2/20/25 AIM
Flight Information Publication Policy
The following is in essence, the statement issued by the FAA Administrator and published in the December
10, 1964, issue of the Federal Register, concerning the FAA policy as pertaining to the type of information
that will be published as NOTAMs and in the Aeronautical Information Manual.
a. It is a pilot’s inherent responsibility to be alert at all times for and in anticipation of all circumstances,
situations, and conditions affecting the safe operation of the aircraft. For example, a pilot should expect to
find air traffic at any time or place. At or near both civil and military airports and in the vicinity of known
training areas, a pilot should expect concentrated air traffic and realize concentrations of air traffic are not
limited to these places.
b. It is the general practice of the agency to advertise by NOTAM or other flight information publications
such information it may deem appropriate; information which the agency may from time to time make avail-
able to pilots is solely for the purpose of assisting them in executing their regulatory responsibilities. Such
information serves the aviation community as a whole and not pilots individually.
c. The fact that the agency under one particular situation or another may or may not furnish information
does not serve as a precedent of the agency’s responsibility to the aviation community; neither does it give
assurance that other information of the same or similar nature will be advertised, nor, does it guarantee that
any and all information known to the agency will be advertised.
d. This publication, while not regulatory, provides information which reflects examples of operating tech-
niques and procedures which may be requirements in other federal publications or regulations. It is made
available solely to assist pilots in executing their responsibilities required by other publications.
Consistent with the foregoing, it is the policy of the Federal Aviation Administration to furnish information
only when, in the opinion of the agency, a unique situation should be advertised and not to furnish routine
information such as concentrations of air traffic, either civil or military. The Aeronautical Information
Manual will not contain informative items concerning everyday circumstances that pilots should, either by
good practices or regulation, expect to encounter or avoid.
Flight Information Publication Policy
2/20/25 AIM
Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM)
Code of Federal Regulations and Advisory Circulars
Code of Federal Regulations - The FAA publishes the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) to make readily
available to the aviation community the regulatory requirements placed upon them. These regulations are sold
as individual parts by the Superintendent of Documents.
The more frequently amended parts are sold on subscription service w ith subscribers receiving changes
automatically as issued. Less active parts are sold on a single−sale basis. Changes to single-sale parts will be sold
separately as issued. Information concerning these changes will be furnished by the FAA through its Status of
Federal Aviation Regulations, AC 00−44.
Advisory Circulars - The FAA issues Advisory Circulars (AC) to inform the aviation public in a systematic way
of nonregulatory material. Unless incorporated into a regulation by reference, the contents of an advisory circular
are not binding on the public. Advisory Circulars are issued in a numbered subject system corresponding to the
subject areas of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) (Title 14, Chapter 1, FAA).
NOTE−
Current AC information can be found at: https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/advisory_circulars/.
External References - All references to Advisory Circulars and other FAA publications in the Aeronautical
Information Manual include the FAA Advisory Circular or Order identification numbers (when available).
However, due to varied publication dates, the basic publication letter is not included.
EXAMPLE−
F AA Order JO 7110.65X, Air Traffic Control, is referenced as F AA Order JO 7110.65.
Code of Federal Regulations and Advisory Circulars
7/9/26 AIM
Table of Contents
Chapter 1. Air Navigation
Section 1. Navigation Aids
Paragraph Page
1−1−1. General .............................................................. 1−1−1
1−1−2. Nondirectional Radio Beacon (NDB) ...................................... 1−1−1
1−1−3. VHF Omni−directional Range (VOR) ..................................... 1−1−1
1−1−4. VOR Receiver Check .................................................. 1−1−3
1−1−5. Tactical Air Navigation (TACAN) ........................................ 1−1−4
1−1−6. VHF Omni−directional Range/Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC) .............. 1−1−5
1−1−7. Distance Measuring Equipment (DME) .................................... 1−1−5
1−1−8. NA V AID Service V olumes .............................................. 1−1−6
1−1−9. Instrument Landing System (ILS) ......................................... 1−1−11
1−1−10. Simplified Directional Facility (SDF) ..................................... 1−1−18
1−1−11. NA V AID Identifier Removal During Maintenance........................... 1−1−20
1−1−12. NA V AIDs with V oice.................................................. 1−1−20
1−1−13. User Reports Requested on NA V AID Outages .............................. 1−1−20
1−1−14. LORAN ............................................................ 1−1−21
1−1−15. Inertial Reference Unit (IRU), Inertial Navigation System (INS), and Attitude
Heading Reference System (AHRS) .................................... 1−1−21
1−1−16. Doppler Radar ....................................................... 1−1−22
1−1−17. Global Positioning System (GPS) ........................................ 1−1−22
1−1−18. Wide Area Augmentation System (W AAS) ................................ 1−1−34
1−1−19. Ground Based Augmentation System (GBAS) Landing System (GLS) .......... 1−1−39
1−1−20. Precision Approach Systems other than ILS and GLS ........................ 1−1−41
Section 2. Performance-Based Navigation (PBN) and Area Navigation
(RNAV)
1−2−1. General .............................................................. 1−2−1
1−2−2. Required Navigation Performance (RNP) ................................... 1−2−5
1−2−3. Use of Suitable Area Navigation (RNA V) Systems on Conventional Procedures and
Routes .............................................................. 1−2−8
1−2−4. Recognizing, Mitigating, and Adapting to GPS Jamming and/or Spoofing ......... 1−2−10
Chapter 2. Aeronautical Lighting and Other Airport Visual
Aids
Section 1. Airport Lighting Aids
2−1−1. Approach Light Systems (ALS) .......................................... 2−1−1
2−1−2. Visual Glideslope Indicators ............................................. 2−1−1
2−1−3. Runway End Identifier Lights (REIL) ..................................... 2−1−6
2−1−4. Runway Edge Light Systems ............................................ 2−1−6
2−1−5. In−runway Lighting .................................................... 2−1−6
2−1−6. Runway Status Light (RWSL) System ..................................... 2−1−7
2−1−7. Control of Lighting Systems ............................................. 2−1−9
2−1−8. Pilot Control of Airport Lighting ......................................... 2−1−9
2−1−9. Airport/Heliport Beacons ............................................... 2−1−12
Table of Contents i
AIM 7/9/26
Paragraph Page
2−1−10. Taxiway Lights ...................................................... 2−1−13
Section 2. Air Navigation and Obstruction Lighting
2−2−1. Aeronautical Light Beacons ............................................. 2−2−1
2−2−2. Code Beacons and Course Lights ......................................... 2−2−1
2−2−3. Obstruction Lights ..................................................... 2−2−1
2−2−4. LED Lighting Systems ................................................. 2−2−2
Section 3. Airport Marking Aids and Signs
2−3−1. General .............................................................. 2−3−1
2−3−2. Airport Pavement Markings ............................................. 2−3−1
2−3−3. Runway Markings ..................................................... 2−3−1
2−3−4. Taxiway Markings ..................................................... 2−3−7
2−3−5. Holding Position Markings .............................................. 2−3−14
2−3−6. Other Markings ....................................................... 2−3−19
2−3−7. Airport Signs ......................................................... 2−3−24
2−3−8. Mandatory Instruction Signs ............................................. 2−3−25
2−3−9. Location Signs ........................................................ 2−3−28
2−3−10. Direction Signs ...................................................... 2−3−30
2−3−11. Destination Signs ..................................................... 2−3−32
2−3−12. Information Signs .................................................... 2−3−35
2−3−13. Runway Distance Remaining Signs ...................................... 2−3−35
2−3−14. Aircraft Arresting Systems ............................................. 2−3−35
2−3−15. Security Identification Display Area (SIDA) ............................... 2−3−36
Chapter 3. Airspace
Section 1. General
3−1−1. General .............................................................. 3−1−1
3−1−2. General Dimensions of Airspace Segments ................................. 3−1−1
3−1−3. Hierarchy of Overlapping Airspace Designations ............................ 3−1−1
3−1−4. Basic VFR Weather Minimums .......................................... 3−1−2
3−1−5. VFR Cruising Altitudes and Flight Levels .................................. 3−1−3
Section 2. Controlled Airspace
3−2−1. General .............................................................. 3−2−1
3−2−2. Class A Airspace ...................................................... 3−2−2
3−2−3. Class B Airspace ...................................................... 3−2−2
3−2−4. Class C Airspace ...................................................... 3−2−5
3−2−5. Class D Airspace ...................................................... 3−2−8
3−2−6. Class E Airspace ...................................................... 3−2−10
Section 3. Class G Airspace
3−3−1. General .............................................................. 3−3−1
3−3−2. VFR Requirements .................................................... 3−3−1
3−3−3. IFR Requirements ..................................................... 3−3−1
Table of Contents ii
7/9/26 AIM
Section 4. Special Use Airspace
Paragraph Page
3−4−1. General .............................................................. 3−4−1
3−4−2. Prohibited Areas ...................................................... 3−4−1
3−4−3. Restricted Areas ....................................................... 3−4−1
3−4−4. Warning Areas ........................................................ 3−4−2
3−4−5. Military Operations Areas ............................................... 3−4−2
3−4−6. Alert Areas ........................................................... 3−4−2
3−4−7. Controlled Firing Areas ................................................. 3−4−2
3−4−8. National Security Areas ................................................. 3−4−3
3−4−9. Obtaining Special Use Airspace Status ..................................... 3−4−3
Section 5. Other Airspace Areas
3−5−1. Airport Advisory/Information Services ..................................... 3−5−1
3−5−2. Military Training Routes ................................................ 3−5−1
3−5−3. Temporary Flight Restrictions ............................................ 3−5−3
3−5−4. Parachute Jump Aircraft Operations ....................................... 3−5−5
3−5−5. Published VFR Routes .................................................. 3−5−5
3−5−6. Terminal Radar Service Area (TRSA) ..................................... 3−5−9
3−5−7. Special Air Traffic Rules (SA TR) and Special Flight Rules Area (SFRA) ......... 3−5−10
3−5−8. Washington, DC, Special Flight Rules Area (SFRA) including the Flight Restricted
Zone (FRZ) ......................................................... 3−5−10
3−5−9. Weather Reconnaissance Area (WRA) ..................................... 3−5−10
3−5−10. Other Non−Charted Airspace Areas ...................................... 3−5−11
Chapter 4. Air Traffic Control
Section 1. Services Available to Pilots
4−1−1. Air Route Traffic Control Centers ......................................... 4−1−1
4−1−2. Control Towers ....................................................... 4−1−1
4−1−3. Flight Service Stations .................................................. 4−1−1
4−1−4. Recording and Monitoring .............................................. 4−1−1
4−1−5. Communications Release of IFR Aircraft Landing at an Airport Without an
Operating Control Tower .............................................. 4−1−1
4−1−6. Pilot Visits to Air Traffic Facilities ........................................ 4−1−1
4−1−7. Operation Rain Check .................................................. 4−1−2
4−1−8. Approach Control Service for VFR Arriving Aircraft ......................... 4−1−2
4−1−9. Traffic Advisory Practices at Airports Without Operating Control Towers ......... 4−1−2
4−1−10. IFR Approaches/Ground V ehicle Operations ............................... 4−1−7
4−1−11. Designated UNICOM/MULTICOM Frequencies ............................ 4−1−8
4−1−12. Use of UNICOM for A TC Purposes ...................................... 4−1−9
4−1−13. Automatic Terminal Information Service (A TIS) ............................ 4−1−9
4−1−14. Automatic Flight Information Service (AFIS) − Alaska FSSs Only ............. 4−1−10
4−1−15. Radar Traffic Information Service ....................................... 4−1−11
4−1−16. Safety Alert ......................................................... 4−1−13
4−1−17. Radar Assistance to VFR Aircraft ........................................ 4−1−14
4−1−18. Terminal Radar Services for VFR Aircraft ................................. 4−1−15
4−1−19. Tower En Route Control (TEC) ......................................... 4−1−17
4−1−20. Transponder and ADS−B Out Operation .................................. 4−1−18
4−1−21. Airport Reservation Operations and Special Traffic Management Programs ...... 4−1−22
Table of Contents iii
AIM 7/9/26
Paragraph Page
4−1−22. Requests for Waivers and Authorizations from Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations
(14 CFR) ........................................................... 4−1−23
4−1−23. Weather Systems Processor ............................................. 4−1−23
Section 2. Radio Communications Phraseology
and Techniques
4−2−1. General .............................................................. 4−2−1
4−2−2. Radio Technique ...................................................... 4−2−1
4−2−3. Contact Procedures .................................................... 4−2−2
4−2−4. Aircraft Call Signs ..................................................... 4−2−3
4−2−5. Description of Interchange or Leased Aircraft ............................... 4−2−5
4−2−6. Ground Station Call Signs ............................................... 4−2−5
4−2−7. Phonetic Alphabet ..................................................... 4−2−6
4−2−8. Figures .............................................................. 4−2−7
4−2−9. Altitudes and Flight Levels .............................................. 4−2−7
4−2−10. Directions ........................................................... 4−2−7
4−2−11. Speeds ............................................................. 4−2−8
4−2−12. Time ............................................................... 4−2−8
4−2−13. Communications with Tower when Aircraft Transmitter or Receiver or Both are
Inoperative ......................................................... 4−2−9
4−2−14. Communications for VFR Flights ........................................ 4−2−9
Section 3. Airport Operations
4−3−1. General .............................................................. 4−3−1
4−3−2. Airports with an Operating Control Tower .................................. 4−3−1
4−3−3. Traffic Patterns ....................................................... 4−3−3
4−3−4. Visual Indicators at Airports Without an Operating Control Tower ............... 4−3−6
4−3−5. Unexpected Maneuvers in the Airport Traffic Pattern ......................... 4−3−7
4−3−6. Use of Runways/Declared Distances ...................................... 4−3−8
4−3−7. Low Level Wind Shear/Microburst Detection Systems ........................ 4−3−12
4−3−8. Braking Action Reports and Advisories .................................... 4−3−13
4−3−9. Runway Condition Reports .............................................. 4−3−13
4−3−10. Intersection Takeoffs .................................................. 4−3−15
4−3−11. Pilot Responsibilities When Conducting Land and Hold Short Operations
(LAHSO) ........................................................... 4−3−16
4−3−12. Low Approach ....................................................... 4−3−19
4−3−13. Traffic Control Light Signals ........................................... 4−3−19
4−3−14. Communications ..................................................... 4−3−20
4−3−15. Gate Holding Due to Departure Delays ................................... 4−3−21
4−3−16. VFR Flights in Terminal Areas .......................................... 4−3−21
4−3−17. VFR Helicopter Operations at Controlled Airports .......................... 4−3−21
4−3−18. Taxiing ............................................................. 4−3−23
4−3−19. Taxi During Low Visibility ............................................. 4−3−25
4−3−20. Standard Taxi Routes .................................................. 4−3−26
4−3−21. Exiting the Runway After Landing ....................................... 4−3−26
4−3−22. Practice Instrument Approaches ......................................... 4−3−27
4−3−23. Option Approach ..................................................... 4−3−28
4−3−24. Use of Aircraft Lights ................................................. 4−3−29
4−3−25. Flight Inspection/‘Flight Check’ Aircraft in Terminal Areas ................... 4−3−29
4−3−26. Hand Signals ........................................................ 4−3−30
Table of Contents iv