Old Foggies addresses this concern by incorporating reading lenses into the clear lenses on the bottom half of the view-limiting glasses. The customizable lenses come in several diopter ratings, and in three different lens colors: clear (in power ratings of 1.0 to 3.0), tinted (power ratings of 1.5 to 2.5), and light mirrored tint (power ratings of 1.5 to 2.5). Old Foggies have rubber non-slip nose grips and temple pads, and a scratch-resistant polycarbonate lens.
Price: $29.95
For more information: 888/259-7788; www.ifrglasses.com
A thorough and well-executed plan will go a long way in easing your worries--a notion that R. Douglas Collins understands and communicates throughout his book, Planning and Flying Your Solo Cross-Countries. Collins, a Gold Seal flight instructor and aviation medical examiner, manages to pack a lot of useful information into 86 pages. Not only does he walk you through the flight planning process, he also shows you how to plan and "fly" a cross-country trip using pilotage and dead reckoning, VOR, and GPS. Simple black-and-white illustrations are particularly effective in the sections dealing with VOR navigation.
Sprinkled amongst the lessons are some real-world considerations like reviewing forced landing procedures and what to do if the weather seems to be deteriorating. And for those who are never sure they sound professional on the radio, Collins includes suggested verbiage for every phase of flight. In the final chapter, the author uses cross-country trips from his experience to show you how to make good go/no-go weather decisions. He encourages readers to discuss these scenarios with their flight instructors to get an even broader perspective.--Jill W. Tallman
Price: $24.99
For more information: www.pilotmall.com; www.amazon.com
Two of the programs from Sporty's Air Facts series have been updated and expanded to include new footage and combined into a single DVD, GPS Techniques. The GPS En Route program looks at the ways in which any GPS unit can be used in both visual and instrument conditions--from handheld units (which are not approved for use as primary or sole means of navigation under instrument flight rules) to IFR-certificated panel-mount units. The footage includes a VNAV (vertical navigation) demonstration, showing how this tool, found on many handheld and panel-mount units, can help you fly a stabilized approach to a runway.
The GPS Approaches program features a new section on WAAS (Wide Area Augmentation System) approaches, which include a new kind of precision approach using a more accurate GPS signal to create an approach path much like the glideslope you find on an instrument landing system (ILS) approach. Units shown on the DVD include the Garmin G1000, GNS 430 and 530, GPSMap 396 and 496, and the Bendix/King KLN 94.
The DVD includes both programs; you can also download each program separately from Sporty's Web site, along with the rest of the set of 32 Sporty's Air Facts programs. Files can be downloaded in Windows Media Player (MP3) or iTunes (MP4) format for use on a PC, Mac, or iPod.
Price: $25 for the DVD; $9.95 for each program via download.
For more information: 800/776-7897; www.sportys.com.