top of page

FAA Publications Every Pilot Needs: FAR/AIM, PHAK, AFH, ACS, POH and More Explained

Updated: 2 days ago

If you've spent any time in aviation training you've heard the names: PHAK, AIM, AFH, ACS, POH, IFH. Instructors reference them constantly. Checkride preparation requires them. Some of them you're legally required to have on board. But if you've ever felt vaguely unsure about which publication covers what, or which one to reach for when you have a specific question, this guide is a complete breakdown.


Here's every major FAA publication, what it contains, who needs it, and when to use it.



Study this full length lesson (video, podcast, flashcards, and quiz) here: Full Length Lesson >


14 CFR (Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations) — The Law

Before getting to the publications, the foundation: 14 CFR is the actual law. It's not a handbook or a guide — it's the federal regulation that governs all civil aviation in the United States. When someone says "the FARs" (Federal Aviation Regulations), they're referring to 14 CFR.


The parts most relevant to general aviation pilots:

  • Part 61 — Certification of pilots, flight instructors, and ground instructors. Requirements for each certificate and rating, recency requirements, flight reviews, logging requirements.

  • Part 91 — General operating and flight rules. VFR weather minimums, right-of-way rules, altimeter settings, equipment requirements, fuel minimums, everything about how you operate the aircraft.

  • Part 61 and 141 — Part 61 governs most general aviation training. Part 141 applies to FAA-approved flight schools with structured curriculum requirements.

  • Part 43 — Aircraft maintenance and inspection standards.

  • Part 71 — Airspace designations.

  • Part 119/135 — Commercial air carrier operations.


14 CFR is freely available at ecfr.gov. When you need to know the exact regulatory language — not an interpretation or summary — go straight to the CFR.


FAR/AIM — The Pilot's Everyday Reference

The FAR/AIM is a commercial publication that combines two things:

FAR (Federal Aviation Regulations): Selected portions of 14 CFR most relevant to general aviation — primarily Parts 1, 61, 71, 91, 97, and NTSB Part 830. This is a subset of the full CFR, formatted for readability with a table of contents and index.


AIM (Aeronautical Information Manual): The AIM is not a regulation — it's the FAA's official guide to recommended procedures, best practices, and operational information. The AIM covers airspace, ATC communication procedures, navigation aids, pilot/controller glossary, safety of flight topics, medical factors, and more. It's the "how things work and what you should do" companion to the "what you're required to do" of the FARs.


Key distinction: FARs are law. The AIM is guidance. Not following AIM procedures isn't automatically illegal, but it may be unsafe or inconsistent with what ATC expects.

The FAR/AIM is updated annually — always use the current edition. Several major aviation publishers produce formatted versions. The official content is available free at faa.gov.


Who needs it: Every pilot, from student through ATP. This is your daily operational reference.


PHAK — Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge

The PHAK is the FAA's foundational textbook for aviation knowledge. It covers:

  • Aerodynamics and principles of flight

  • Aircraft systems (engines, fuel systems, electrical, instruments)

  • Flight instruments and avionics

  • Weather theory and interpretation

  • Aviation weather services

  • Navigation — pilotage, dead reckoning, GPS, VOR

  • Airspace classification

  • Airport operations

  • FAA charts and publications

  • Human factors and aeromedical information

  • Aeronautical decision-making


The PHAK is where you go to understand why things work the way they do. The FARs tell you the rules. The PHAK explains the underlying principles.


Who needs it: Every student pilot uses the PHAK extensively for ground training. Instrument and commercial students return to it repeatedly. CFI applicants need to know it thoroughly because they'll be teaching from it. Available free at faa.gov.


AFH — Airplane Flying Handbook

Where the PHAK covers knowledge, the AFH covers technique — how to actually fly the airplane.


The AFH covers:

  • Ground operations and taxiing

  • Normal takeoffs and landings

  • Performance takeoffs and crosswind operations

  • Ground reference maneuvers

  • Slow flight and stalls

  • Spins

  • Basic and advanced flight maneuvers

  • Emergency procedures

  • Transition to complex and high-performance aircraft

  • Multiengine operations

  • Transition to turboprop and jet aircraft


The AFH is your reference for how each maneuver is performed, why it's performed that way, and what common errors look like. During checkride preparation, the AFH descriptions of each maneuver are exactly what your DPE is evaluating against.


Who needs it: All student pilots, especially during flight maneuver training. CFI applicants need it in depth because they'll be teaching every maneuver it describes.


IFH — Instrument Flying Handbook

The IFH is the AFH's counterpart for instrument flying. It covers:

  • The instrument cockpit — instrument systems, flight instruments, avionics

  • Basic attitude instrument flying — control and performance concept

  • Instrument flight procedures — departures, en route, arrivals

  • IFR navigation — VOR, DME, GPS, RNAV, RNP

  • The national airspace system for IFR operations

  • Approach procedures — precision and non-precision

  • ATC and IFR communications

  • Emergency operations in IMC


The IFH goes deep on instrument systems and IFR procedures in a way the PHAK doesn't. If you're working on your instrument rating or CFII, the IFH is essential study material alongside the AIM's IFR procedure sections.


Who needs it: Instrument rating candidates, CFII applicants, and any pilot working to maintain or improve IFR proficiency.


IPH — Instrument Procedures Handbook

The IPH picks up where the IFH leaves off, covering advanced instrument procedures in greater depth:

  • Terminal procedures and approach plate interpretation

  • Standard instrument departures (SIDs) and standard terminal arrivals (STARs)

  • Precision and non-precision approaches in detail

  • RNAV (GPS) and RNP approaches

  • Circling approaches

  • Missed approach procedures

  • Low-visibility operations


The IPH is less common in primary instrument training but is invaluable for pilots who fly complex IFR regularly or are pursuing CFII certification.


Who needs it: Instrument-rated pilots seeking deeper procedure knowledge, CFII applicants, and commercial pilots operating in complex IFR environments.


AIH — Aviation Instructor's Handbook

The AIH is the foundational reference for flight and ground instructors. It covers:

  • The learning process — how people learn, learning styles, memory

  • Fundamentals of instruction — teaching methods, communication, motivation

  • The teaching process — lesson planning, course development, evaluation

  • Assessment — critiques, written tests, practical tests

  • Human behavior and effective instruction

  • Instructor responsibilities and professionalism


The AIH is required study for CFI and CFII applicants because the FOI (Fundamentals of Instruction) written test draws directly from it. Beyond the written test, it's a genuinely useful resource for any instructor looking to improve how they teach.


Who needs it: All CFI and CFII applicants. Any flight instructor interested in improving teaching effectiveness.


ACS — Airmen Certification Standards

The ACS is what your checkride is graded against. It replaced the older Practical Test Standards (PTS) and adds explicit risk management elements alongside knowledge and skill standards.


For each certificate and rating there is a corresponding ACS (Private Pilot ACS, Instrument Rating ACS, Commercial Pilot ACS, CFI ACS, etc.). Each ACS is organized by area of operation and task, specifying:

  • What knowledge the applicant must demonstrate

  • What risk management elements must be addressed

  • What skills must be performed and to what standard (tolerances)


The ACS is not a study guide — it's the evaluation criteria. But reading the ACS for your certificate is one of the best ways to understand exactly what your DPE will be looking for and where the performance standards are set.


Who needs it: Every pilot preparing for a checkride. CFIs use the ACS to structure training and ensure students are prepared for every evaluated task.


POH — Pilot's Operating Handbook

The POH is the aircraft-specific manual provided by the manufacturer for a certificated aircraft. It contains:

  • General aircraft description and specifications

  • Limitations — airspeed, weight, CG limits, engine limits, approved maneuvers

  • Emergency procedures

  • Normal procedures — checklists for all phases of flight

  • Performance data — takeoff, climb, cruise, landing charts

  • Weight and balance data and loading instructions

  • Aircraft systems descriptions

  • Supplements for installed equipment


The POH is the authoritative source for any question about operating your specific aircraft. When the PHAK, AFH, or any other publication conflicts with the POH for your aircraft, the POH wins. Required to be aboard (or immediately accessible) during flight for most certificated aircraft.


Who needs it: Every pilot for every aircraft they fly. Know your POH.


NTSB Part 830 — Accident and Incident Reporting

NTSB Part 830 is not an FAA publication — it's a regulation from the National Transportation Safety Board that specifies what pilots and operators must do after an accident or incident.


Key provisions every pilot should know:

  • Immediate notification to the nearest NTSB field office is required after an accident or certain serious incidents including: flight control malfunction, in-flight fire, flight crew incapacitation, structural damage, mid-air collision, and others specified in the regulation.

  • Written report must be filed within 10 days of an accident, or within 7 days if an overdue aircraft is confirmed safe.

  • Definitions matter: The NTSB definition of "accident" (involving death, serious injury, or substantial aircraft damage) is different from an "incident" (occurrence other than an accident that affects safety). Knowing the difference determines your reporting obligations.

  • Failing to report when required is a violation that can affect certificate status.

  • Who needs it: Every pilot should know the basic reporting requirements. CFI applicants are expected to know Part 830 in detail for the oral exam.


Advisory Circulars (ACs)

Advisory Circulars are the FAA's way of providing guidance, explaining regulations, and recommending best practices without creating new legal requirements. They're non-regulatory — following an AC isn't mandatory, but it often demonstrates an acceptable means of regulatory compliance and reflects current FAA thinking on a topic.


There are hundreds of ACs covering everything from weight and balance to aircraft maintenance to pilot training standards. Some of the most commonly referenced in general aviation:

  • AC 91-79A — LAHSO procedures

  • AC 60-28 — English language standard for airmen

  • AC 61-65 — Certification: Pilots and Flight and Ground Instructors (including endorsement language for AC 61-65K)

  • AC 00-6 — Aviation Weather (the successor to the classic Aviation Weather handbook)


ACs are free at faa.gov and are searchable by number or topic.



Study Full Aviation Courses:

wifiCFI's full suite of aviation courses has everything you need to go from brand new to flight instructor and airline pilot! Check out any of the courses below for free:


Study Courses:


Checkride Lesson Plans:


Teaching Courses:



Author: Nathan Hodell

CFI, CFII, MEI, ATP, Creator and CEO

Nathan is an aviation enthusiast with thousands of hours of flying and dual instruction over the past 15+ years. Through his aviation career he has been able to earn his ATP, fly as an airline pilot, own/operate flight schools, and create and host wifiCFI.



 
 
bottom of page