Flight Manuals and Aircraft Documents

Each aircraft comes with documentation and a set of manuals with which a pilot must be familiar in order to fly that aircraft. Flight manual is a paper book or electronic information set containing vital procedural and performance related information for a particular aircraft or aircraft Type. Manuals must be kept up to date, inaccurate information could compromise the safety of the aircraft.

This section covers airplane flight manuals (AFM), the pilot’s operating handbook (POH), and aircraft documents pertaining to ownership, airworthiness, maintenance, and operations with inoperative equipment. Knowledge of these required documents and manuals is essential for a pilot to conduct a safe flight.

The following topics explain the key flight manuals and aircraft documents pilots need to understand, along with inspections, minimum equipment requirements, preventive maintenance, and airworthiness responsibilities.