Airplane Flying Handbook

2016

U.S. Department of Transportation

FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION
Flight Standards Service
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Preface
Preface
The Glider Flying Handbook is designed as a technical manual for applicants who are preparing for glider category
rating and for currently certificated glider pilots who wish to improve their knowledge. Certificated flight instructors will
find this handbook a valuable training aid, since detailed coverage of aeronautical decision-making, components and
systems, aerodynamics, flight instruments, performance limitations, ground operations, flight maneuvers, traffic patterns,
emergencies, soaring weather, soaring techniques, and cross-country flight is included. Topics such as radio navigation and
communication, use of flight information publications, and regulations are available in other Federal Aviation Administration
(FAA)
The publications.
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
The discussion
operation and explanations
of various reflect
airplane systems. thedeveloped
It is most commonly used Standards
by the Flight practices and principles.
Service, Airman Occasionally, the word
Testing Standards must
Branch, in
or similar language
cooperation is usedaviation
with various where the desired and
educators action is deemed
industry. Thiscritical.
handbookThe use of such language
is developed to assistisstudent
not intended
pilotstolearning
add to,
interpret,
to or relieve
fly airplanes. It isa also
dutybeneficial
imposed by to Title
pilots14 of the
who wishCode of Federal
to improve Regulations
their (14 CFR).
flying proficiency andPersons working
aeronautical towards a
knowledge,
gliderpilots
those ratingpreparing
are advised forto review the
additional referencesorfrom
certificates the and
ratings, applicable practical test
flight instructors standards
engaged (FAA-G-8082-4,
in the instruction of bothSport Pilot
student
and certificated pilots. It introduces the future pilot to the realm of flight and provides information and guidance inTest
and Flight Instructor with a Sport Pilot Rating Knowledge Test Guide, FAA-G-8082-5, Commercial Pilot Knowledge the
Guide, and FAA-G-8082-17,
performance of procedures andRecreational Pilot andfor
maneuvers required Private Pilot Knowledge
pilot certification. Topics Test
suchGuide). Resources
as navigation andfor study include
communication,
FAA-H-8083-25,
meteorology, use Pilots Handbook
of flight of Aeronautical
information publications, Knowledge,
regulations,FAA-H-8083-2,
and aeronautical Riskdecision
ManagementmakingHandbook, and Advisory
are available in other
CircularAviation
Federal (AC) 00-6, Aviation Weather
Administration (FAA)For Pilots and Flight Operations Personnel, AC 00-45, Aviation Weather Services,
publications.
as these documents contain basic material not duplicated herein. All beginning applicants should refer to FAA-H-8083-25,
Pilots Handbook
Occasionally of Aeronautical
the word Knowledge,
must or similar languagefor studywhere
is used and basic libraryaction
the desired reference.
is deemed critical. The use of such language
is not intended to add to, interpret, or relieve a duty imposed by Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR).
It is essential for persons using this handbook to become familiar with and apply the pertinent parts of 14 CFR and the
Aeronautical
It Information
is essential for Manual
persons using this(AIM).
handbookThetoAIM is available
become familiar online
with and at www.faa.gov. The parts
apply the pertinent currentof Flight
14 CFR Standards
and the
Service airman
Aeronautical training andManual
Information testing (AIM).
materialThe
and AIM
learning statements
is available for allatairman
online certificates
www.faa.gov. Theand ratingsFlight
current can beStandards
obtained
from www.faa.gov.
Service airman training and testing material and learning statements for all airman certificates and ratings can be obtained
from www.faa.gov.
This handbook supersedes FAA-H-8083-13, Glider Flying Handbook, dated 2003. Always select the latest edition of any
publication
This andsupersedes
handbook check the website for errata pages
FAA-H-8083-3A, AirplaneandFlying
listingHandbook,
of changesdated to FAA educational publications developed by
2004.
the FAAs Airman Testing Standards Branch, AFS-630.
This handbook is available for download, in PDF format, from www.faa.gov.
This handbook is available for download, in PDF format, from www.faa.gov.
This handbook is published by the United States Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration, Airman
This handbook
Testing Standardsis published by the United
Branch, AFS-630, States25082,
P.O. Box Department
Oklahoma of Transportation,
City, OK 73125. Federal Aviation Administration, Airman
Testing Standards Branch, AFS-630, P.O. Box 25082, Oklahoma City, OK 73125.
Comments regarding this publication should be sent, in email form, to the following address:
Comments regarding this publication should be sent, in email form, to the following address:
AFS630comments@faa.gov
AFS630comments@faa.gov

John S. Duncan
Director, Flight Standards Service

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Acknowledgments
The Airplane Flying Handbook was produced by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) with the assistance of Safety
Research Corporation of America. The FAA wishes to acknowledge the following contributors:

Mr. Shane Torgerson for imagery of the Sedona Airport (Chapter 1)

Mr. Robert Frola for imagery of an Evektor-Aerotechnik EV-97 SportStar Max (Chapter 16)

Additional appreciation is extended to the General Aviation Joint Steering Committee (GA JSC) and the Aviation Rulemaking
Advisory Committees (ARAC) Airman Certification Standards (ACS) Working Group for their technical support and input.

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