Free ACS Reference materials - for Checkride / study

I

ianamit

Filing Flight Plan
Joined
Jul 6, 2026
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Ian Amit
I've compiled an all-in-one PDF designed to help you reference every FAA-approved resource (FAR/AIM, Handbooks, ACs, etc.) for the ACS/PTS.
Every area and task is individually linked to the relevant references so it's easy to read trough the source material.
Free for all, and updated based on any changes in the source materials.
No additional content (just the FAA material) to reduce issues with DPEs that won't allow referencing study guides or prepared materials.

https://github.com/iiamit/pdflight/releases/latest/download/pdflight.pdf

Warning: it's a huge file (500Mb) and is designed to be placed on your iPad/tablet for easy access.

Full source for how it's built and updated here: https://github.com/iiamit/pdflight).
Hope it helps - feel free to send feedback!
 
samiamPA said:
Really cool idea. Why is the file so huge?
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Because it includes all the FAA Handbooks (PHAK, IFH, etc.), all sections of the FAR/AIM, and all relevant ACs. That way, you have everything in one indexable and referenceable file for easy navigation.
You aren't supposed to go through it front-to-back, of course, but rather navigate through it using the links and menus.
 
This is a great idea. For usability, it would be great to be able to have a "go back" button somewhere. I love being able to jump to specific topics that might be 1000 pages down in the document, but it would be great to be able to also jump back a step or two to your previous location. I found myself getting lost going from one location to another and trying to get back to my previous jumping off point.
 
skelrad said:
This is a great idea. For usability, it would be great to be able to have a "go back" button somewhere. I love being able to jump to specific topics that might be 1000 pages down in the document, but it would be great to be able to also jump back a step or two to your previous location. I found myself getting lost going from one location to another and trying to get back to my previous jumping off point.
Click to expand...
Agreed - and that's something that's been bothering me as well. However, the only available options to functionally go back are two:
1. Natively in the app you are using to view the file. ForeFlight has a back functionality, as well as most PDF readers on PCs. Unfortunately, on iPad (using Preview or Apple Books), that doesn't exist
2. Using the buttons at the bottom of each page to go back to the start of the document you are viewing, or the main menu (from which you could more easily navigate back to where you were before).
 
In addition to the navigational difficulties, at least some of the references linked are of questionable relevance. I realize that you can’t link every (or any) specific airplane documentation, but that’s going to be the primary reference for things like systems, limitations, and performance.

(As a point of reference, I deal primarily with the ATP ACS.)
 
MauleSkinner said:
In addition to the navigational difficulties, at least some of the references linked are of questionable relevance. I realize that you can’t link every (or any) specific airplane documentation, but that’s going to be the primary reference for things like systems, limitations, and performance.

(As a point of reference, I deal primarily with the ATP ACS.)
Click to expand...
Happy to address it - let me know what the issue is, and I'll make sure to update it!
 
ianamit said:
Happy to address it - let me know what the issue is, and I'll make sure to update it!
Click to expand...
The issue is that relevant aircraft documentation isn’t linked for systems, limitations, and performance. Not sure how you’d address that, but there it is.
 
MauleSkinner said:
The issue is that relevant aircraft documentation isn’t linked for systems, limitations, and performance. Not sure how you’d address that, but there it is.
Click to expand...
Oh, I thought there was an issue with one of the source references...
That I can't handle - it gets too aircraft specific, and would require building the entire file for each one.
The entire build system however, is fully open - so if that's something that's going to be critical, anyone can pick it up and add the relevant documents and links! (https://github.com/iiamit/pdflight)
 
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