Aircraft Publications

Keep your knowledge base fuel tank full by reading aircraft publications
By Kim Finn Whether you own your own business aircraft, an aircraft manufacturing plant or aircraft maintenance company, stay informed on industry news, trends, events and safety bulletins through aircraft publications and manuals. They'll give you useful information and can also provide you with opportunities for new networking contacts, new suppliers and even new customers.

You'll find loads of private and corporate aircraft publications available, so keep your online files and print publication collections uncluttered by only selecting the publications that provide you with the most value. As you begin your search for publications, consider the following sources:

1. Buy books on airplanes that build on the foundation of knowledge you already have.

2. Subscribe to periodicals about airplanes for current information.

3. Take advantage of other aircraft publications and manuals when you need specific information.

Read aircraft books to broaden your horizons

Books about aircraft make an excellent addition to your library collection or an attractive coffee table accent that visitors to your office will appreciate.
Try:  Start your aircraft library collection with Mark Eppler's The Wright Way: 7 Problem-Solving Principles from the Wright Brothers That Can Make Your Business Soar. The 2003 book offers constructive advice to business leaders and managers while giving readers an historical adventure story at the same time. Buy the Jeppesen Aircraft Systems For Pilots, a 450-page softcover, illustrated book. The aircraft book includes chapters on physics, engine types/construction, propellers/governors, fuels/fuel systems, power management, pressurization/high altitude operations, electrical principles/components and more. Purchase From Travel Air to Baron: How Beech Created a Classic! The 2008 book includes 138 pictures and detailed diagrams. Printed on glossy enamel stock and bound in a gold-stamped hard cover with a full-color dust jacket, the 503-page book will make the perfect addition to your book collection.

Subscribe to aircraft periodicals for current trends and reports

Periodicals on airplanes provide interesting and informative articles on current issues, events and news.
Try:  For aircraft magazines, start by bookmarking Aviation Week Online for breaking news and top stories in the aerospace industry, and order a subscription to the aircraft magazine's print version Aviation Week & Space Technology, to reade the latest news and developments away from your computer. If you own an aircraft maintenance company, get a free subscription to Aircraft Maintenance Technology. The aircraft periodical addresses maintenance strategies, legal concerns and new product/equipment information from the maintenance side of the aviation industry. If you own a Cessna, join the Cessna Flyer Association so you can get a subscription to Cessna Flyer magazine, a monthly aircraft publication. For corporate aircraft publications, consider a free subscription to AERO, a magazine for operators of Boeing commercial aircraft. The quarterly magazine offers supplemental technical information that helps promote safety and efficiency in daily fleet operations.

Read other aircraft publications and manuals for information on specific topics

You'll find technical publications readily available to meet all your information needs on specific subjects.
Try:  For private aircraft publications, look for websites like the Piper Aircraft Technical Publications online. From here you can download service bulletins, service letters and change notices as Piper issues them. As an aircraft owner or aircraft maintenance company owner, make sure you own the current Aircraft Inspection, Repair & Alterations: Acceptable Methods of Aircraft Repair, published by the FAA. The 2008 advisory circular aims itself at civil aircraft weighing 12,500 pounds or less, and it includes both Part 1B and Part 2B. Subscribe to the Hawker Beechcraft Online Service Information library to receive access to online manuals and other aircraft publications. The site also makes service bulletins, safety communiques and model communiques available from the website free for 90 days from release.

• Don't spend lots of money on aircraft publications before checking with aircraft-related organizations you already belong to or are considering joining. Many offer aircraft publications to members for free or at reduced rates.