FAA-H-8083-3A
AIRPLANE FLYING

HANDBOOK

2004

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION

Flight Standards Service

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PREFACE

The Airplane Flying Handbook is designed as a technical manual to introduce 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. Topics such as navigation and communication, meteorology, use of flight information

publications, regulations, and aeronautical decision making are available in other Federal Aviation Administration

(FAA) publications.

This handbook conforms to pilot training and certification concepts established by the FAA. There are different ways

of teaching, as well as performing flight procedures and maneuvers, and many variations in the explanations of

aerodynamic theories and principles. This handbook adopts a selective method and concept of flying airplanes. The

discussion and explanations reflect the most commonly used practices and principles. Occasionally the word “must”

or similar language is used where the desired action is deemed critical. The use of such language is not intended to

add to, interpret, or relieve a duty imposed by Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR).

It is essential for persons using this handbook to also become familiar with and apply the pertinent parts of 14 CFR

and the Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM). The AIM is available online at http://www.faa.gov/atpubs.

Performance standards for demonstrating competence required for pilot certification are prescribed in the appropriate airplane practical test standard. 

The current Flight Standards Service airman training and testing material and subject matter knowledge codes for all

airman certificates and ratings can be obtained from the Flight Standards Service Web site at http://av-info.faa.gov.

The FAA greatly acknowledges the valuable assistance provided by many individuals and organizations throughout

the aviation community whose expertise contributed to the preparation of this handbook.

This handbook supersedes FAA-H-8083-3, Airplane Flying Handbook, dated 1999. This handbook also supersedes

AC 61-9B, Pilot Transition Courses for Complex Single-Engine and Light Twin-Engine Airplanes, dated 1974; and

related portions of AC 61-10A, Private and Commercial Pilots Refresher Courses, dated 1972. This revision expands

all technical subject areas from the previous edition, FAA-H-8083-3. It also incorporates new areas of safety concerns and technical information not previously covered. The chapters covering transition to seaplanes and skiplanes

have been removed. They will be incorporated into a new handbook (under development), FAA-H-8083-23,

Seaplane, Skiplane and Float/Ski Equipped Helicopter Operations Handbook.

This handbook is available for download from the Flight Standards Service Web site at http://av-info.faa.gov. This

web site also provides information about availablity of printed copies.

This handbook is published by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration, Airman

Testing Standards Branch, AFS-630, P.O. Box 25082, Oklahoma City, OK 73125. Comments regarding this handbook should be sent in e-mail form to AFS630comments@faa.gov.

AC 00-2, Advisory Circular Checklist, transmits the current status of FAA advisory circulars and

other flight information publications. This checklist is available via the Internet at

http://www.faa.gov/aba/html_policies/ac00_2.html.

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Chapter 1—Introduction to Flight Training

Purpose of Flight Training.............................1-1

Role of the FAA ............................................1-1

Role of the Pilot Examiner............................1-2

Role of the Flight Instructor..........................1-3

Sources of Flight Training.............................1-3

Practical Test Standards.................................1-4

Flight Safety Practices...................................1-4

Collision Avoidance..................................1-4

Runway Incursion Avoidance...................1-5

Stall Awareness.........................................1-6

Use of Checklists......................................1-6

Positive Transfer of Controls....................1-6

Chapter 2—Ground Operations

Visual Inspection ...........................................2-1

Inside the Cockpit.....................................2-2

Outer Wing Surfaces

and Tail Section .......................................2-4

Fuel and Oil..............................................2-5

Landing Gear, Tires, and Brakes..............2-6

Engine and Propeller ................................2-6

Cockpit Management.....................................2-7

Ground Operations ........................................2-7

Engine Starting ..............................................2-7

Hand Propping...............................................2-8

Taxiing ...........................................................2-9

Before Takeoff Check..................................2-11

After Landing ..............................................2-11

Clear of Runway..........................................2-11

Parking.........................................................2-11

Engine Shutdown.........................................2-12

Postflight......................................................2-12

Securing and Servicing................................2-12

Chapter 3—Basic Flight Maneuvers

The Four Fundamentals.................................3-1

Effects and Use of the Controls ....................3-1

Feel of the Airplane.......................................3-2

Attitude Flying...............................................3-2

Integrated Flight Instruction..........................3-3

Straight-and-Level Flight ..............................3-4

Trim Control..................................................3-6

Level Turns....................................................3-7

Climbs and Climbing Turns ........................3-13

Normal Climb.........................................3-13

Best Rate of Climb .................................3-13

Best Angle of Climb...............................3-13

Descents and Descending Turns..................3-15

Partial Power Descent ............................3-16

Descent at Minimum

Safe Airspeed.........................................3-16

Glides......................................................3-16

Pitch and Power...........................................3-19

Chapter 4—Slow Flight, Stalls, and Spins

Introduction ...................................................4-1

Slow Flight ....................................................4-1

Flight at Less than

Cruise Airspeeds......................................4-1

Flight at Minimum

Controllable Airspeed..............................4-1

Stalls ..............................................................4-3

Recognition of Stalls ................................4-3

Fundamentals of Stall Recovery ..............4-4

Use of Ailerons/Rudder

in Stall Recovery .....................................4-5

Stall Characteristics..................................4-6

Approaches to Stalls (Imminent Stalls) 

—Power-On or Power-Off ......................4-6

Full Stalls Power-Off................................4-7

Full Stalls Power-On ................................4-8

Secondary Stall.........................................4-9

Accelerated Stalls .....................................4-9

Cross-Control Stall .................................4-10

Elevator Trim Stall .................................4-11

Spins ............................................................4-12

Spin Procedures......................................4-13

Entry Phase.........................................4-13

Incipient Phase....................................4-13

Developed Phase ................................4-14

Recovery Phase ..................................4-14

Intentional Spins..........................................4-15

Weight and Balance Requirements.........4-16

Chapter 5—Takeoff and Departure Climbs

General...........................................................5-1

Terms and Definitions ...................................5-1

Prior to Takeoff..............................................5-2

Normal Takeoff..............................................5-2

Takeoff Roll..............................................5-2

Lift-Off .....................................................5-3

Initial Climb..............................................5-4

Crosswind Takeoff.........................................5-5

Takeoff Roll..............................................5-5

Lift-Off .....................................................5-6

Initial Climb..............................................5-6

Ground Effect on Takeoff..............................5-7

Short-Field Takeoff and Maximum

Performance Climb.......................................5-8

Takeoff Roll..............................................5-9

Lift-Off .....................................................5-9

Initial Climb..............................................5-9

Soft/Rough-Field Takeoff and Climb..........5-10

CONTENTS 

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Takeoff Roll............................................5-10

Lift-Off ...................................................5-10

Initial Climb............................................5-10

Rejected Takeoff/Engine Failure .................5-11

Noise Abatement..........................................5-11

Chapter 6—Ground Reference Maneuvers

Purpose and Scope.........................................6-1

Maneuvering By Reference

to Ground Objects ........................................6-1

Drift and Ground Track Control....................6-2

Rectangular Course .......................................6-4

S-Turns Across a Road ..................................6-6

Turns Around a Point ....................................6-7

Elementary Eights .........................................6-9

Eights Along a Road.................................6-9

Eights Across a Road..............................6-11

Eights Around Pylons .............................6-11

Eights-On-Pylons (Pylon Eights) ...........6-12

Chapter 7—Airport Traffic Patterns

Airport Traffic Patterns and Operations........7-1

Standard Airport Traffic Patterns ..................7-1

Chapter 8—Approaches and Landings

Normal Approach and Landing.....................8-1

Base Leg ...................................................8-1

Final Approach .........................................8-2

Use of Flaps..............................................8-3

Estimating Height and Movement............8-4

Roundout (Flare) ......................................8-5

Touchdown ...............................................8-6

After-Landing Roll ...................................8-7

Stabilized Approach Concept ...................8-7

Intentional Slips...........................................8-10

Go-Arounds (Rejected Landings)................8-11

Power ......................................................8-11

Attitude ...................................................8-12

Configuration..........................................8-12

Ground Effect ..............................................8-13

Crosswind Approach and Landing ..............8-13

Crosswind Final Approach .....................8-13

Crosswind Roundout (Flare) ..................8-15

Crosswind Touchdown ...........................8-15

Crosswind After-Landing Roll ...............8-15

Maximum Safe

Crosswind Velocities .............................8-16

Turbulent Air Approach and Landing .........8-17

Short-Field Approach and Landing.............8-17

Soft-Field Approach and Landing...............8-19

Power-Off Accuracy Approaches ................8-21

90° Power-Off Approach........................8-21

180° Power-Off Approach......................8-23

360° Power-Off Approach......................8-24

Emergency Approaches and

Landings (Simulated) .................................8-25

Faulty Approaches and Landings ................8-27

Low Final Approach...............................8-27

High Final Approach ..............................8-27

Slow Final Approach..............................8-28

Use of Power ..........................................8-28

High Roundout .......................................8-28

Late or Rapid Roundout .........................8-29

Floating During Roundout......................8-29

Ballooning During Roundout .................8-30

Bouncing During Touchdown ................8-30

Porpoising...............................................8-31

Wheelbarrowing .....................................8-32

Hard Landing..........................................8-32

Touchdown in a Drift or Crab ................8-32

Ground Loop ..........................................8-33

Wing Rising After Touchdown...............8-33

Hydroplaning...............................................8-34

Dynamic Hydroplaning ..........................8-34

Reverted Rubber Hydroplaning..............8-34

Viscous Hydroplaning ............................8-34

Chapter 9—Performance Maneuvers

Performance Maneuvers................................9-1

Steep Turns ...............................................9-1

Steep Spiral...............................................9-3

Chandelle..................................................9-4

Lazy Eight ................................................9-6

Chapter 10—Night Operations

Night Vision.................................................10-1

Night Illusions .............................................10-2

Pilot Equipment...........................................10-3

Airplane Equipment and Lighting...............10-3

Airport and Navigation Lighting Aids ........10-4

Preparation and Preflight.............................10-4

Starting, Taxiing, and Runup.......................10-5

Takeoff and Climb.......................................10-5

Orientation and Navigation .........................10-6

Approaches and Landings ...........................10-6

Night Emergencies ......................................10-8

Chapter 11—Transition to Complex

Airplanes

High Performance

and Complex Airplanes ..............................11-1

Wing Flaps...................................................11-1

Function of Flaps....................................11-1

Flap Effectiveness...................................11-2

Operational Procedures...........................11-2

Controllable-Pitch Propeller ........................11-3

Constant-Speed Propeller .......................11-4

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Takeoff, Climb, and Cruise ....................11-4

Blade Angle Control ...............................11-5

Governing Range....................................11-5

Constant-Speed Propeller Operation ......11-5

Turbocharging..............................................11-7

Ground Boosting vs.

Altitude Turbocharging..........................11-7

Operating Characteristics .......................11-8

Heat Management...................................11-8

Turbocharger Failure ..............................11-9

Overboost Condition...........................11-9

Low Manifold Pressure ......................11-9

Retractable Landing Gear............................11-9

Landing Gear Systems............................11-9

Controls and Position Indicators ..........11-10

Landing Gear Safety Devices...............11-10

Emergency Gear

Extension Systems...............................11-10

Operational Procedures.........................11-12

Preflight ............................................11-12

Takeoff and Climb ............................11-13

Approach and Landing .....................11-13

Transition Training ....................................11-14

Chapter 12—Transition to Multiengine

Airplanes

Multiengine Flight.......................................12-1

General.........................................................12-1

Terms and Definitions .................................12-1

Operation of Systems ..................................12-3

Propellers................................................12-3

Propeller Synchronization ......................12-5

Fuel Crossfeed........................................12-5

Combustion Heater.................................12-6

Flight Director / Autopilot......................12-6

Yaw Damper ...........................................12-6

Alternator / Generator ............................12-7

Nose Baggage Compartment..................12-7

Anti-Icing / Deicing................................12-7

Performance and Limitations ......................12-8

Weight and Balance...................................12-10

Ground Operation......................................12-12

Normal and Crosswind

Takeoff and Climb....................................12-12

Level Off and Cruise .................................12-14

Normal Approach and Landing.................12-14

Crosswind Approach and Landing ............12-16

Short-Field Takeoff and Climb..................12-16

Short-Field Approach

and Landing..............................................12-17

Go-Around.................................................12-17

Rejected Takeoff........................................12-18

Engine Failure After Lift-Off ....................12-18

Engine Failure During Flight ....................12-21

Engine Inoperative Approach

and Landing..............................................12-22

Engine Inoperative Flight Principles.........12-23

Slow Flight ................................................12-25

Stalls ..........................................................12-25

Power-Off Stalls

(Approach and Landing) .....................12-26

Power-On Stalls

(Takeoff and Departure) ......................12-26

Spin Awareness.....................................12-26

Engine Inoperative—Loss of

Directional Control Demonstration..........12-27

Multiengine Training Considerations........12-31

Chapter 13—Transition to Tailwheel

Airplanes

Tailwheel Airplanes .....................................13-1

Landing Gear...............................................13-1

Taxiing .........................................................13-1

Normal Takeoff Roll....................................13-2

Takeoff.........................................................13-3

Crosswind Takeoff.......................................13-3

Short-Field Takeoff......................................13-3

Soft-Field Takeoff........................................13-4

Touchdown ..................................................13-4

After-Landing Roll ......................................13-4

Crosswind Landing......................................13-5

Crosswind After-Landing Roll ....................13-5

Wheel Landing ............................................13-6

Short-Field Landing.....................................13-6

Soft-Field Landing.......................................13-6

Ground Loop ...............................................13-6

Chapter 14—Transition to Turbopropeller

Powered Airplanes

General.........................................................14-1

The Gas Turbine Engine..............................14-1

Turboprop Engines ......................................14-2

Turboprop Engine Types .............................14-3

Fixed Shaft..............................................14-3

Split-Shaft / Free Turbine Engine ..........14-5

Reverse Thrust and

Beta Range Operations...............................14-7

Turboprop Airplane

Electrical Systems ......................................14-8

Operational Considerations .......................14-10

Training Considerations ............................14-12

Chapter 15—Transition to Jet Powered

Airplanes

General.........................................................15-1

Jet Engine Basics.........................................15-1

Operating the Jet Engine .............................15-2

Jet Engine Ignition..................................15-3

Continuous Ignition................................15-3

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Fuel Heaters............................................15-3

Setting Power..........................................15-4

Thrust to Thrust Lever Relationship ......15-4

Variation of Thrust with RPM................15-4

Slow Acceleration of the Jet Engine ......15-4

Jet Engine Efficiency...................................15-5

Absence of Propeller Effect ........................15-5

Absence of Propeller Slipstream .................15-5

Absence of Propeller Drag ..........................15-6

Speed Margins .............................................15-6

Recovery from Overspeed Conditions ........15-8

Mach Buffet Boundaries..............................15-8

Low Speed Flight ......................................15-10

Stalls ..........................................................15-10

Drag Devices .............................................15-13

Thrust Reversers........................................15-14

Pilot Sensations in Jet Flying ....................15-15

Jet Airplane Takeoff and Climb.................15-16

V-Speeds...............................................15-16

Pre-Takeoff Procedures ........................15-16

Takeoff Roll..........................................15-17

Rotation and Lift-Off............................15-18

Initial Climb..........................................15-18

Jet Airplane Approach and Landing..........15-19

Landing Requirements..........................15-19

Landing Speeds ....................................15-19

Significant Differences.........................15-20

The Stabilized Approach ......................15-21

Approach Speed....................................15-21

Glidepath Control .................................15-22

The Flare...............................................15-22

Touchdown and Rollout .......................15-24

Chapter 16—Emergency Procedures

Emergency Situations..................................16-1

Emergency Landings ...................................16-1

Types of Emergency Landings ...............16-1

Psychological Hazards............................16-1

Basic Safety Concepts.................................16-2

General....................................................16-2

Attitude and Sink Rate Control..............16-3

Terrain Selection.....................................16-3

Airplane Configuration...........................16-3

Approach ................................................16-4

Terrain Types ...............................................16-4

Confined Areas .......................................16-4

Trees (Forest)..........................................16-4

Water (Ditching) and Snow....................16-4

Engine Failure After Takeoff

(Single-Engine)...........................................16-5

Emergency Descents ...................................16-6

In-Flight Fire ...............................................16-7

Engine Fire .............................................16-7

Electrical Fires........................................16-7

Cabin Fire ...............................................16-8

Flight Control Malfunction / Failure...........16-8

Total Flap Failure ...................................16-8

Asymmetric (Split) Flap.........................16-8

Loss of Elevator Control ........................16-9

Landing Gear Malfunction ..........................16-9

Systems Malfunctions ...............................16-10

Electrical System..................................16-10

Pitot-Static System ...............................16-11

Abnormal Engine

Instrument Indications ..............................16-11

Door Opening In Flight.............................16-12

Inadvertent VFR Flight Into IMC .............16-12

General..................................................16-12

Recognition...........................................16-14

Maintaining Airplane Control ..............16-14

Attitude Control....................................16-14

Turns.....................................................16-15

Climbs...................................................16-15

Descents................................................16-16

Combined Maneuvers...........................16-16

Transition to Visual Flight....................16-16

Glossary .......................................................G-1

Index ..............................................................I-1

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