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May 11, 20224 min

Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM) Audiobook

Updated: Jun 2, 2022

Below you will find podcast readings of the different sections of the Aeronautical Information Manual. These can be great tools for studying on-the-go. Below each podcast you will also find a list of the general topics that are covered in that particular chapter. If you would like to search for a particular study topic, follow the instructions listed below:

How to Search on Desktop/Laptop

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  2. Then type the topic you are searching for.

  3. The results will then be highlighted for you.

How to Search on iPhone/iPad

  1. Open this page on your iPhone or iPad in Safari.

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Chapters of the AIM (click to jump to a section):

  1. Air Navigation >

  2. Aeronautical Lighting and Other Airport Visual Aids >

  3. Airspace >

  4. Air Traffic Control >

  5. Air Traffic Procedures >

  6. Emergency Procedures >

  7. Safety of Flight >

  8. Medical Facts for Pilots >

  9. Aeronautical Charts and Related Publications >

  10. Helicopter Operations >


CHAPTER 1: AIR NAVIGATION

Section 1: Navigation Aids

  • Nondirectional Radio Beacon (NDB)

  • VHF Omni-Directional Range (VOR)

  • VOR Receiver Check

  • TACAN and VORTAC

  • Distance Measuring Equipment (DME)

  • NAVAID Service Volumes

  • Instrument Landing System (ILS)

  • Simplified Directional Facility (SDF)

  • Global Positioning System (GPS)

  • Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS)

Section 2: Performance-Based Navigation (PBN) and Area Navigation (RNAV)

  • Required Navigation Performance (RNP)

  • Use of Suitable RNAV Systems

  • GPS Interference

CHAPTER 2: AERONAUTICAL LIGHTING AND OTHER AIRPORT VISUAL AIDS

Section 1: Airport Lighting Aids

  • Approach Light Systems (ALS)

  • Visual Glideslope Indicators (VASI)

  • Runway Lights

  • Pilot Controlled Lighting

  • Airport/Heliport Beacons

  • Taxiway Lights

Section 2: Air Navigation and Obstruction Lighting

  • Aeronautical Light Beacons

  • Obstruction Lights

  • LED Lighting Systems

Section 3: Airport Marking Aids and Signs

  • Airport Pavement Markings

  • Runway Markings

  • Taxiway Markings

  • Holding Position Markings

  • Other Markings

  • Airport Signs

  • Aircraft Arresting Systems

  • Security Identification Display Area (SIDA)

CHAPTER 3: AIRSPACE

Section 1: General

  • General Dimensions of Airspace

  • Overlapping Airspace

  • Basic VFR Weather Minimums

  • VFR Cruising Altitudes

Section 2: Controlled Airspace

  • Class A Airspace

  • Class B Airspace

  • Class C Airspace

  • Class D Airspace

  • Class E Airspace

Section 3: Class G Airspace

  • VFR Requirements

  • IFR Requirements

Section 4: Special Use Airspace

  • Prohibited Areas

  • Restricted Areas

  • Warning Areas

  • Military Operations Areas

  • Alert Areas

  • Controlled Firing Areas

  • National Security Areas

Section 5: Other Airspace Areas

  • Airport Advisory/Information Services

  • Military Training Routes (MTR)

  • Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFR)

  • Parachute Jump Aircraft Operations

  • Published VFR Routes

  • Terminal Radar Service Area (TRSA)

CHAPTER 4: AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL

Section 1: Services Available to Pilots

  • Air Route Traffic Control Centers

  • Control Towers

  • Flight Service Stations (FSS)

  • Traffic Advisory and Approach Services

  • UNICOM and MULTICOM

  • Automated Terminal Information Service (ATIS)

  • Radar Traffic Information Service

  • Safety Alert

  • Transponder and ADS-B Out Operation

Section 2: Radio Communications Phraseology and Techniques

  • Radio Technique

  • Contact Procedures

  • Aircraft Call Signs

  • Phonetic Alphabet

  • Communications for VFR Flights

Section 3: Airport Operations

  • Airports with an Operating Control Tower

  • Traffic Patterns

  • Visual Indicators at Non-Towered Airports

  • Use of Runways/Declared Distances

  • Low Level Windshear/Microburst Detection Systems

  • Runway and Braking Action Reports

  • Intersection Takeoffs

  • Land and Hold Short Operations (LAHSO)

  • Low Approaches

  • Traffic Control Light Signals

  • Taxiing

  • Exiting after Landing

  • Practice Instrument Approaches

  • Use of Aircraft Lights

  • Hand Signals

  • ASOS and AWOS

Section 4: ATC Clearances and Aircraft Separation

  • Clearances and Clearance Items

  • Amended Clearances

  • Special VFR Clearances

  • Pilot Responsibilities

  • IFR Clearance VFR on Top

  • Adherence to Clearances

  • IFR Separation Standards

  • Runway Separation

  • Visual Clearing Procedures

  • Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS)

  • Traffic Information Service (TIS)

Section 5: Surveillance Systems

  • Radar

  • Air Traffic Control Radar Beacon System (ATCRBS)

  • Surveillance Radar

  • Precision Approach Radar (PAR)

  • Traffic Information Service (TIS)

  • Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) Services

Section 6: Operational Policy/Procedures for RVSM

  • Applicability and RVSM Mandate

  • Flight Level Orientation Scheme

  • Flight Planning into RVSM Airspace

  • Guidance on Wake Turbulence

  • Pilot/Controller Phraseology

Section 7: Operational Policy/Procedures for the Gulf of Mexico

  • General Policies

  • Non-RNP 10 Aircraft

  • Flight Plan Requirements

CHAPTER 5: AIR TRAFFIC PROCEDURES

Section 1: Preflight

  • Preflight Preparation

  • Notices to Airmen (NOTAM)

  • VFR Flight Plans

  • IFR Flight Plans

  • Military Flight Plans

  • Defense VFR Flight Plans (DVFR)

  • Flights Outside US Airspace

  • Changes in Flight Plans

  • Closing Flight Plans

Section 2: Departure Procedures

  • Pre-Taxi Clearances

  • IFR Clearances at Uncontrolled Airports

  • Taxi Clearances and Line Up and Wait

  • Abbreviated IFR Clearances

  • Clearance Void Times

  • Departure Control

  • Instrument Departure Procedures

  • Obstacle Departure Procedures (ODP)

  • Standard Instrument Departures (SID)

Section 3: En-Route Procedures

  • ARTCC Communications

  • Position Reporting

  • Additional Reports

  • Airways and Route Systems

  • Changeover Points

  • Holding Procedures

Section 4: Arrival Procedures

  • Standard Terminal Arrival Procedures (STAR)

  • Approach Control

  • Instrument Approach Procedure (IAP) Charts

  • Approach Clearance

  • Instrument Approach Procedures

  • Procedure Turn and Hold-in-lieu of Procedure Turn

  • Timed Approaches from a Holding Fix

  • Radar Approaches

  • Simultaneous Approaches to Parallel Runways

  • Approach and Landing Minimums

  • Missed Approach

  • Use of Enhanced Flight Vision Systems (EFVS) on Instrument Approaches

  • Visual Approach

  • Contact Approach

Section 5: Pilot/Controller Roles and Responsibilities

  • Air Traffic Clearance

  • Contact Approach

  • Instrument Approach

  • Missed Approach

  • Vectors

  • Safety Alert

  • See and Avoid

  • Traffic Advisories (Traffic Information)

  • Visual Approach

  • VFR‐on‐top

  • Instrument Departures

  • Minimum Fuel Advisory

  • RNAV and RNP Operations

Section 6: National Security and Interception Procedures

  • National Security Requirements

  • ADIZ Requirements

  • Civil Aircraft Operations To or From U.S. Territorial Airspace

  • Civil Aircraft Operations Within U.S. Territorial Airspace

  • Civil Aircraft Operations Transiting U.S. Territorial Airspace

  • TSA Aviation Security Programs

  • Interception Procedures

CHAPTER 6: EMERGENCY PROCEDURES

Section 1: General

  • Pilot Responsibility and Authority

  • Emergency Condition- Request Assistance Immediately

Section 2: Emergency Services Available to Pilots

  • Radar Service for VFR Aircraft in Difficulty

  • Transponder Emergency Operation

  • Intercept and Escort

  • Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT)

  • Search and Rescue

Section 3: Distress and Urgency Procedures

  • Obtaining Emergency Assistance

  • Ditching Procedures

  • Special Emergency (Air Piracy)

  • Fuel Dumping

Section 4: Two-Way Radio Communications Failure

  • Two‐way Radio Communications Failure

  • Transponder Operation During Two‐way Communications Failure

  • Reestablishing Radio Contact

Section 5: Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting Communications

  • Discrete Emergency Frequency

  • Radio Call Signs

  • RFF Emergency Hand Signals

CHAPTER 7: SAFETY OF FLIGHT

Section 1: Meteorology

  • National Weather Service Aviation Weather Service Program

  • FAA Weather Services

  • Use of Aviation Weather Products

  • Preflight Briefing

  • Inflight Aviation Weather Advisories

  • Flight Information Services (FIS)

  • Weather Observing Programs

  • Weather Radar Services

  • Runway Visual Range (RVR)

  • Reporting of Cloud Heights

  • Reporting Prevailing Visibility

  • Pilot Weather Reports (PIREPs)

  • Microbursts

  • Thunderstorms

Section 2: Barometric Altimeter Errors and Setting Procedures

  • Barometric Pressure Altimeter Errors

  • Altimeter Errors

Section 3: Cold Temperature Barometric Altimeter Errors

  • Effect of Cold Temperature on Barometric Altimeters

  • Effects of Cold Temperature on Baro-Vertical Navigation (VNAV) Vertical Guidance

  • Cold Temperature Airport Procedures

Section 4: Wake Turbulence

  • Vortex Generation

  • Operations Problem Areas

  • Vortex Avoidance Procedures

  • Pilot Responsibility

  • Air Traffic Wake Turbulence Separations

Section 5: Bird Hazards and Flight Over National Refuges, Parks, and Forests

  • Migratory Bird Activity

  • Reducing Bird Strike Risks

  • Reporting Bird Strikes

  • Flights Over Charted U.S. Wildlife Refuges, Parks, and Forest Service Areas

Section 6: Potential Flight Hazards

  • Accident Cause Factors

  • Reporting Radio/Radar Altimeter Anomalies

  • VFR in Congested Areas

  • Unmanned Aircraft Systems

  • Mountain Flying

  • Seaplane Safety

  • Flight Operations in Volcanic Ash

  • Precipitation Static

  • Flying in Flat Light, Brown Out Conditions, and White Out Conditions

  • Operations in Ground Icing Conditions

Section 7: Safety, Accident, and Hazard Reports

  • Aviation Safety Reporting Program

  • Aircraft Accident and Incident Reporting

  • Near Midair Collision Reporting

  • Unidentified Flying Object (UFO) Reports

CHAPTER 8: MEDICAL FACTS FOR PILOTS

Section 1: Fitness for Flight

  • Fitness For Flight

  • Effects of Altitude (Hypoxia)

  • Hyperventilation in Flight

  • Carbon Monoxide Poisoning in Flight

  • Illusions in Flight (Spatial Disorientation)

  • Vision in Flight

  • Aerobatic Flight

  • Judgment Aspects of Collision Avoidance

CHAPTER 9: AERONAUTICAL CHARTS AND RELATED PUBLICATIONS

Section 1: Types of Charts Available

  • Obtaining Aeronautical Charts

  • Selected Charts and Products Available

  • General Description of Each Chart Series

  • Where and How to Get Charts of Foreign Areas

CHAPTER 10: HELICOPTER OPERATIONS

Section 1: Helicopter IFR Operations

  • Helicopter Flight Control Systems

  • Helicopter Instrument Approaches

  • Helicopter Approach Procedures to VFR Heliports

  • Departure Procedures

Section 2: Special Operations

  • Offshore Helicopter Operations

  • Helicopter Night VFR Operations

  • Landing Zone Safety

  • Emergency Medical Service (EMS) Multiple Helicopter Operations