The Best Online Aviation Resources For Pilots

There is always something new to learn about in the aviation world—even if you are a seasoned pilot. But, pilots often don’t have the time to take additional training courses or buy aviation books to brush up on their skills. Fortunately, there are plenty of online tools that pilots can access to see what’s going on in the industry or to learn new skills. The best part? These online tools are completely free! Here’s a list of the top aviation resources that you can access online:

YouTube

Many people think of YouTube as the go-to site for funny cat videos, but there are also countless informational videos that can be of great use to pilots. YouTube is a great resource for pilots who are visual learners or for pilots who are trying to learn a new skill. The Pilot Channel is one of the most popular aviation channels on YouTube, with over 38 million views. Another popular channel is Aviation World, however both of these mainly show videos of takeoffs and landings. If you want to learn more about the aviation industry, Mentour Pilot is the perfect channel.

Podcasts

Pilots can listen to podcasts from their smartphones or from their computers, whichever is more convenient. There are many different free aviation podcasts, including My Pilot Chronicles, which features a pilot that talks about his many adventures that he’s had in the skies. Another popular podcast is Airline Pilot Guy, which focuses on what’s happening in the aviation industry. These podcasts are all free, so listen to as many as you’d like until you find one that entertains you and provides you with the information that you’re interested in.

Federal Aviation Administration Regulations

Every pilot should bookmark the website that contains the Federal Aviation Administration regulations so you can visit it whenever you need to quickly access information. Luckily, the website can be viewed on your smartphone, tablet, or computer, so you can pull it up no matter where you are or what device you’re using. This website is not the place to go if you’re looking for breaking news or how-to guides, but it does provide a wealth of information related to maintaining and operating an aircraft. If you’re looking for this type of information, this is the best—and only—website to trust.

Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association

The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) is an incredibly valuable resource for pilots of all skill levels. The website is split up into several different sections such as “training & safety,” “advocacy,” “community,” and “go fly.” The training and safety section is where you will find information that will help you learn new skills or fine tune the ones you already have. The website allows you to filter information based on what type of pilot you are—student, career, active, or lapsed. This ensures that you are provided with the most relevant information possible so you don’t have to dig for the information that you need.
The AOPA website is also a great place to go if you want to see a schedule of upcoming airshows. This website is updated frequently, so if there’s an event right around the corner, you should be able to find the agenda listed here. You have the option of paying to become a member of AOPA, but you don’t have to spend a dime in order to access all of this content.

Plane & Pilot Magazine

The Plane and Pilot website is full of breaking news stories and interesting tidbits about the aviation industry. But, that’s not all that you will find on this website. Pilots can also find breathtaking photos and recaps from the latest air shows, videos that were created to train and entertain pilots, and an informational blog written by two pilots. Browse through the pages and pages of blogs to read interesting articles on everything from World War II aircrafts to which airports to visit in California and what it’s really like to fly around the world. Although Plane and Pilot is a magazine, you don’t have to be a subscriber to read all of this valuable information. However, you can choose to subscribe if you want to be able to download an entire issue directly onto your tablet every month.

I Fly America

I Fly America is a members only club of pilots, aircraft owners, and aviation enthusiasts. Even though you have to pay to a member of this club, anyone can access the blog and other resources that they have on their website. There’s a lot of valuable information on this website, but the blog is one of the best places to look if you’re interested in learning more about airplane maintenance.
The “Flying Destinations” section is also interesting if you’re trying to figure out where you should fly to next. You can read through dozens of different pilots’ experiences flying into various cities across the country to learn about what you can do and see in each part of the U.S.
The website also provides visitors with a list of links that direct you to other resources around the web. For example, you can find links to websites that will tell you about weather conditions, flight planning, and air shows. If you want to meet other pilots, you can find a list of local aviation associations that you may want to consider joining. You can even see a list of aviation magazines that you may be interested in subscribing to in order to learn even more about the industry.
Another online resource for pilots is the Bright Work polish website, where we have a blog dedicated to aviation-related topics. Feel free to visit our website to learn more about our polishes and the proper way to take care of your aircraft.