyrotechnic devices ready for crossing Spot Pond.
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The AF/D doesn't float very well, and though I guess you could light it on fire - it isn't a great signaling device.

If I had to pick one based on weight, I'd take the life preserver over the AF/D.
 
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