FAA Handbooks
For all Pilots
The handbooks and documents listed in this sections are of relevance to all civilian pilots and contain the basic knowledge they must possess to fly an airplane in the United States of America. If you want to learn to fly, you need to read them diligently (from the FARs you only need to know what pertains to you as a Private Pilot (mostly 14 CFR Part 61 and Part 91), and the AIM you can read selectively as needed).
FAA Handbooks:
- Airplane Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-3B, 2016):
https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aviation/airplane_handbook/
available as a single PDF:
https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aviation/airplane_handbook/media/airplane_flying_handbook.pdf
Contains information on how to fly an airplane, maneuvers, landings, etc.
- Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (FAA-H-8083-25B, 2016):
https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aviation/phak/
available as a single PDF:
http://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aviation/phak/media/pilot_handbook.pdf
Contains information on aerodynamics, aircraft systems, weather, airspaces, aeromedical factors, aeronautical decision making, etc.
Federal Regulations and Recommended Procedures:
- Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs), now referred to as “Title 14 CFR”, (you will need to know the rules which apply to you as a pilot):
http://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/faa_regulations/
https://gov.ecfr.io/cgi-bin/ECFR
Currently they do not seem to be available online as a single PDF, only the above online readable version requiring an internet connection.
- Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM):
http://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/
as PDF:
http://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/media/aim.pdf
Contains many elaborations on the above rules as well as recommended procedures which are not binding/regulatory but still constitute good practice; features description of facilities and equipment; a pilot-controller glossary is included at the end.
The FARs and the AIM are often available together in one paperback publication. We highly recommend getting them in print, because they are easier to reference quickly and to highlight than the digital PDF, even on a tablet. However, the online version is the most up-to-date.
For FAA Practical Test (“Checkride”):
- Private Pilot Airplane Airman Certification Standards (describes the maneuvers and knowledge areas you need to know for the practical test, as well as the format of the practical test):
https://www.faa.gov/training_testing/testing/acs/media/private_airplane_acs.pdf
This reference you should be very familiar with when you are ready to take the practical test (but it doesn’t hurt to look at it earlier to know which topics you’ll need to study).
For Instrument Rating
- Instrument Flying Handbook:
http://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aviation/media/FAA-H-8083-15B.pdf - Instrument Procedures Handbook:
http://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aviation/instrument_procedures_handbook/
as PDF:
http://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aviation/instrument_procedures_handbook/media/FAA-H-8083-16.pdf - Digital – Terminal Procedures Publication (d-TPP)/Airport Diagrams (“Instrument Approach Plates”):
https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/flight_info/aeronav/digital_products/dtpp/ - United States Standard for Terminal Instrument Procedures (TERPS):
https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/orders_notices/index.cfm/go/document.information/documentID/1029266
as PDF:
https://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Order/FAA_Order_8260.3C.pdf
This document prescribes standardized methods for designing and evaluating instrument flight procedures (IFPs) in the United States. You do not necessarily have to know this for your instrument rating as a pilot, but it explains a lot of the underlying framework on which IFPs are based, e.g. how new instrument approaches are constructed and which conditions they must satisfy.
- Instrument Rating Airplane Airman Certification Standards (for practical test):
https://www.faa.gov/training_testing/testing/acs/media/instrument_rating_acs.pdf
To practice for your instrument rating, we highly recommend you buy a good flight simulator software for your home computer, e.g. X-Plane 11:
http://www.x-plane.com/desktop/home/
It is available for $70, and is the same software which is used in some FAA approved Aviation Training Devices (basic flight simulators).
For Additional Ratings
For Flight Instructor:
Aviation Instructor’s Handbook (a pedagogical guide for flight instructors on how to teach):
http://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aviation/aviation_instructors_handbook/media/FAA-H-8083-9A.pdf
For Gliders:
Glider Flying Handbook:https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aircraft/glider_handbook/media/faa-h-8083-13a.pdf
For Seaplanes, Skiplanes, etc.:
Seaplane, Skiplane, and Float/Ski Equipped Helicopter Operations Handbook:https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aviation/seaplane_handbook/
(Three individual files – oddly the handbook doesn’t seem to exist as a single PDF.)
Miscellaneous FAA Aviation Handbooks
- Risk Management Handbook:
https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aviation/media/risk_management_hb_change_1.pdf - Pilot Risk Management Brochures:
https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aviation/pilot_risk/ - Weight and Balance Handbook:
https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aviation/media/FAA-H-8083-1.pdf - Advanced Avionics Handbook:
https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aviation/advanced_avionics_handbook/
as a single PDF:
https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aviation/advanced_avionics_handbook/media/FAA-H-8083-6.pdf
Air Traffic Control (ATC) Communications
For Air Traffic Controllers:
Order JO 7110.65W (this order prescribes air traffic control procedures and phraseology for use by personnel providing air traffic control services):https://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Order/ATC.pdf
(While this file is required reading only for air traffic controllers and not pilots, knowing what they are telling you, its form and structure, and reasons behind it, is important to know for pilots as well.)
For Pilots:
To practice Air Traffic Control communications, you can listen to live feeds at:http://www.liveatc.net
If you want to practice communications with real (retired) air traffic controllers, you can try for instance:
https://www.pilotedge.net