Airplane Flying Handbook (2021)

FAA has released a new edition of the Airplane Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-3C). You can download the free PDF from the FAA website here.

The front matter of the new edition lists the following “major revisions”:

Removed mandatory language or cited applicable regulations throughout handbook.

• Chapter 1 (Introduction to Flight Training) – Added information on the FAA Wings Program.
• Chapter 2 (Ground Operations) – Added a new graphic and information regarding detonation. Now uses the same marshalling graphic as the AMT General Handbook. Updated material on hand propping to match the material in the AMT General Handbook (it doesn’t matter whether a pilot or mechanic is hand propping).
• Chapter 3 (Basic Flight Maneuvers) – Corrected G1000 and indications of slip and skid graphics.
• Chapter 4 (Energy Management) – All new chapter/material. Incremented the existing chapters 4-17 by 1 (now there are 18 chapters in total).
• Chapter 5 (Maintaining Aircraft Control) – Revised the order in which the material was presented.
• Chapter 7 (Ground Reference Maneuvers) – Corrected errors in text and graphics for eights on pylons.
• Chapter 9 (Approaches and Landings) – Added information concerning a forward slip to a landing and corrected Figure 9-6. Changed description associated with Crosswind Final Approach. Removed material on 360 degree power-off landing as this maneuver is not part of testing standard.
• Chapter 10 (Performance Maneuvers) – Added information on lazy eights.
• Chapter 11 (Night Operations) – Revised to align with material from CAMI.
• Chapter 13 (Transition to Multiengine Airplanes) – Incorporated the addendum. Corrected G1000 displays and force vectors on figures. Accelerated approach to stall minimum altitude revised to match the ACS. The 14 CFR part 23 certification standard used for many multiengine airplanes is now referred to a historical standard, since many of the previous requirements will not apply to newly certificated aircraft.
• Chapter 14 (Transition to Tailwheel Airplanes) – Made minor revision regarding handling characteristics.
• Chapter 15 (Transition to Turbopropeller-Powered Airplanes) – Addressed an NTSB recommendation regarding slow spool up time of split-shaft engines and corrected figure of fixed-shaft engine gauges.
• Chapter 16 (Transition to Jet-Powered Airplanes) – Removed extra information that appears unrelated to flying a turbojet and added information regarding energy management and distance versus altitude in a descent.
• Chapter 18 (Emergency Procedures) – Revised information regarding the safety of turning back after an engine failure after takeoff. Added a section on emergency response systems to include ballistic parachutes and autoland systems. Corrected figures of G1000 displays.