Rod Machado's Instrument Pilot's Survival Manual [Paperback]

Rod Machado (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Aviation Speakers Bureau; 2 edition (March 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0971201501
• ISBN-13: 978-0971201507
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #493,430 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

42 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Every instrument pilot needs this book!, July 5, 2004

By 

Gregory N. Brown "Columnist, 'Flight Training... (Northern Arizona) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Rod Machado's Instrument Pilot's Survival Manual (Paperback)

We all know that Rod Machado is one of the sharpest and most entertaining aviation writers around. Well, he's outdone himself this time with "The Instrument Pilot's Survival Manual." Not only does Rod clearly detail everything you need to know about instrument flying in his usual thorough and entertaining way, but he digs into things you won't find anywhere else -- like how to fly GPS approaches using the latest electronic displays, and the fine points of using weather avoidance technology like lightning detectors and radar. Best of all, Rod delivers straight talk and clear guidance on the really tough challenges we pilots occasionally face -- like what should you do when encountering airframe icing, for example? Plenty of books explain the hazards, but only Rod gives you an action plan explaining exactly what to do. Even as a 26-year instrument pilot and a 24-year instrument instructor, I've learned all kinds of great stuff from this book and you will too. Every instrument pilot should read it and keep it handy for reference. Good going, Rod -- you've written another classic!
Greg Brown, 2000 CFI of the Year

30 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars He's done it again..., July 13, 2004

By 

Gene Hudson (Van Nuys, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rod Machado's Instrument Pilot's Survival Manual (Paperback)

The master has struck again.

There are only a few authors in this industry that are fun to read...and fewer still who research their topic in depth. Unfortunately for the instrument student, these two kinds of authors rarely are the same people. Rod Machado is (mercifully) the shining exception.

Rod has managed to make the impenetrable subject of instrument flying not only readable but enjoyable. Most texts on this subject are far to dry, and are brutally tortureous for the non-technical reader. Rod's talent as a lecturer and humorist shine through again; anybody can read this book, and (while having a great time) learn the principles of instrument flying.

Rod has done a particularly good job of researching and communicating the principles of utilizing Air Traffic Control as an in-flight weather resource, and how to make peace with the new 'glass-cockpit' GPS machines that are finding their way into more general aviation cockpits today. There just isn't any other source on the market today that tackles these topics in the depth Rod has done.

While you should not expect that this will be the only book you need to read to get your instrument rating, it is certainly a 'must have.' No serious student of instrument flying should go without including this title in their course of study. While you certainly could acquire your instrument knowledge without it--why would you want to? Anything else is literally 'doing it the hard way.'

I am an active, 10,000-hour instrument instructor, FAA Aviation Safety Counselor, and NAFI-designated Master Instructor. I am also an FAA-designated Remedial Instruction Program Instructor (traffic school for pilots). My specialty is instrument training. It is from that perspective that I give this book my strongest recommendation, not only for pilots new to instrument flying, but also as an excellent review/update for the old hands that have been flying in the system for years.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The IFR Big Picture made easy, July 20, 2004

By 

D. M Schick "flyingd" (Eugene, OR United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Rod Machado's Instrument Pilot's Survival Manual (Paperback)

I like Rod Machado?s Instrument Pilot?s Survival Manual 2nd edition because his book describes the techniques, procedures and more importantly, the reasoning behind them. Learning to fly on instruments is so detail oriented that for many getting the big picture only happens just before the checkride. But we learn better when we can understand the purpose behind doing something. If you are learning to fly on instruments or you are already instrument rated and want to gain more insights about instrument flying and weather Machado?s book is the one to buy. D Schick, Master Flight Instructor