Airplane Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-3C)
Major Revisions
• Removed mandatory language or cited applicable regulations throughout handbook.
• Chapter 1 (Introduction to Flight Training) – Added information on the FAA Wings Program.
• Chapter 2 (Ground Operations) – Added a new graphic and information regarding detonation. Now uses
the same marshalling graphic as the AMT General Handbook. Updated material on hand propping to
match the material in the AMT General Handbook (it doesn’t matter whether a pilot or mechanic is hand
propping).
• Chapter 3 (Basic Flight Maneuvers) – Corrected G1000 and indications of slip and skid graphics.
• Chapter 4 (Energy Management) – All new chapter/material. Incremented the existing chapters 4-17 by 1
(now there are 18 chapters in total).
• Chapter 5 (Maintaining Aircraft Control) – Revised the order in which the material was presented.
• Chapter 7 (Ground Reference Maneuvers) – Corrected errors in text and graphics for eights on pylons.
• Chapter 9 (Approaches and Landings) – Added information concerning a forward slip to a landing and
corrected Figure 9-6. Changed description associated with Crosswind Final Approach. Removed
material on 360 degree power-o ff landing as this maneuver is not part of testing standard.
• Chapter 10 (Performance Maneuvers) – Added information on lazy eights.
• Chapter 11 (Night Operations) – Revised to align with material from CAMI.
• Chapter 13 (Transition to Multiengine Airplanes) – Incorporated the addendum. Corrected G1000
displays and force vectors on figures. Accelerated approach to stall minimum altitude revised to match
the ACS. The 14 CFR part 23 certification standard used for many multiengine airplanes is now referred
to a historical standard, since many of the previous requirements will not apply to newly certificated
aircraft.
• Chapter 14 (Transition to Tailwheel Airplanes) – Made minor revision regarding handling characteristics.
• Chapter 15 (Transition to Turbopropeller-Powered Airplanes) – Addressed an NTSB recommendation
regarding slow spool up time of split-shaft engines and corrected figure of fixed-shaft engine gauges.
• Chapter 16 (Transition to Jet-Powered Airplanes) – Removed extra information that appears unrelated to
flying a turbojet and added information regarding energy management and distance versus altitude in a
descent.
• Chapter 18 (Emergency Procedures) – Revised information regarding the safety of turning back after an
engine failure after takeoff. Added a section on emergency response systems to include ballistic
parachutes and autoland systems. Corrected figures of G1000 displays.
Airplane Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-3C)
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Introduction to Flight Training
Introduction 1-1
Role of the FAA 1-2
Flight Standards Service 1-5
Role of the Pilot Examiner 1-6
Role of the Flight Instructor 1-6
Sources of Flight Training 1-8
Airman Certification Standards (ACS) and Practical Test Standards (PTS) 1-9
Safety Considerations 1-10
Collision Avoidance 1-10
Runway Incursion Avoidance 1-12
Stall Awareness 1-13
Use of Checklists 1-15
Continuing Education 1-16
FAA Wings Program 1-16
Chapter Summary 1-16
Chapter 2: Ground Operations
Introduction 2-1
Preflight Assessment of the Aircraft 2-1
Visual Preflight Assessment 2-4
Outer Wing Surfaces and Tail Section 2-6
Fuel and Oil 2-7
Landing Gear, Tires, and Brakes 2-10
Engine and Propeller 2-11
Risk and Resource Management 2-12
Risk Management 2-12
Identifying the Hazard 2-12
Risk 2-13
Risk Assessment 2-13
Risk Identification 2-13
Risk Mitigation 2-13
Resource Management 2-13
Situational Awareness 2-13
Human Resource Management 2-13
Task Management 2-14
Aeronautical Decision-Making (ADM) 2-14
Ground Operations 2-14
Engine Starting 2-16
Hand Propping 2-16
Taxiing 2-18
Before Takeoff Check 2-21
Takeoff Checks 2-22
After Landing 2-22
Clear of Runway and Stopped 2-22
Parking 2-23
Engine Shutdown 2-23
Post-Flight 2-23
Securing and Servicing 2-23
Chapter Summary 2-24
Chapter 3: Basic Flight Maneuvers
Introduction 3-1
The Four Fundamentals 3-1
Effect and Use of Flight Controls 3-1
Feel of the Airplane 3-3
Attitude Flying 3-4
Integrated Flight Instruction 3-5
Straight-and-Level Flight 3-6
Straight Flight 3-6
Level Flight 3-8
Common Errors 3-8
Trim Control 3-10
Level Turns 3-11
Turn Radius 3-14
Establishing a Turn 3-15
Common Errors 3-17
Climbs and Climbing Turns 3-17
Establishing a Climb 3-19
Climbing Turns 3-20
Common Errors 3-20
Descents and Descending Turns 3-20
Glides 3-21
Gliding Turns 3-23
Common Errors 3-24
Chapter Summary 3-25
Chapter 4: Energy Management: Mastering Altitude and Airspeed Control
Introduction 4-1
Importance of Energy Management 4-1
Viewing the Airplane as an Energy System 4-1
A Frame of Reference for Managing Energy State 4-1
Managing Energy is a Balancing Act 4-3
Role of the Controls to Manage Energy State 4-3
Primary Energy Role of the Throttle and Elevator 4-4
Additional Role for the Elevator 4-5
Rules of Energy Control 4-6
Visualizing the Airplane’s Ability to “Move” Between Energy States 4-7
Three Basic Rules of Energy Control 4-9
Mitigating Risks from Mismanagement of Energy 4-11
Two Energy Management Scenarios 4-11
Scenario 1 4-11
Scenario 2 4-11
Managing Energy Errors 4-12
Preventing Irreversible Deceleration and/or Sink Rate 4-14
Review of Definitions and Terms 4-18
Chapter Summary 4-19
Chapter 5: Maintaining Aircraft Control: Upset Prevention and Recovery Training
Introduction 5-1
Defining an Airplane Upset 5-1
Upset Prevention and Recovery 5-1
Unusual Attitudes Versus Upsets 5-1
Environmental Factors 5-2
Mechanical Factors 5-2
Human Factors 5-2
IMC 5-2
Diversion of Attention 5-2
Task Saturation 5-3
Sensory Overload/Deprivation 5-3
Spatial Disorientation 5-3
Surprise and Startle Response 5-3
Upset Prevention and Recovery Training (UPRT) 5-4
UPRT Core Concepts 5-5
Academic Material (Knowledge and Risk Management 5-5
Prevention Through ADM and Risk Management 5-6
Prevention Through Proportional Counter-Response 5-6
Recovery 5-6
Common Errors 5-7
Roles of FSTDs and Airplanes in UPRT 5-7
Airplane-Based UPRT 5-7
All-Altitude/All Envelope Flight Training Methods 5-8
FSTD-Based UPRT 5-8
Coordinated Flight 5-8
Angle of Attack 5-8
Slow Flight 5-9
Performing the Slow Flight Maneuver 5-10
Maneuvering in Slow Flight 5-11
Common Errors 5-12
Stalls 5-12
Stall Recognition 5-13
Angle of Attack Indicators 5-13
Stall Characteristics 5-15
Fundamentals of Stall Recovery 5-15
Stall Training 5-16
Approaches to Stalls (Impending Stalls), Power-On or Power-Off 5-17
Full Stalls, Power-Off 5-17
Full Stalls, Power-On 5-18
Secondary Stall 5-18
Accelerated Stalls 5-19
Cross-Control Stall 5-20
Elevator Trim Stall 5-20
Common Errors 5-21
Spin Awareness 5-22
Spin Procedures 5-23
Entry Phase 5-24
Incipient Phase 5-24
Developed Phase 5-24
Recovery Phase 5-24
Intentional Spins 5-25
Weight and Balance Requirements Related to Spins 5-26
Common Errors 5-26
Spiral Dive 5-26
Common Errors 5-27
UPRT Summary 5-27
Chapter Summary 5-27
Chapter 6: Takeoffs and Departure Climbs
Introduction 6-1
Terms and Definitions 6-1
Prior to Takeoff 6-1
Normal Takeoff 6-3
Takeoff Roll 6-3
Lift-Off 6-4
Initial Climb 6-5
Common Errors 6-6
Crosswind Takeoff 6-6
Takeoff Roll 6-6
Lift-Off 6-7
Initial Climb 6-8
Common Errors 6-10
Ground Effect on Takeoff 6-10
Short-Field Takeoff and Maximum Performance Climb 6-11
Takeoff Roll 6-11
Lift-Off 6-12
Initial Climb 6-12
Common Errors 6-12
Soft/Rough-Field Takeoff and Climb 6-13
Takeoff Roll 6-13
Lift-Off 6-13
Initial Climb 6-13
Common Errors 6-14
Rejected Takeoff/Engine Failure 6-14
Noise Abatement 6-14
Chapter Summary 6-14
Chapter 7: Ground Reference Maneuvers
Introduction 7-1
Maneuvering by Reference to Ground Objects 7-1
Drift and Ground Track Control 7-2
Correcting Drift During Straight and Level Flight 7-2
Constant Radius During Turning Flight 7-3
Tracking Over and Parallel to a Straight Line 7-5
Rectangular Course 7-5
Common Errors 7-7
Turns Around a Point 7-7
S-Turns 7-8
Common Errors 7-10
Elementary Eights 7-10
Eights along a Road 7-11
Eights across a Road 7-12
Eights around Pylons 7-13
Common Errors 7-13
Eights-on-Pylons 7-14
Common Errors 7-18
Chapter Summary 7-18
Chapter 8: Airport Traffic Patterns
Introduction 8-1
Airport Traffic Patterns and Operations 8-1
Standard Airport Traffic Patterns 8-1
Non-Towered Airports 8-4
Safety Considerations 8-5
Chapter Summary 8-7
Chapter 9: Approaches and Landings
Introduction 9-1
Use of Flaps 9-1
Normal Approach and Landing 9-2
Base Leg 9-2
Final Approach 9-3
Wrong Surface Landing Avoidance 9-4
Stabilized Approach Concept 9-4
Estimating Airplane Movement and Height 9-7
Round Out (Flare) 9-8
Touchdown 9-9
After-Landing Roll 9-9
Common Errors 9-10
Go-Arounds (Rejected Landings) 9-10
Power 9-11
Attitude 9-11
Configuration 9-11
Ground Effect 9-12