This guide is a starting point for research at the UFV library. If at any time you need more assistance, please contact us. 

Reference Books provide background information on a topic, such as definitions of terms, key figures and events, and well written overviews.  Most reference books are for in-library use, and are shelved in a separate reference section.

Also see our Electronic Reference collection which includes Oxford Reference Online Premium  (providing access to over 170 online reference books from Oxford University Press) and the Gale Virtual Reference Library, (access to a growing collection of electronic subject specialized encyclopedias). UFV has licenses for both products.

Selected titles for Aviation:

Finding Books and Videos in the Library Catalogue

The UFV Library Catalogue lists the books, videos, government reports, electronic books, and other resources held by our library. 

To begin searching, type keywords and click on "Search". Keywords may be a single word, a phrase or words joined together by "AND". For example:

air pilots
aircraft industry
piloting AND human factors
airlines AND history
aeronautics AND meteorology

If you wish to browse the shelves in the library, try the following call number areas:

HE 9761 - HE 9900	Air transport. Airlines
TL 500 - TL 777	Aeronautics. Aeronautical Engineering
QC 851 - QC 999	Meteorology

Finding Books in Other Libraries

To find books in other libraries, try Outlook Online (B.C.) or Worldcat (North America).  You may obtain books from other libraries by requesting an Interlibrary Loan.  Delivery time ranges from 2 - 10 days. 

Finding Journal, Magazine and Newspaper Articles

Journal, magazine and newspaper articles can be useful sources of information for your research topic. They contain current information or research, and are usually written on specific aspects of a topic.

To search for articles on a specific topic, use "research databases". You may view a full list of our research databases either alphabetically and by subject.  Research databases may also be searched from off campus.

Try these research databases for research in Aviation:

Best Bets

• Sage Journals Online - Use search words like aviation, Aircraft Design, flight controllers. Full text.
• Business Source Premier - Business, management, financial information, many full text articles.
• Canadian Business and Current Affairs (CBCA) - Canadian newspapers, magazines and journals in all subject areas; includes many full text articles. Look here for current affairs about WestJet or Air Canada.
• Academic Search Premier - Journal and magazine articles in all subject areas; includes many full text articles.

Also Try

• Military and Government Collection - Strong in aviation from a military perspective.
• PsycINFO - Indexes psychology journals and books; useful for human factors in aviation, aviation psychology and decision making.

Journal Holdings at UFV

The UFV Journals List is a list of all print and electronic journals available at UFV. You may search the list for a specific journal title, or browse by subject. The list provides a link to the source for each electronic journal.  Print journals are located in a separate periodicals section of the library, in alphabetical order by journal title. 

Journals for Aviation.

Finding Journals in Other Libraries

Use the "Where Can I Get This?" link in the research databases you are searching. This will provide a request form to order articles through Interlibrary Loan.  Delivery time ranges from 2 - 10 days. 

Internet Resources

These websites have been chosen as appropriate resources for research. Users should still evaluate web resources to determine the accuracy and reliability of any information found.

Meta Sites

• AeroLink - A commercial aviation web site directory that claims to be continually updated and verified.
• AIU - Airline Industry Update - Directories to Airlines, Airpoorts and Aviation Authorities. Current affairs information provided in a downloadable PDF newsletter. 
• AVWeb - Current news and articles (US focus), including web links ("Net Sites"), links to databases, etc.
• Landings - Aviation news, as well as links to many sites; you can search for regulations, registration databases, avionics information, etc.

British Columbia Sites

• Abbotsford International Airport
• Abbotsford International Airshow
• BC Aerospace Strategy - Government strategy for aerospace training and education
• British Columbia Aviation Council - "The BCAC is a non profit society whose primary aim is to stimulate and encourage the safe, orderly development of aviation and aviation services in British Columbia".
• Transport Canada, Pacific Region - Contact information for TC divisions, BC airports, Transport Dangerous Goods, etc.
• YVR - Vancouver International Airport Authority

Canadian Sites

• Aeronautical Charting Program - From NAV Canada; provides digital access to the Designated Airspace Handbook.
• AVCanada - Current aviation job postings, aircraft ads, and web links.
• Canadian Aeronautical Communications Website - A comprehensive resource for Canadian aviation frequencies.
• Canadian Aviation Regulations
• Civil Aviation Medicine CAM - The primary activity of CAM is the performance of medical assessments required for the certification of Licensed Aviation Personnel. Approximately 55,000 medical examinations are conducted annually by over 950 designated Civil Aviation Medical Examiners across Canada and overseas.
• Nav Canada - Canadian air navigation services, and weather information (in flight planning section).
• Transport Canada - Provides much information, on topics such as: aviation regulations, Canadian Civil Aircraft Registry, airlines, airports, including many statistics and publications.
• Transportation Safety Board of Canada - Includes air investigation reports, aviation occurrence reports, press releases.  

Aviation History

• Avroland
• Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame  
• Solo Flights - This site is about pilots who flew alone around the world.
• Western Canada Aviation Museum

General Resource Sites

• AirDisaster.com: Aviation Accidents - Accident database, eyewitness reports, full text stories, airliner photograph database and more.
• Aviation Reports - Transportation Safety Board of Canadas accident analysis of airplane failures.
• Airport Code Finder - Three Letter Airport Codes
• Principles of Flight - Excellent introduction to the physics of flight; includes information on lift and drag, speed, flight maneuvers, the effects of roll and more.

Associations and Organizations

• Aerospace Industries Association of Canada – Facts & Figures
• International Air Transport Association - The global association for air carriers that fly between countries.
• International Civil Aviation Organization - Includes a link to the ICAO Journal.
• Air Transport Association - Includes data, statistics, and a full text publication titled Airline Handbook
• Canadian Owners and Pilots Association

Statistical Resources

• Aviation Consumer Protection Division - U.S. statistics on flight delays, mishandled baggage, oversales, and consumer complaints.
• Federal Aviation Administration - Information on U.S .federal aviation regulations, pilot certification, safety, aviation research, including many online publications and statistics, and links to FAA organizations.
• National Aviation Safety Data - Access to several principle U.S. aviation safety data and information sources, such as the FAA Incident Data System, and the Near Midair Collisions System database.
• National Transportation Safety Board: Aviation - U.S. accident statistics and accident investigation reports.
• Transport Canada - Provides much information, on topics such as: aviation regulations, including many statistics and publications.
• Canadian Civil Aviation (Statistics Canada) - Annual statistical review of the activities of Canadian air carriers, including financial and operational.

Resources for Completing Your Assignment

• Research Assignment Planner
• Research Paper Steps
• Citing Sources
• RefWorks

Comments or suggestions for improvements of this guide? Send us your feedback.

Updated September 10/09 dc