Airplane Flying Handbook (2025): FAA-H-8083-3C

by Federal Aviation Administration

Aviation Supplies & Academics, Inc. has been the industry’s trusted source for official FAA publications for over 80 years. Look for the ASA wings to ensure you’re purchasing the latest authentic FAA release. This handbook FAA-H-8083-3C is current in 2023. The FAA’s Airplane Flying Handbook has been required reading for all pilots for more than 40 years and introduces the basic pilot skills and knowledge essential for piloting airplanes. It benefits student pilots just beginning their aviation endeavors as well as pilots who are preparing for additional certificates and ratings or who want to improve their flying proficiency, and it is useful for flight instructors engaged in teaching pilots of all skill levels. This handbook provides information and guidance on the procedures and maneuvers required for pilot certification. Chapters are dedicated to ground operations, basic flight maneuvers, slow flight, stalls, spins, takeoff and departure climbs, performance and ground reference maneuvers, airport traffic patterns, approaches and landings, night operations, emergency procedures, and transitions to different types of aircraft including complex, multi-engine, tailwheel, turboprop, and jets. The latest edition expands and updates the material that is a key reference in FAA testing and Airman Certification Standards (ACS), and it incorporates new areas of safety concerns and technical information, such as loss-of-control upset prevention and recovery training and energy management. The Airplane Flying Handbook is the official FAA source for learning to fly and for many of the test questions in the FAA Knowledge Exams for pilots. Complete with chapter summaries and illustrated throughout with detailed, full-color drawings and photographs, it also includes a glossary and index.

Genres: Aviation, Reference, Nonfiction, Aeroplanes, Pilots, Textbooks

913 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 1, 1999

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Other suitable titles for this book include but are not limited to:
-The Private Pilot's Bible
-The Flight Textbook
-Learn how to Fly! (But Also Use An Instructor for learning the Physical Skill Portion Please)

This book is so comprehensive. I'm glad I picked it up before I started flight training, but I know it's also one of those books that I know I could/should come back to periodically for refreshers as well as to find answers to questions that will arise as I learn more about physical flight and figure out what the heck half of this meant. Basically, it's okay that some (half or more) doesn't quite make sense at first because it will all start to click once you combine this written knowledge with real-life flight training/skill acquirement. That being said, it is still the most thorough and yet easy-to-understand book on basic flight out there. Perfect for any aspiring private pilot or for those who just want the knowledge of a private pilot. I highly recommend this to anyone interested in aeronautics and/or aviation.

[Kiri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book that covers *how* to fly. It complements, for example, the Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge, which is about aerodynamics, systems, weather, and planning (i.e., theory). The Airplane Flying Handbook covers the methods of flying, including starting, taxiing, level flight, turns, climbs, descends, slow flight, stalls, spins, etc. These are the topics you cover in flight lessons, and it's great to read the relevant section before and after such an lesson. But it's a book that I expect to come back to as a refresher as well. For a private pilot, you only need to read through Chapter 10. But there's additional content that I hope will help me out as I progress in the future - Chapter 13 on tailwheel planes, Chapter 11 on complex planes. And of course, Chapter 16 on emergency procedures is useful for everyone!

[Paul Marteney]

Not much of a plot

[Bob Fletcher · Rating 2 out of 5]

More of a reference to look at on specific instruction. Convert to computer simulation flying

[Gary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am an aviation enthusiast and a member of the virtual aviation community. Real world references are always a gem and part of my library, even my electronic library.

[Travis Fasko · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this is an essential read for anyone who is going to be getting their license to fly, but even more important for the average person to understand what goes on in the cockpit of that jet liner that takes you across country.

[Phil Lambrechts · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for pilots.

[brice ross · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not worth the money

Horrible copy, that I am unable to use. Not worth the money spent, just use the faa website for free.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Didn't read all of it, but it covers the necessary information with an explanation and graphics used by many other ground school information sources.

[PottWab Regional Library]

SM

[Drake · Rating 4 out of 5]

Story never really got off the ground 😅

[Daniel · Rating 1 out of 5]

the government puts out the worst flight books

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm learning how to fly and this is a good reference.

[Justin Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

Between this book, the Sporty's iPhone Study Buddy Test Prep (FAA Private Pilot), and the Gliem online audio book and study, I was able to pass my FAA written exam on the first try with a 92%.

[Alexey Efimik · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some basics to get one through the PPL exam