In An Aviator’s Field Guide to Middle-Altitude Flying, author Jason Blair shares his experience in a variety of piston, twin-engine aircraft commonly used to fly at altitudes between 10,000 and 25,000 feet MSL. This book covers the major phases of flight and the specific considerations for pilots who operate aircraft at these altitudes, including performance and fuel planning, emergencies, descent planning, navigation, weather, aircraft modifications, oxygen use, weight and balance, pilot qualifications, and insurance.
With insight not found in other training manuals or part of typical flight training operations, and gained through his many years instructing and giving checkrides, Blair’s book will help the pilot owner or operator evaluate the risks and challenges unique to middle-altitude flying, develop effective flight-planning practices, and take advantage of the increased efficiencies and opportunities offered through these higher operations.
Copyright © 2018-2024 Aviation Supplies & Academics, Inc. All rights reserved.
Part Number ASAMIDALT
ISBN 9781619545939
Find out more about Jason Blair and his books at AnAviatorsFieldGuide.com.
Resources from An Aviator's Field Guide to Middle-altitude Flying
This is the Reader Resource page for Jason Blair's An Aviator's Field Guide to Middle-Altitude Flying. You will find the Reader Resource references throughout the book. When you come across them, refer back to this page for the resource indicated.
If you are not already familiar with turbochargers and common failures, this article by Mike Bush that was published by AVweb is informative: Troubleshooting the Turbo-System
Chapter 17 of the FAA's
Airplane Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-3) details a general discussion and recommendations for execution of an emergency descent.
View a high-resolution version of this chart (which appears as Figure 5 in the book) on author Jason Blair's website.
If you want to learn a little more about the definition of zero fuel weight, check out the article "What is Zero Fuel Weight?" by ForeFlight.
High Altitude Flying
Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) online resource.
AOPA overview and resources on flying at higher altitudes.
This advisory circular alerts pilots transitioning from aircraft with less performance capability to complex, high-performance aircraft that are capable of operating at high altitudes and high airspeeds.
This article discusses hypoxia, including warning signs, how to avoid it, and steps to take if it occurs.
This article covers some additional hypoxia considerations and includes a general discussion of flying at higher altitudes.
An in-depth exploration and explanation of the effects of altitude on human physiology and its implications for flight.
Oxygen Use in Aviation
Aircraft owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) online resource
AOPA provides a discussion of different types of oxygen systems, how they work, and their limitations. A good resource to review for operations of aircraft with varied oxygen delivery mechanisms for higher-altitude flying.
An article by the author, which has been excerpted in both aviation and scuba diving publications, that discusses the effects of flight at higher altitudes on pilots and passengers after scuba diving. For operations at higher altitudes, pilots should be aware of additional precautions that are advised, which can be learned about in this article.
Great article by Sporty's staff member discussing onboard weather systems and how pilots can use them to strategically and tactically consider enroute weather data.
Training provider for operators using onboard weather radar. Successor to the long-respected Archie Trammel, Erik Eliel continues this tradition offering high-level, detailed training for the pilot looking to really learn more.
Bendix King YouTube video detailing how to use onboard weather radar.