FAA, Canadian & Other Databases

Editor's Note: This is by no means a complete or definitive list of aviation databases. This is a list however, of some of the more frequently used sources of database information, which are useful, easy, and quick to use.

FAA TFR List
Currently, one of the most authoritative and up to date sources on locations and latest announcements for active TFRs. Check it out each and every time you fly a cross country, or if you are going into virtually any metropolitan area in the US. As some pilots know, (sometimes painfully), they change, or they are added on very short notice, and the defined TFR area is sometimes difficult to determine. The burden of finding out everything there is to know about TFRs is on... guess who? This official FAA site is very easy to use, very complete, and kept up to date.

FAA Airmen Database
The Certificated Airman database inquiry site (names of individuals showing type of certificate held) now requires you to enter something about yourself, (due to the Privacy Act), and the release of private protected information. Works fine, just requires a little more patience. Currently reporting 925,000 certificated pilots by name, city, state, and zip code.

FAA Aircraft Registration Database
Some restrictions now apply due to security measures, but looking up aircraft registrations, reserving special N-numbers and verifying serial numbers of aircraft is still very easy to do. The data is updated every federal working day.

Aviation Medical Examiner Directory
Want to find your nearest FAA medical examiner? This is where to go to find a FAA examiner, location by city, state, address, complete with their office phone number. One of the best designed, best organized and easiest to use FAA web sites there is. Almost enjoyable to use.

Aeronautical Information Manual
The complete Aeronautical Information Manual... online. THE Official source and guide to Basic Flight Information and ATC procedures. All effective changes are included. All FREE, and you can download only the page or pages of information you want to keep as a quick reference. Well indexed, and easy to use.

FAA Flight Standards Service
The FAA Flight Standards Service is a huge site. Information and links to every conceivable FAA and government aviation related activity including... Flight Standards Program, Training, Safety, Regulations and Guidance, Information and Advisories, Forms, Services, For Designated Examiners, and other links and organizations. If you ever wondered how the FAA keeps track of departments and projects... this is the place to start looking. Big site, but very well organized.

AVIATION Section - Electronic Code of Federal Regulations
The FARs or Electronic Code of Federal Regulations, Title 14, Aeronautics and Space. This intimidating site is where most of the Federal Regulations reside pertaining to the FAA, DOT Aviation proceedings, NASA, and other complex laws dealing with aviation. Tired? Can't sleep? Losing interest in reading Webster's Dictionary? Then this is your answer. I suppose I should say... I hope you don't have to read this, but if you have to... here it is.

Preliminary Accident and Incident Data
This site provides access to Preliminary Accident and Incident Data that has been received by the FAA Office of Accident Investigation during the last 10 business days.

NTSB - Aviation
The National Transportation Safety Board, Aviation section. Complete, easy to use, and well organized. Descriptions of over 140,000 aviation accidents, with a search capability.

Transport Canada - Civil Aviation
Well done, well organized, and really fast. A few highlights include Canadian databases, FAQ, CARs, publications, certifications, system safety, and lots more. Overall... a really terrific site.

AirNav.com
Search for airports, navaids, airspace fixes, and aviation fuel prices. One of the absolute best sites to use for planning and gathering flight information...period. In the Aviation Fuels section, you can quickly plan a flight of any length. You put the criteria you want into a few boxes, and it will compute 10 of the shortest routes with fuel stops (or stops with the cheapest fuel prices) for you... at the click of your mouse. A really great tool.

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