Bill Stack's Information Manual 2001 is the basic, "primer" book in his Flight-Sim Pilot's series. First published in 1997, this update contains an all new chapter about lighting for airports, aircraft and navigation—which struck me as the most interesting chapter of the book—covers approach lighting systems, navigation lighting, obstruction lighting, and aircraft lighting (and how to use these correctly). The chapter on air traffic control has been reorganized and improved. This chapter should be particularly helpful to many simmers, given the tremendous interest in SquawkBox and more recently in ATC add-ons, ProFlight 2000 and Radar Contact in particular.

Reader Survey This survey is intended for those that have used this product or add-on. If you have used it, please let your fellow simulation enthusiasts know how you rate it by taking this survey. Please, if you have not used this product, do not take this poll (you can view the poll from the "Results" link below). - Review Poll - Have you used Bill Stack's Pilot's Information Manual? Excellent Good Average Disappointing Not helpful Results

This book is based on the premise that the real pleasure to be found in flight simulation stems from the desire to achieve realism—to understand and apply the same thought processes and procedures as do real pilots. Remember that the wealth of knowledge needed in real world aviation is learned in progressive steps: earning a private pilot license, going on to multi-engine and commercial tickets, qualifying for an instrument rating, and for some, the Airline Transport Pilot ratings including those for Category II and Category III landing. So this book is organized along similar lines.

The ALSF lighting systems contain more high intensity lights than any other approach lighting systems, so they are conspicuous in visibility-restricting weather.

The 163-page text begins with a discussion of Pilot Certificates and Ratings; half the book's chapters cover airports and their operations, airspaces, Air Traffic Control principles and weather services. Next are chapters on Visual Flight Rules (VFR), and Instrument Flight Rules (IFR). Then he covers lights (typical figure illustrated to the right) and navigation aids. The text concludes with a chapter on emergency services and procedures. There are another 20 pages of Appendices: Common aviation and flight-sim abbreviations, Flight-sim formulas, and new to this edition, Flight-Simulation and aviation resources. A brief bibliography is included.

Though I found the Instrument Flight Rules and Navigation Aids chapters to be overly brief, these sections refer to more complete treatments in two of his other books, Flight-Sim Navigation and Instrument Flying for Flight-Simulation Pilots. (Other books in the series are Flight Simulator Maneuvers and Top Performance.) By way of explanation I should say that I'm writing this review from a vantage point of considerable, ahem, proficiency with flight simulation. While I agree the book is an interesting read—and the cross referencing helpful—my take is that many experienced simmers will be left wanting more, and probably should opt for Bill's other books. But for those who are relatively new to flight simming most likely will find just what they're looking for here. And all who read this book will come away with a very good appreciation for the scope of flight simming—often in ways you might not consciously consider.

What this book does well is to bring together in one place a wealth of information that otherwise you'll need to search out from a variety of sources. And Bill writes from the proven premise that simmers need to develop and build on knowledge of fundamentals—particularly flying in VFR conditions—to understand and hone airmanship and navigation skills well in order to fully appreciate and apply IFR based flying. As Bill aptly points out, "Contrary to the attitude demonstrated and even expressed by many real and flight-sim pilots, visual flying is not easy. It just is not as difficult as instrument flying, which requires the mental visualization of three-dimensional geometry and the absolute trust in instruments that instrument flying requires." Perhaps Bill sums it up best by remarking, "We can enjoy the game many times more when we know what real pilots know, meet the qualifications they meet, abide by the rules they follow and fly within the restrictions they fly within." And his book does an admirable job of explaining these qualifications, rules and restrictions—all reflecting progressive certification levels. It's strong on 'how things work' and the reasoning behind them. As Bill himself points out, what material there is about flying technique is limited. That's left to specific flight simulator and add-on product documentation, and I might add, other books such as Nick Dargahi's highly successful The Ultimate Flight Simulator Pilot's Guidebook.

Book layout

The book itself is produced in a convenient spiral bound format, is amply illustrated and indexed, and is replete with definitions. Bill Stack, an avid flight simmer, also is a professional writer and trainer, which is reflected in this book's uncommonly good readability—I enjoyed reading it in a single sitting. Nels Anderson, a general-aviation pilot (and FlightSim.Com's publisher) assisted as a technical consultant. The information provided is based on excellent sources, the FAA's Aeronautical Information Manual and Federal Aviation Regulations 2001 in particular. This he makes relevant to flight simulation with information from various flight-simulation programs. The price is a very reasonable $12.95 USD and can be ordered at his TopSkills web site.