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 a minor update to the *Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge* (PHAK), a foundational text for aviators, with another major revision slated for June 2024.
The PHAK and the *Airplane Flying Handbook* (AFH) are essential resources for pilot training, covering aeronautical theory and practical flight maneuvers, respectively.
Pilots must also effectively use the *Federal Aviation Regulations and Aeronautical Information Manual* (FAR/AIM), focusing on learning how to look up regulations (e.g., Parts 61 and 91) rather than memorizing them, often with instructor guidance.
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.
