Title page last updated 2020-04-21—other pages could change all the time
I originally started to assemble a variety of useful flight training aids on this Web site. I started off with my personal archives, and wrote some more as time passed and my own exposure to new aspects of aviation widened.
Unfortunately, it soon became obvious that some (such as Atlas Aviation and PDF Service Manual) do not respect copyright notices. As a result, I've resorted to not publishing the latest and greatest versions on the Web. These documents are pretty close to the truth, and I trust you'll find them useful. However, if you need the most reliable version, contact me or obtain the latest version on the open market.
Important copyright notice: © 1988 to 2020 Chris R. Burger. Copyright is reserved on all content. No part of the material may be reproduced in part or in full, except for personal study use. If you want to use this material for your personal edification, feel free to do so. However, if you are a flight instructor and intend to use it with your students, or if you want to hand out copies to students or others paying for a service, please note that copyright is retained in full and a licence fee is required. My email address starts with "fly@", followed by the domain that you found this notice in.
These handling notes include speeds and checklists in a format more convenient than having to consult the handbook in the cockpit. They are my personal summaries of what is written in a specific aircraft's manual. They may or may not be applicable to the specific aircraft you fly, and it is your own responsibility to check them against the PFM before using them for operational purposes!
Important note: These notes are in a cryptic format. Some items require reading the Pilot's Flight Manual before being intelligible. Do not attempt to use these checklists without first becoming thoroughly familiar with the manuals!
King Air B90. Note: Items marked with an asterisk ("*") are optional for quick-turnaround operations.
King Air C90A. Note: Items marked with an asterisk ("*") are optional for quick-turnaround operations.
Super King Air 200. Note: Items marked with an asterisk ("*") are optional for quick-turnaround operations.
Cessna Citation 500 Eagle (draft version). Many Citation 500s were modified into Eagles by Sierra Industries to carry more fuel and behave better at low speeds. In the emergency section, some items are listed in text boxes. These items must be memorised for immediate action, without reference to the checklist. Once these items have been done, the checklist can be read to ensure no recall items have been missed and to execute the remaining required items.
Ideally, you should print these handling notes at 90% scale on white, yellow and pink paper as indicated in the table below. Then cut out the blank margins, leaving sheets of about 100 x 210 mm. These slips can then be laminated and spiral-bound to form a durable, waterproof booklet. Wire spirals work better than plastic ones, because the booklet remains flat regardless of which page it's open at.
| Section | Colour | C208B pages | BE20/BE90C pages | BE90B pages | CE500E pages |
| Speeds and normal procedures | White | 1 to 8 | 1 to 7 | 1 to 8 | 1 to 8 |
| Abnormal procedures | Yellow | 9 to 13 | 8 to 9 | 9 to 10 | 9 to 14 |
| Emergency procedures | Pink | 14 to 18 | 10 to 13 | 11 to 14 | 15 to 21 |
Slightly improved versions of these checklists are available from Wings and Things through the Web, or at their shops at Lanseria International Airport, Grand Central Airport or Sandton. These checklists have been reformatted for double margins and some errors (simple typos and a few procedural errors) have been fixed.
Light piston engined aeroplanes (single, twin, retractable, constant speed propellers etc.). This quiz covers most handling issues, and encourages the pilot to thoroughly work through the manuals. It will take you a while, but it will allow you to get a thorough grip on the operation of the specific aircraft model. If the aircraft has unusual systems, you might need to do some more work apart from the quiz. Your instructor should be able to point out some of the more unusual aspects of the specific model.
Robinson R22 light helicopter. So you think you know this delightful little machine? Give this quiz a try!
Beech King Air 200 (draft version).
Cessna Citation 500. This quiz covers the original Model 500. The Citation 1 is very similar, and most of the straight-wing Citations (500, 501, 525, 550, 560) have similar systems, but with different figures (weighs, speeds, pressures). Perhaps the most significant systems differences are in the de-icing systems and avionics, although the latest models have trailing-link landing gear, too.
Thorough type training requires a good grasp of the aircraft's systems, its operating procedures and its flight planning. These quizzes help to test the understanding and knowledge of aircraft systems, but should be supplemented by good operational and flight planning quizzes. The generic quiz (first on the list) provides some such questions that can be used for the more advanced types too.
The SFT Navigation Log, with instructions for completing the different columns.
A manual for Night Flying, specifically for private pilots venturing into night flying for the first time, or contemplating a night rating.
Briefing notes for a piston pilot's intial turbine-engined aeroplane training. This syllabus helps to ensure that all the important topics are covered in a pilot's first training on a turbine aeroplane.
Some musings on preflight inspections. This article was eventually integrated into one of my books
An English-Afrikaans glossary of aviation terms. This list is the result of three decades of development. The original list covered only helicopters, and became the basis for the dictionaries published in my books. The Afrikaans book contains both Afrikaans-English and English-Afrikaans dictionaries, while the English book contains only an English-Afrikaans version. This version (on this Web site) has been expanded and updated.
Training material for Night Vision Imaging Systems. These devices are
very useful in nighttime helicopter operations. The
EASA Conops for Night Vision Imaging Systems covers the theoretical
background for the operation of NVIS systems. A further document provides
some clarity on the terms used when measuring and describing NVIS.
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