This is the most recent (11th edition) of a publication, which was published for the first time in 1986, under the name of Air Band Radio Handbook. The author, and RadioUser regular, David Smith, has subdivided the book into two principal sections, covering, respectively, the fundamentals of Air Traffic Control (ATC) and the radio and communications related aspects of this topic. The reader may either approach the book reading it in sequential order from cover to cover or consult selected chapters, with the help of the table of contents or the many comprehensive indices and lists. For radio enthusiasts and airband monitors, one of the many advantages of this book lies in the de-mystification of the prevalent airband communications business jargon and phraseology. This is achieved deliberately and unambiguously throughout the volume, which, in turn, make you get so much more out of airband listening. In part one of the text, the interested reader can learn about the technicalities of ATC, ranging from Visual and Instrument Flight Rules (VFR/IFR), types of airspace, navigational aids and ATC equipment systems, to matters of area, aerodrome and approach control, to a detailed focus on London Airports and the intricacies of Oceanic Control. Other chapters in this first part of the book are, for example, about flight information and ground services. It is in these chapters, in particular, that the explanations of the words and phrases in common use are useful and pave the way to the radio contents offered in part two of the volume.

The section on Weather and Air Traffic Control such as VOLMET, SIGMET, METAR & Co, will be of enhanced interest to many airband enthusiasts, since so many of us monitor aviation weather forecasts regularly, myself included. As in all other areas of the book the information presented here is richly illustrated with clear and detailed maps and photographs, and right up-to-date, as you would expect from this author. If you are getting the impression by now that there is a huge wealth of information here, easily available at the fingertips of the airband enthusiast, then this is exactly the kind of message I wanted to convey. There is not a lot on matters ATC and Airband monitoring that you will lack knowledge of when you have finished reading this text, which, in addition to this, also manages to be extremely readable, excellent value for money and readily accessibly to the non-specialist. A great reference and permanent shack companion.