Well for landscape, portrait or architekture there are many tutorials and books around.

And I find that guide from Nikon quite usefull for the beginner in aviation photography.

http://www.nikon.co.jp/main/eng/feelnikon/cbp/cbp2-1e.htm

However that is no holy grail and the rules certain photosites are enforcing are surely no holy grail either.

Imho there are few simple rules to get better pictures :

1. If you are not paid for the shooting, every picture you like is a good picture.

2. Make up your mind, are you an aircraft spotter taking pictures, or a photographer shooting aircrafts.

3. Light and weather is very important. A boring side shot taken in sunlight around noon, is just a boring side shot taken at …. (you get thepoint) Add a late evening light and some fog, the same plane might look very different.

4. Beauty can lie in the detail, but detail can also be boring.

5. bad weather is not always bad

6. aircrafts in flight are moving subjects, show the movement