What is best online tool for searching FAR/AIM?

AggieMike88

AggieMike88

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The original "I don't know it all" of aviation.
For my iPad and iPhone, I have the ASA app for the FAR/AIM (fyi, a very well done app for this purpose).

But what is the best user friendly web browser based tool for finding and reading the right FAR to answer a question? The few I found on a google search had were not the simplest to use or search with.

Post links with your suggestion.
 
AggieMike88 said:
For my iPad and iPhone, I have the ASA app for the FAR/AIM (fyi, a very well done app for this purpose).

But what is the best user friendly web browser based tool for finding and reading the right FAR to answer a question? The few I found on a google search had were not the simplest to use or search with.

Post links with your suggestion.
Click to expand...
I have it saved in iBooks, which it has a search function that seems to work pretty good.
 
Cooter said:
I have it saved in iBooks, which it has a search function that seems to work pretty good.
Click to expand...
iBooks would be a good solution when you have your iDevice handy....

Do you have a suggestion for when you don't and are using the browser on your desk or laptop?
 
AggieMike88 said:
iBooks would be a good solution when you have your iDevice handy....

Do you have a suggestion for when you don't and are using the browser on your desk or laptop?
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I haven't looked for it in its entirety in PDF but I'm sure it's available. I think the FAA website has it in PDF but broken up into chapters, which I think I've used before. Adobe has a good search function so I would keep Googling until I could find it in PDF.

Edit: A quick search found it available for purchase in PDF, and some older versions that were available but I didn't see 2018 yet in PDF for free.
 
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Ravioli said:
PoA of course. Comes with all kinds of interpretations of the information and everything!!!!
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Including arguing if that one eye'd cat is coming in, or going out.
 
jordane93 said:
This or I pull up WingX and it has the FAR/AIM in it.
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But having WingX requires tablet or phone in hand....

Request was for times when I want to do this on my desk or laptop :) :)
 
Ravioli said:
PoA of course. Comes with all kinds of interpretations of the information and everything!!!!
Click to expand...

And usually, if you wait long enough, you'll get the interpretation that you want to hear, whether it's right or not. :)
 
Dave Theisen said:
And usually, if you wait long enough, you'll get the interpretation that you want to hear, whether it's right or not. :)
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[[[...sigh...]]] long gone are the days of R&W and C'Ron tussling over the syntax and punctuation of an FAR interpretation. Sometimes those were a bit entertaining....
 
I miss R&W almost as much as Henning. <-- not being sarcastic for a change
 
AggieMike88 said:
For my iPad and iPhone, I have the ASA app for the FAR/AIM (fyi, a very well done app for this purpose).

But what is the best user friendly web browser based tool for finding and reading the right FAR to answer a question? The few I found on a google search had were not the simplest to use or search with.

Post links with your suggestion.
Click to expand...

Couple of thoughts.
1. Use the eCFR for Title 14. The site has a built in search engine that includes things like boolean and proximity searches.
https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-i...&mc=true&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title14/14tab_02.tpl

2. Limit your DuckDuckGo (better'n Google cuz it don't track your searches) and limit the search using the 'site:faa.gov' parameter. Change the site parameter to whatever site you want to hit. Searching regs isn't the easiest thing but the site limiter at least bounds the responses you get.

3. Get the PDF, upload it to <cloud storage system of your choice> then access and search the PDF from any device.
 
AggieMike88 said:
@Doug F, got a link for the PDF version?
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Not exactly. There were other posts that kinda/sorta pointed to PDF sources. I've tried to find a current version but have had no luck. If you're a glutton for punishment, you can create your own PDF(s) from the FAA site by drilling into Title, Chapter, Subchapter, Part, then switching to a 'reader' view in your browser and printing a PDF from there...if you use something like PDFCreator you can merge multiple PDFs into a single file. LOTS of work but you do wind up with a godawful huge PDF when you're done.
If your need is to search the regs from any random computer, I'd go with the FAA's built in search function; regs are current and they have the search function for you.

EX: Here's Title 14 - Chapter 1 - Subchapter C - Part 21:
I use Firefox and can flip into a 'reader' mode that strips off everything on the page but the regs.
Caution on printing to PDFs: some PDF printers create what are actually image files. Make sure you're able to create a PDF that's searchable. Both PDFCreator and Microsoft's built in PDF printer work.

If you really want to geek out, you also have the option to download the regs as a set of XML files. There appear to be some XML to PDF converter apps available. I couldn't find a simple way to make the conversion with what I have installed on my laptop.
 
For the AIM, the FAA has, as others mentioned, a full pdf available. Best link is https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/ which gets you to other FAA pubs too.

Unfortunately, your best bet for the FAR is going to be the eCFR @Doug F linked to. Unlike other sources, it’s always current. Not necessarily the easiest search capability, but once you realize Title 14's Parts and Subpart are arranged topically, it gets easier to find what you are looking for.
 
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midlifeflyer said:
Unfortunately, your best bet for the FAR is going to be the eCFR @Doug F linked to. Unlike other sources, it’s always current. Not necessarily the easiest search capability, but once you realize Title 14's Parts and Subpart are arranged topically, it gets easier to find what you are looking for.
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This would be my suggestion as well...if you're not familiar enough with the regs to find them topically from the table of contents, the odds of using a search word or phrase that will get the result you want go down substantially.
 
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