FAR/AIM by ASA

Let’s make this more than a ebook. Pros: - Convenience of having it on phone or EFB. - Bookmarks - Highlights Cons: - No ability to sync to an account so your FAR/AIM looks the same on every device. Including highlights and bookmarks. - Bookmarks are titled with only the regulation. The title isn’t listed so unless you know regulation numbers by heart you end up clicking through a few to find what you really are looking for. - Sortable highlights and bookmarks so you can better focus your study - Printable pages…I mean really why not have it, I’m going to go to Cornell Law and print it from another public place, as that what this is public rules and regulations. - Perhaps a 9.99/yr subscription (yes I said 9.99 a year) and a dedicated app dev and security team to add some awesome features making this a no brainer for all aviators to subscribe to. There are many more ways that this app could create an aviators FAR/AIM best friend. It starts with thinking outside the physical copy and crushing the digital subscriber option.

Overall it’s an adequate app to access a current FAR/AIM. It is easy to bookmark and hi-light text and the study by certificate section is great. The problems are that it does NOT sync any bookmarks or hi-lighting across your iOS devices, which is beyond frustrating as most pilots are using both an iPhone and iPad. Another downfall is the search function. It is a “word search”, not a “text search”: meaning if you start typing a word it is not finding any results until you finish the word, and if you type a different form of a word it will not yield results. For example searching for ‘tire’ will not reveal results for the word ‘tires’ and if you don’t quite know how to completely spell a word you won’t be able to find partial results.

I like that there is an electronic version of this book! It saves money and space in the long run. I don’t have to continue purchasing a physical copy which becomes obsolete within a year - which is a waste of space, paper, and money! However, this app needs some work. As a student pilot, it would be INCREDIBLY handy to be able to annotate the book, by actually typing or writing in the margins with the Apple Pencil, or by making notes in a separate page commenting on a specific regulation. It would also be handy to be able to print a specific page. I understand, you sell hard copies, and there is a website, but I would love to have the convenience of printing a single page of a specific regulation with my notes so I can use it to study up for the FAA tests. Otherwise, this app is good for what it does, I like that each Part is in its own section with a short description of what it is about. I just think it would be handy to have more features to aid in studying. I appreciate you looking at this review, have a good day!