Customer Reviews

Pilot Radio's Communications Handbook

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is an excellent book to familiarize yourself with air traffic control and tower talk. I'm a private pilot and I learned in a relatively low trafficked area in Maine. The Portland tower was nearby but I didn't take advantage of it too much. I read the book one summer while I was still a student pilot . . . when I went up with an instructor and we headed to a towered airport he was very impressed on how I knew how to call them up and respond to them, I understood the flow of frequency changes well, and understood all the instructions I received from ATC before he ever taught me any of that stuff. Even if you are already a pilot, but still avoid going to towered airports because you're afraid of getting embarassed you should most definitely get this book.
The actual examples he gives are right on the money. The good part is that he give you variations on how to say the same thing so in case you hear it differently from someone you'll be ready. I don't really have any complaints with this book that I can think of at the moment. It's helpful to VFR student, and actual pilots, it has realistic examples, good explanation of why things are the way they are with ATC, explains the ATC environment well. Get it!

The book is useful, and it was badly needed when it was first published, but it was not written very well. For every paragraph of substantial or useful information, there is a page of repetition and imprecise fluff-- the book would have been twice as good had it been half as long. Again, the book is good and will not be a waste of money, but there are other pilot communication books out now that deserve a closer look. Don't assume that this book is better simply because it is longer.

This is a great book for learning communications protocol for the various conditions a private pilot will encounter, and for helping to organize the cockpit relative to radio communications management. I believe it's a "must-read" for every private pilot.

Absolutely essential, first rate information, and the guy can even write. It's an interesting, informative book that stresses clarity and concise communication with the tower and other planes. I can't recommend it enough.

This book is wrong! It tells you to use the term "with you" when checking in with a controller..... That is improper terminology and the term is NOT found ANYWHERE in the pilot-controller glossary, the definative sourch for these terms.

It is not surprising since this author is NOT a flight or even a ground instructor, and anyone can check his credentials online with the FAA website.

In short if you buy this book, don't beleive everything in it.... check with your instructor, because it has wrong information.

I recommend it for a student pilot. It has all the basic information. I like it and learned few things. however if you are an experienced pilot I don't recommend it for you.

I fly in very busy airspace in NYC and I'm a big believer in radio communications and ATC where available. I've had mike fright for a long time finally resolving. Nothing beats actually doing it in real conditions. This book's ok - I'd never cared for it as much as others seem to although as I've learned more, I like it more. What I dislike is too much discussion of "poor examples" as all I really want to know is what I should do. The examples of poor technique I'm concerned sit in my mind and also take away from the time I should spend reading simply how to do it right. But that's me - your mileage may vary. Discussions of airspace are excellent. I'm finding the guides and examples really are pretty good and Illman seems quite well informed. I don't do it exactly like Illman but nor will you go wrong using his examples in the real world. You'll adjust to your style after some time listening to others and hopefully having mentors to fine tune you. For the price definitely worth it. Three years ago I'd have given it 3 stars but I'll up it to 4 now that I see he really knows what he's talking about. A bit of advice - learn how to orient yourself to position using your heading indicator. It takes practice as the mike fright and the mental/physical distractions make so many of us report wrong positions - dangerous and embarassing. But hey we've all (ok, I've) been there.

This is definitely a good book for student pilots who are struggling in their RT skills. Most useful for those who have been doing solo and cross/country.

A great book but would be better if there are more sample ATC/pilot exchanges.

contains all you need to know about aviation communication easy to understand and retain.