U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration

This handbook supersedes FAA-H-8261-16A, Instrument Procedures Handbook, dated 2015. It is designed as a technical
reference for all pilots who operate under instrument flight rules (IFR) in the National Airspace System (NAS). It expands
and updates information contained in the FAA-H-8083-15B, Instrument Flying Handbook, and introduces advanced
information for IFR operations. Instrument flight instructors, instrument pilots, and instrument students will also find this
handbook a valuable resource since it is used as a reference for the Airline Transport Pilot and Instrument Knowledge Tests
and for the Practical Test Standards. It also provides detailed coverage of instrument charts and procedures including IFR
takeoff, departure, en route, arrival, approach, and landing. Safety information covering relevant subjects such as runway
incursion, land and hold short operations, controlled flight into terrain, and human factors issues also are included.

The Helicopter Flying Handbook is designed as a technical manual for applicants who are preparing for their private,
commercial, or flight instructor pilot certificates with a helicopter class rating. Certificated flight instructors may find
this handbook a valuable training aid, since detailed coverage of aerodynamics, flight controls, systems, performance,
flight maneuvers, emergencies, and aeronautical decision-making is included. Topics such as weather, navigation, radio
navigation and communications, use of flight information publications, and regulations are available in other Federal
Aviation Administration (FAA) publications.

The Airplane Flying Handbook provides basic knowledge that is essential for pilots. This handbook introduces 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.

This handbook provides the basic knowledge that is essential for pilots. It introduces pilots to the broad spectrum of
knowledge that will be needed as they progress in their pilot training. Except for the Code of Federal Regulations
pertinent to civil aviation, most of the knowledge areas applicable to pilot certification are presented. This handbook is useful to beginning pilots, as well as those pursuing more advanced pilot certificates

This handbook consolidates the weather information from the following advisory circulars (AC) into one
source document. By doing this, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) intends to streamline access
to the FAA’s weather documentation for users of the National Airspace System (NAS). The following ACs
will remain in effect, but they will eventually be cancelled at a later date following the publication of this
handbook:
• AC 00-6, Aviation Weather.
• AC 00-24, Thunderstorms.
• AC 00-30, Clear Air Turbulence Avoidance.
• AC 00-45, Aviation Weather Services.
• AC 00-54, Pilot Windshear Guide.
• AC 00-57, Hazardous Mountain Winds