I bought this as I was starting my private, but I never even referred to it as I was studying for the written, and it gathers dust on my bookshelf today. I refer now to my FAA pilot's handbook and FAA instrument flying handbook instead.

It's like many of the Jepp products: they cost a lot, and there are equivalent--or better--resources available for much lower cost, often for free.

This product is same as described in purchase. Delivery was very quickly and good conditions. I recommend this product and provider. Sincerely. Jose Pena

I came to ground school with no knowledge of aviation. The Jeppesen text was chosen by our instructor. It is described as a comprehensive textbook that will prepare a student to take the written portion of the private pilot exam. (Jeppesen also publishes textbooks for the practical/oral exam.)

The text is divided into five parts (Fundamentals, Operations, Weather, Performance and Navigation, and Integrating Pilot Knowledge and Skills). These are subdivided into eleven chapters. Each chapter includes a summary checklist, list of key terms, and review questions. In ground school, we are covering one chapter per week in a three-hour lecture.

The chapter-end questions are a mix of fill-in-the-blank, matching, true/false, and essay. Answers and explanations are provided. For further review, Jeppesen publishes a separate Test Guide, which contains brief synopses of each chapter, and then relevant questions from the FAA's list of 900 possible multiple-choice questions for the written exam. The Test Guide includes detailed answers, explaining both the correct choice and the incorrect ones. This separate Test Guide is a valuable supplement to the Private Pilot Manual.

I trust my instructor to give us the knowledge we will need in the cockpit and for the written exam. The most significant training occurs in the cockpit, anyway. However, I am fighting with this text every step of the way.

I am reading this text from a position of no knowledge, and therefore some confusion is expected. However, I have 22 years of formal education, and have seen quite a few textbooks (mostly in the medical field).

The writing style and quality of figures are typical of a textbook written by committee with no principal author. It also contains what might optimistically be called humanizing elements, but which I find distract from the task at hand. It may be interesting to know Amelia Erhart's last words to the control tower, but it is unclear how those words relate to contemporary air traffic control.

Also, many figures are obscure or misleading For example, an illustration of Denver airport shows the skylines of Denver and Chicago floating in the sky above the airport. The two skylines are connected by a one-lane strip of pavement representing the amount of pavement used in the Denver airport.

Overall, this seems to be a popular textbook. I wish I could find something better, but it may be that no such text exists.

This was an excellent book. Both the material and presentation was very professional and would be great for both a classroom or independent study for the written exam.

The only drawback and it was minor was that the coverage of the required FAR's was minimal, but since everyone buying this book should have a copy of the latest FAR/AIM, this should not be too bad.

I am a professional airline pilot, and log virtually all of my time in large, turbojet aircraft. I am also a current CFI, although I don't frequently exercise my Instructor privileges in single engine aircraft. Not long ago I was approached to assist in teaching a Private Pilot ground school and to do some tutoring on the side. I accepted more for the challenge than any other reason.

The selected text for the course was the "Private Pilot Manual" by Jeppesen Sanderson, and I must say that I was very impressed with the book. It is very complete and provides easy to comprehend explanations (normally with useful diagrams, charts, or photographs) that make learning relatively painless. It was an excellent refresher for me as well, as single engine VFR flying is not what I do on a daily basis anymore. I highly recommend this book to CFI's for their students, to any Private Pilot or Private Pilot candidate, or to any advanced pilot as a refresher of the basics.

The only complaints I have heard from students are in regard to the relatively high price of the book. My response is that this one book contains the best explanations of the most important concepts needed to pass your written, oral, and practical exams before becoming a Private Pilot, and is an excellent reference to be referred to in the days to come. Flying isn't cheap. Economy is a good thing, but you need to know when to skimp and when to spend. This book is an excellent investment.

This is an excellent textbook to have accompany you through studies for the private pilot certificate.

Everything is well explained and backed up with very good pictures and diagrams.

It isn't cheap, but then again neither is flying. However I can guarantee that if you purchase this then you'll understand that you made a good decision soon after opening it.

The Private Pilot Manual is fantastic. The only problem I had with the book, in the beginning, was the price. I was not quite ready to lay down that sort of money for a book that appears to have many much cheaper alternatives. I purchased this book used for thirty dollars, it has some wear but all in all is in great condition. It actually appears to have been signed by Chuck Yeager, though I have been unable to verify the signature. The use gives the book a much warmer feel.

Don't let all the pictures fool you, this is no children's book. Each colorful and often beautiful image is there to help clarify the topic that is being explained. To me it is very helpful to see what they are talking about. I have seen quite a few other books that just don't do this, they assume you understand.

The Private Pilot Manual is packed with useful and important information, like several of the FAA publications put together but more graphic intensive and a bit easier to read. Everything I would expect from Jeppesen. Each section ends with a summary and a list of key terms, as well as questions to help you burn the knowledge better into your mind.
A fantastic book, definitely one that every pilot or aspiring pilot should own. I now believe it is worth the full price, it is indeed a high quality text book.