Airplane Flying Handbook
U.S. Department of Transportation
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION
Flight Standards Service
Airplane Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-3C)
Preface
The 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
operation of various airplane systems. It is developed by the Flight Standards Service, Airman Testing Standards Branch,
in cooperation with various aviation educators and industry. This handbook is developed to assist student pilots learning
to fly airplanes. It is also beneficial to pilots who wish to improve their flying proficiency and aeronautical knowledge,
those pilots preparing for additional certificates or ratings, and flight instructors engaged in the instruction of both student
and certificated pilots. It introduces the future pilot to the realm of flight and provides information and guidance in the
performance of procedures and maneuvers required for pilot certification.
It is essential for persons using this handbook to become familiar with and apply the pertinent parts of 14 CFR and the
Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM). The AIM is available online at www.faa.gov. The current Flight Standards Service
airman training and testing material can be obtained from www.faa.gov.
This handbook supersedes FAA-H-8083-3B, Airplane Flying Handbook, dated 2016.
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
Testing Standards Branch, P.O. Box 25082, Oklahoma City, OK 73125.
Comments regarding this publication should be emailed to [email protected].
Airplane Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-3C)
Acknowledgments
The Airplane Flying Handbook was produced by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). 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 Committee’s (ARAC) Airman Certification Standards (ACS) Working Group for their technical support and input.