Aviation Weather & Meteorology Training

Weather remains one of the leading causal factors in general aviation accidents, and the pilots who fly with the most confidence are the ones who truly understand it rather than memorizing just enough to pass a test. A good aviation weather book builds that judgment by tying meteorology to the decisions you make before and during a flight. This collection focuses on study and reference texts for pilots, the books you keep on the shelf and return to throughout your flying career, not a live weather lookup tool.

We carry two trusted titles that approach weather learning from different angles. The ASA Aviation Weather Handbook is the FAA's consolidated reference, gathering the legacy Advisory Circulars on aviation weather and weather services into one authoritative, full-color volume. Gleim's Aviation Weather & Weather Services condenses the FAA weather references into a focused exam-prep volume.

How to choose your aviation weather book:

Want the official, all-in-one reference? The ASA Aviation Weather Handbook consolidates the FAA's weather Advisory Circulars into a single comprehensive guide you can trust for the long term.
Studying for a knowledge or practical test? The Gleim Aviation Weather & Weather Services reorganizes FAA weather publications into an easy-to-read format aimed at test preparation and clear understanding.
Working toward the instrument rating? Both titles cover weather for IFR decision-making, and you can pair them with our instrument rating training materials for the rest of your IFR study.
Building a full study library? Browse weather alongside the rest of our flight training and ground school materials, with focused shelves for the private pilot and professional pilot certificates.

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Aviation weather books: build the judgment that keeps you safe

Understanding aviation weather is less about memorizing definitions and more about learning to read the atmosphere and make a sound go or no-go decision. The two weather books in this collection both draw from the same official FAA source material, but they package it differently. One is the comprehensive consolidated reference; the other is a streamlined study text. The right pick depends on whether you want an authoritative manual to keep for years or a focused tool to get you through an exam and into the cockpit with confidence.

Compare the two aviation weather books

Book	Format	Best for	What it covers
ASA Aviation Weather Handbook	Comprehensive consolidated FAA reference, full color	Pilots who want one authoritative weather manual to keep and reference for years	The FAA's combined weather Advisory Circulars, METARs, PIREPs, TAFs, area forecasts, AIRMET and SIGMET, mountain weather, and wind shear for VMC and IMC
Gleim Aviation Weather & Weather Services	Simplified, logically arranged study text	Pilots preparing for a knowledge or practical test who want an easy-to-read format	FAA Aviation Weather and Aviation Weather Services material reorganized for clarity, with weather reports and forecasts explained for exam prep and real-world planning

How to choose the right weather book

If you want the official, all-in-one reference and plan to keep it through your entire flying life, the ASA Aviation Weather Handbook is the natural choice because it consolidates the FAA's separate weather publications into a single comprehensive volume. If your immediate goal is passing a knowledge or practical test and you learn best from a clear, reorganized format, the Gleim title presents the same core FAA material in a more digestible study layout. Many serious students own both: the Gleim to learn from and the ASA handbook to reference long after the checkride. For dedicated instrument weather study, pair either book with our instrument rating training materials.

Why buy from Pilot Mall

Aviation only: we sell pilot gear and training materials and nothing else, so our team knows these books and how pilots use them.
Trusted brands: ASA and Gleim are two of the most respected names in pilot training and FAA exam prep.
Trusted for 25-plus years: thousands of pilots rely on Pilot Mall for study materials and cockpit equipment.
Free U.S. shipping over $100: stock up on your full study library and ship it free.
Expert guidance: talk to people who fly before you buy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best aviation weather book for pilots?

The best aviation weather book depends on your goal. The ASA Aviation Weather Handbook is the most comprehensive choice because it consolidates the FAA's official weather publications into one reference, while the Gleim Aviation Weather and Weather Services is the easier study text for exam preparation.

What is the difference between the ASA Aviation Weather Handbook and Gleim Aviation Weather and Weather Services?

Both draw from the same official FAA weather material. The ASA handbook is a comprehensive consolidated reference that gathers several Advisory Circulars into one full-color volume, while the Gleim book reorganizes that material into a simplified, logically arranged study text aimed at clarity and test preparation.

What does the FAA Aviation Weather Handbook cover?

The FAA Aviation Weather Handbook (FAA-H-8083-28), published by ASA, consolidates the FAA's legacy weather Advisory Circulars. It covers weather theory, observations and reports, forecasts, thunderstorms, turbulence, wind shear, and mountain weather for both visual and instrument flying, illustrated in full color throughout.

Do aviation weather books cover METARs and TAFs?

Yes. Both books in this collection explain how to read and interpret aviation weather reports and forecasts, including METARs and TAFs, so you can apply them to real preflight planning. For a focused walkthrough, see our blog guide on how to read a TAF.

Which weather book should I study for the FAA knowledge exam?

The Gleim Aviation Weather and Weather Services is often the easier choice for knowledge exam study because it reorganizes FAA material into a clear, test-focused format. The ASA Aviation Weather Handbook also supports exam preparation and serves as a lasting reference well beyond the test.

Do I need a separate weather book for the instrument rating?

You do not necessarily need a separate title, since both books cover weather for instrument flying, but instrument students benefit from deeper study. Pair either weather book with our instrument rating training materials, and review related guides like types of turbulence and weather fronts.