Air Band Radio Handbook [Paperback]

David Smith (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 22, 2002 | Series: Air Band Radio Handbook

David J. Smiths accessible and comprehensive text has been acknowledged as the essential reference for both ground-based air band listeners and flyers. It explains the intricacies of air traffic control and its jargon, enabling the reader to locate and interpret what is actually going on in the airways overhead. He also describes the types of air band radio available and how to use them.

In this newly updated edition, Smith has included the very latest on ATC developments at Londons airports, emergency situations with aircraft, air band radios and related publications for the enthusiast -- both in print and on the internet.

Also included are major updates to the appendix listings of airways, VHF and UHF frequencies and call signs.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

David J. Smith is an air traffic controller at Liverpool Airport. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Haynes Publishing; 7th edition (July 22, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1852606061
• ISBN-13: 978-1852606060
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 6.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,408,722 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars If you're in the UK, great ... if in the US, not much help!, January 4, 2009

By 

Anthony J. Lomenzo "Doc Tony" (Fort Ann, New York) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Air Band Radio Handbook (Paperback)

This book is geared to the United Kingdom and therefore 'all' the listed frequencies and cited airports are located in England, Ireland and Scotland! Even any discussion on airband radios are based on UK models and ATC discussion focuses on London and other large UK airports. Ditto the rules and procedures because the UK has its own civil/commercial regulatory agencies, departments and agencies and hence the US FAA nor NTSB [et al] play no part in the book since it's based on the system and procedures of another nation. The UK.

Now, and in all fairness, had I taken the time to see that the author, David J. Smith, was/is an air traffic controller in 'Liverpool', then I would have looked further for a book that focuses on US procedures and airband frequencies. 'All' the Appendix listings [and they are considerable] deal with UK [England/Ireland/Scotland] centers and geographical locations. As well as various UK oriented rules and regulations for "Aerodrome Control" [sic]. The only helpful info came from one chapter [7 pages], "Oceanic Control and HF listening" and some similar but by no means universal [UK/US differences] air traffic terminology. The Morse Code listing notwithstanding. I also found discussion of navigational aids to be rather dated.

Fortunately, I purchased this book from an Amazon vendor, used, and I paid considerably less than what it sells for at Amazon [** as I do this review, the paperback book sells for $27.95] and which I thought was a rather hefty cost [new] but, as I say, I bought it used for a third of that cost [plus shipping] but it should have been mentioned in the product write-up that the book focuses almost entirely on the United Kingdom and in particularly England's major airport in London.

For someone living the UK, well, 'then' those many frequency and individual 'UK' airport listings [and book comment therein] would be of much more utility to the reader.

Doc Tony