Pooleys is a well know name in the world of aviation. It commenced it’s many
aviation activities back in 1957, becoming a Limited Company in 1961. It began producing aids to pilots such as their very first Knee Board in ’57 and its European Flight Guide in ’62. Its UK Flight Guides came into production in 1964 and have continued every year to this date. The Pooleys United Kingdom flight guide has set the standard in aeronautical information and presentation from a flight guide since its inception, and has only been available to real pilots; until now.
The very nice people at The Sim Works have brought this fantastic reference within our reach as flightsimmers. The UK Flight Guide is a massive reference for VFR pilots flying around the United Kingdom. It is essentially a 660 page booklet, containing an aerodrome facility directory of all UK airports, big and small, giving pertinent information such as airport ground maps, runways, radio frequencies, landing fees, no-fly zones, telephone numbers, procedures and general information on the aerodrome itself. Some of the larger airports also have an accompanying area map, showing VRPs (Visual Reference Points) and Entry and Exit lanes. Not only that, but the guide includes almost everything you will need to know about aerial activities in UK airspace, including VFR flight plan information, airspace procedures, right down to helicopter landing pads, and microlight/skydiving zones (not that that has anything to do with us simmers ;-). There is even a section on procedures for flying between the UK and France/Belgium, not to mention every aviation conversion table you’ll ever need for VFR flight.
What this flight guide is NOT, and this is important, is a navigation or training manual of any kind, just a reference for VFR pilots, in and around the UK.
The booklet itself…well, you could hardly call it a booklet, being an incredible thick 660 pages measuring approx. 18.5 cm in length and 13cm in width, is bound together using a ring binder format, similar to that of Jepessen. The booklet is so large that it is split into two binder sections, held together by a central prod or “clip”. This type of booklet, however, is only one configuration among many. Some of the guides are in book form, others in ringlet (like mine) and others are loose leaf.
The information presented is printed in superb quality, with absolutely no compromise and no smudges or mistakes. Some people may argue that on-screen flight planners contain the same information as this book. While they do contain some airport information, they cannot compare to using a real pilot guide. Not only does the Pooleys UK Flight Guide contain more imformation, it gives a far deeper insight into VFR operations, containing literally everything a pilot would need. The airports are arranged in alphabetical order, and there is an index beginning on the fourth page, so airport details are available when you need them. Besides, you just cannot beat the feeling of using and handling a real pilot’s guide 😉
Regarding flaws in the product, I could not detect any, and I wouldn’t expect to either. Being a real flight reference, the margin for errors is nil. Everything is taken care of to insure the information you want is there when you want it; easily accessible and easily read.
Considering the amount of information contained in the guide, I would not hesitate to reccommend it as an essential addon, only, however, for those of you who fly low level and VFR regularly in the UK. This guide is less of a resource to airliner simmers. However, if you do fly regularly in the UK, I would heartily recommend this title. Head on down to www.thesimworks.co.uk and pick up a copy for yourself.
