A.i.m.
 

I am about to start flight training and a lot of books I read about aeronautics mention the Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM) I was wondering if I should look into downloading the book? (because I'm definitely not buying it. Talk about EXPENSIVE!) will I need it as a pilot?

You will definitely need a hard copy of the AIM for reference. AIM is usually sold together with the FAR's in front. Here is a copy of the FAR/AIM for $12.55 + Shipping. 2011 FAR/AIM Book - ASA - MyPilotStore.com

Yep ASA has one for around 12 free shipping if I recall correctly. You will definitely need a hard copy. At times, it may not be a fun read :) but it has all the rules of the game you need to know. Good luck!

PDF and HTML AIM
http://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/

HTML 14CFR
Electronic Code of Federal Regulations:

$$$
 

You are about to embark on a very expensive journey my friend. Welcome to the party!

If you think shelling out 12 or 13 bucks for a copy of AIM and FARs ( which changes every year by the way ) ..... then you are getting into the wrong business. NOTHING cheap about this as a hobby or a profession.

The FAR/AIM is a must have. Worth every dollar.

yes, you will need it as a pilot. if you prefer to read book on a kindle or ipad or laptop or whatever, then just download it every year. it seems to me that most students do better with a paper copy that they can highlight, tab, write notes in, and study from.

A hard copy of the FARs/A.I.M. is imperative. Not only will you need it to study, it would be a good idea to have on check rides ;-)

Here is another point of view.....(IT'S YOUR NEW BIBLE)!
Sleep with the dang thing if you have to. I mean keep it in your immediate vacinity at all times..........(IT'S YOUR NEW BIBLE):D

Well I was looking at the Pilot Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge and it said one can be ordered from a certain government website and the price was around $120. But as the first post states there is indeed one for only $12.

:confused:
This link has that same book as listed for $15 on-line or $25 'nearby'
Also - you do realize that the book you mention above and the FAR/AIM are two different books right?
FAR/AIM
On-line for $8 and 'nearby' for $17
USMCFLYR

Yes I do know they are different. The book I mentioned, the handbook, I downloaded and printed for free off the FAA website. I was looking at a site called the Government Bookstore (er somethin like that) and the AIM was listed for $160.

Well that is good then. Since the thread was all about the AIM (FAR) and then you started talking about the PHoAK, you got me thinking that you were confusing the two.

My guess is either you misread the decimal point and it was really $16 or else you should go back and find that link and report them to the Better Business Bureau because if they are really charging that much for a book that can be had anywhere else for much less then they ought to be charged with price gouging :eek: an some poor fool might actually be tempted to buy it :(

USMCFLYR

did the "government" website have .gov domain? What was the website? It might be a phishing scam.

Most FBOs will have a copy as well.

It's the Government Printing Office bookstore. The 160 dollar edition is loose leaf pages with a subscription for updates for ~2 years.

I checked to see what Jepp is charging for their subscription version, I couldn't even find it. They still do the regs for 109 a year.

Not the way I would want to go, but I guess if it floats someone's boat. The FAA is trying very hard to get out of the printing business! I would think that we would be leading the way with the paperless cockpit concept; sadly we are not!

USMCFLYR

GPO U.S. Government Bookstore: Main Page

here is the url

OOOHHHH that makes sense. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!

Also, avoid the common misconception that FAR/AIM refers to a government publication.

The AIM is a government publication. The government updates it on a schedule with additons by NOTAM. The FAR is simply an shorthand for Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations and is "updated" every time a new reg is added or one is changed.

The FAR/AIM or AIM/FAR books are commercial re-publications of those government sources at a specific point in time. And like any republication, it can (and has been) seriously out-of-date by the time you buy one. Most recent example is the 2010 "FAR/AIM" that had Part 61 of the FAR as it existed before October 2009 (a major revision).