(Document still in development – there may be glaring omissions)
Here is some of the stuff you’ll need to become a private pilot.

  • Local Sectional Chart
  • Local Terminal Area Chart (if you are within, or close to an airport which has one)
    Charts are valid for 6 month periods (not long :) ). A lot of pilot shops will allow you to purchase a subscription for these charts which means they will show up in the mail when a new one comes out.
  • Headset
    I bought the Lightspeed XFR Xcc – which seems like pretty much the cheapest noise cancelling set around. I’m pretty happy with mine. I do find they make an annoying buzzing sound on takeoff sometimes – I think this might be caused by a sound leak made by my sunglasses.
  • Practical Test Standards
    This describes the standards you will be tested to when you sit your private pilot checkride.
  • FAR/AIM
    The complete set of Federal Aviation Regulations and the Aeronatical Information Manual.
  • Airport Facility Directory
    Subscriptions are also available for the AFD since it gets updated every 2 months. I also purchased the “Pilot’s Guide to California Airports”. The pilots guide isn’t updated quite as often, but has more information about airports and easier to read pages that can be removed and more easily used in flight.
  • Pilot Information Manual (PIM) for the aircraft you’re learning to fly.
    For me this is the Cessna 172SP. The manual costs about $50 and covers everything about the model you’re flying. This is different than the Aircraft Information Manual, which is specific to a particular tail number and serial number and costs more like $400 (which is why it’s a big problem when they go missing). You’ll need to read this pretty much cover to cover while studying for your private pilot.
  • Log Book
    I have the ASA-SP-30.  It was recommended to me because it has a big-ish remarks section for the CFI to fill in what was covered in a lesson.  I kind of wanted a larger one, but the CFI who I was with wisely cautioned that it would take me years to fill even this little thing.  He was right :) .
  • Ground Materials
    I’m using the King Private Pilot DVD set to do my ground study. They cover all the ground material you’ll need for your private pilot. They are pretty clear and easy to read, plus they come with test question examples. They are a bit technically annoying – you’ll need a peice of DVD player software (for pay) and a Windows PC to get the most out of the course, but you can use the disks in a regular DVD player.There are other courses available as well – I think Sporty’s has their own, Cessna has one, and your flight school/club may have an in-person class that you can take.