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), FAA-H-8083-25C, with another revision anticipated in June 2024.
The PHAK serves as the foundation for ground school, teaching aeronautical theory, while the companion *Airplane Flying Handbook* (AFH) details practical flight procedures.
Pilots are also required to consult the *Federal Aviation Regulations and Aeronautical Information Manual* (FAR/AIM) to understand and reference specific rules and information, such as student pilot limitations (Part 61) and general operating rules (Part 91).
Effective pilot training and ongoing aviation safety necessitate continuous learning and regular consultation of these essential FAA publications.
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.
