There's An Advisory Circular for That

Advisory Circulars are perhaps the least-read material published by the FAA, quite possibly due to their bureaucratic-sounding name. But if youre willing to go on a little scavenger hunt, youll likely find in-depth information on some of your favorite topics. There are hundreds of ACs, from how to build an airport to the inner workings of airworthiness standards. Of course, most of these have limited appeal, but if you just want some good nuggets about operating in the system, there are plenty of pilot-friendly items, too.

Elaine Kauh

Tuesday, May 10, 2016 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Advisory Circulars (ACs) are valuable, often overlooked FAA documents that supplement federal aviation regulations, offering in-depth guidance on a wide array of aviation topics.
Despite containing "pilot-friendly" and comprehensive information, finding specific ACs can be challenging due to the FAA's website organization; keyword searches are often the most effective method.
These circulars cover critical subjects such as flight in icing conditions, aviation weather services, ADS-B operations, mitigating runway overruns, and controlled flight into terrain awareness.

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Advisory Circulars are perhaps the least-read material published by the FAA, quite possibly due to their bureaucratic-sounding name. But if you’re willing to go on a little scavenger hunt, you’ll likely find in-depth information on some of your favorite topics. There are hundreds of ACs, from how to build an airport to the inner workings of airworthiness standards. Of course, most of these have limited appeal, but if you just want some good nuggets about operating in the system, there are plenty of pilot-friendly items, too.

What Are They?

Think of ACs as supplements to the federal aviation regulations, providing guidance on specific subjects. A good number of them are related to the regs we know best—14 CFR Parts 61, 91, 121 and the like. Most are in the 10- to 20-page range with appendices, although a few are book-length.