According to the FAA, the AFM is the legally required document for a particular aircraft, while a Pilot’s Operating Handbook (POH) is usually a more general, standardized document for that type of aircraft. [Shutterstock]
Key Takeaways:
The FAA recently released an updated version of the Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (PHAK), superseding previous versions and addendums, with another new edition slated for June 2024.
Aspiring pilots rely on foundational texts like the PHAK (for theoretical knowledge), the Airplane Flying Handbook (AFH) for practical maneuvers, and the Federal Aviation Regulations and Aeronautical Information Manual (FAR/AIM) for regulations.
The extensive FAR/AIM is primarily a reference tool, requiring pilots to know how to look up information rather than memorize it, with critical sections like Part 61 (pilot requirements) and Part 91 (operating rules) often needing instructor guidance for effective use.
One of the first things an aspiring aviator learns is that pilots do a lot of reading. Sometimes it is to gain knowledge, other times to refresh knowledge, often examining the last revision in an FAA-published text.
Meg Godlewski has been an aviation journalist for more than 24 years and a CFI for more than 20 years. If she is not flying or teaching aviation, she is writing about it. Meg is a founding member of the Pilot Proficiency Center at EAA AirVenture and excels at the application of simulation technology to flatten the learning curve. Follow Meg on Twitter @2Lewski.
