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.

New Edition of Airplane Flying Handbook

FAA has published a new edition of the Airplane Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-3B), the handbook that complements the Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge and the Airman Certification Standards (and Practical Test Standards).

The preface notes that:

The Airplane Flying Handbook provides basic knowledge that is essential for pilots. This handbook introduces basic pilot skills and knowledge that are essential for piloting airplanes. It provides information on transition to other airplanes and the operation of various airplane systems…This handbook is developed to assist student pilots learning to fly airplanes. It is also beneficial to pilots who wish to improve their flying proficiency and aeronautical knowledge, those pilots preparing for additional certificates or ratings, and flight instructors engaged in the instruction of both student certificated pilots. It introduces the future pilot to the realm of flight and provides information and guidance in the performance of procedures and maneuvers required for pilot certification.

 

FAA Updates Two Handbooks

FAA has released updated editions of two key handbooks for pilots and flight instructors.
The new version of Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (FAA-H-8083-25B) is a key reference for pilots training for the private pilot, commercial pilot, and flight instructor certificates.

You can find free PDFs of these handbooks and other FAA training manuals on the FAA website here and here.

The Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge provides basic knowledge that is essential for pilots. This handbook introduces pilots to the broad spectrum of knowledge that will be needed as they progress in their pilot training. Except for the Code of Federal Regulations pertinent to civil aviation, most of the knowledge areas applicable to pilot certification are presented. This handbook is useful to beginning pilots, as well as those pursuing more advanced pilot certificates.

The Weight & Balance Handbook (FAA-H-8083-1B) is aimed at pilots and maintenance technicians.

The Aircraft Weight and Balance Handbook has been prepared in recognition of the importance of weight and balance technology in conducting safe and efficient flight. The objective of this handbook is twofold: to provide the airframe and powerplant mechanic (A&P) with the method of determining the empty weight and empty weight center of gravity (EWCG) of an aircraft and to furnish the flight crew with information on loading and operating the aircraft to ensure its weight is within the allowable limit and the center of gravity (CG) is within the allowable range.

You can find free PDFs of these handbooks and other FAA training manuals on the FAA website here and here.

New Edition of Instrument Procedures Handbook (FAA-H-8083-16A)

The FAA has published the 2015 edition of the Instrument Procedures Handbook (FAA-H-8083-16A). You can download the PDF from the FAA website here.

If you use ForeFlight on an iPad, the new edition should be the ForeFlight section of the Documents feature.

Here’s the summary of changes from the document:

This handbook supersedes FAA-H-8083-16, Instrument Procedures Handbook dated 2014, and contains substantial changes, updates, and reorganization. It must be thoroughly reviewed.

Chapter 1

• This Chapter contains updated information and reorganization of important concepts and principles related to obstacle avoidance and departure planning. The presentation retains the same logical order as earlier versions, and includes updated graphics for clarity.
• The section related to Surface Movement Guidance and Control System contains significant revisions to better reflect advancements in the way the system operates, as well as the Advisory Circulars published related to the subject.
• The section related to Diverse Vector Areas (DVAs) contains significant revision reflecting policy changes.
• Several subject matter areas and graphics discussed in this Chapter contain changes made in order to better align with updates and changes made to the Airman’s Information Manual (AIM).
• Various editorial and graphics issues were addressed revised as appropriate.

Chapter 2

• This Chapter contains various updates to Sectors and Altitudes, as well as various editorial changes throughout.
• Several graphics were updated or changed as appropriate.

Chapter 3

This Chapter was updated with various editorial and graphics changes as appropriate

Chapter 4

• This Chapter contains a significant number of changes and updates specific to the subject of Approaches:
• Changed internet references related to on-line flight planning and filing.
• Updated verbiage and information regarding Vertical Descent Angles (VDAs) and Visual Descent Points (VDPs).
• Revised verbiage and illustration related to GLS approaches and associated minimums.
• Added discussion regarding alerting functions that are part of the Performance-Based Navigation concept and associated systems.
• Addressed changes to RNP approach naming convention issues.
• Hot and cold weather altimetry limitations and their associated FAA-directed procedure implementation changes were addressed and discussed.
• New information related to Terminal Arrival Areas (TAAs) was presented and discussed. This information now aligns with advances in the subject matter presented in the AIM.
• Several updates were made regarding RNAV and GPS-based approaches in general, under several sub-sections. Associated graphics and illustrations updated.
• Multiple changes were made to the section discussing ILS and parallel ILS approaches.
• Several editorial and graphics issues were addressed as appropriate. While significant information was updated for this version, there are multiple policy changes pending that will be further changed or discussed in subsequent versions of this Handbook.

Chapter 5

• This Chapter contains several editorial and graphics updates as deemed appropriate (fixed browser links, etc).

Chapter 6

• This Chapter contains several editorial and graphics updates as deemed appropriate (fixed browser links, etc).

Chapter 7

• This Chapter remains “Helicopter Instrument Procedures”and contains updated illustrations and graphics pertinent to information discussed within the Chapter.

Appendices

• The Appendices in remain intact in this version. There are information and policy changes pending that, due to time constraints, will be addressed in subsequent versions of this Handbook.

New Edition of the Instrument Procedures Handbook

The FAA has published a new edition of the Instrument Procedures Handbook (FAA-H-8083-16). You can download the free PDF from the FAA website, here.

This is first major update to the IPH since 2007. As the preface notes:

It is designed as a technical reference for all pilots who operate under instrument flight rules (IFR) in the National Airspace System (NAS). It expands and updates information contained in the FAA-H-8083-15B, Instrument Flying Handbook, and introduces advanced information for IFR operations. Instrument flight instructors, instrument pilots, and instrument students will also find this handbook a valuable resource since it is used as a reference for the Airline Transport Pilot and Instrument Knowledge Tests and for the Practical Test Standards. It also provides detailed coverage of instrument charts and procedures including IFR takeoff, departure, en route, arrival, approach, and landing. Safety information covering relevant subjects such as runway incursion, land and hold short operations, controlled flight into terrain, and human factors issues also are included.