By Ally Melick CRJ Pilot, CFI-I, MEI
The Federal Aviation Regulations / Aeronautical Information Manual (FAR/AIM) is the pilot’s bible. From picking a flight school to how many hours you can work as an airline pilot, the FAR AIM has all of the answers. The Federal Aviation Regulations come from a bigger book, the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). This book contains 50 titles related to general regulations for the departments of the United States government. Chapter 14 is the code for federal aviation regulations. FARs are broken down into chapters or ‘parts’. Part 1 is simply definitions and abbreviations such as critical altitude, flight time, and any other terms that require more clarification. When you’re building time in the airplane and you're not sure whether you should log it as day or night, these definitions may come in handy! The Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM) sets the guidance for basic flight operations and procedures. Airspace, traffic pattern operations, and radio communications procedures are just some of the things explained in the AIM. A new publication of the FAR/AIM comes out annually with updates and amendments to the procedures. A purchase of this two-in-one book is an essential for all pilots.
Part 61 vs. 141
When it comes to choosing flight schools you choose between part 61 and part 141. In part 61 are the requirements for getting a certification broken down like a checklist. To obtain your private pilot certificate you will get extremely familiar with Part 61.103, 61.105, and 61.107; eligibility requirements, aeronautical knowledge, and flight proficiency respectively. Once you are on your way to becoming a commercial pilot it’s a simple transition to part 61.123, 61.125, and 61.127 with generally the same contents. These chapters include basic information such as how old you have to be, what ground knowledge you will be tested on, and the minimum hours that must be acquired. Keep in mind that although there are specific hours required, your progress will be based on your skill level determined by your Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) and, on average, are more than the regulations specify. At a part 61 school, instructors are typically independent contractors and are not required to follow a syllabus. You and your instructor will have the freedom to go through your training as fast or slow as it best benefits your learning and can tailor lessons specific to you. Part 141 specifies approved schools with a rigorous syllabus. These schools create a program with lesson plans that gets approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and receive a certificate to teach students under that program. One of the benefits of picking a part 141 school is reduced hours to achieve your certificate. No matter which type of school you pick, you will learn the same material and have to put in hard work to achieve your certificate.
Part 91
As a student pilot and through my time as a CFI I flew at a part 61 flight school, and as I heard time and time again, part 61 is how you get your license and part 91 is how the FAA will take it away. Obviously it’s a bit of an exaggeration, but the truth of it is that the contents of FAR part 91 are rules for pilots to operate aircraft for the benefit of safety. Failing to follow them could cost you your certificate. Some of the more pertinent regulations within part 91 are 91.205 and 91.213 which pertain to required equipment on board the aircraft. You may have heard the acronym ‘ATOMATO FLAMES’ or ‘FLAPS’. These are mnemonic tools to help you remember what items you need, but it’s always a good idea to remember the regulation number just in case you forget. Other noteworthy contents in part 91 are 91.3 PIC responsibilities, 91.113 right of way rules, 91.117 aircraft speed, 91.119 minimum safe altitudes, 91. 225 ADSB, and countless others. As a student you should become extremely familiar with the contents of part 91, not only to pass your checkride, but so that as the pilot in command (PIC) you can make smart, safe decisions about your flight. If your goal is to fly for the airlines you will operate under part 121, however the knowledge you learn from general aviation flying will carry through your entire career.
AIM
The FARs are written in terms of legalities and can be difficult to decipher and interpret, whereas the AIM is written more like a textbook. Although it is a good idea to follow its guidance the AIM is not regulatory, just recommended. At non-towered airports take into account that the AIM is not mandatory, so there will be some that will not cooperate with proper communications and traffic patterns. Stay vigilant looking for traffic and don’t forget your radio calls! Questions on navigation aids, airport signage, airspace, air traffic control/procedures, emergency procedures, medicals, and safety of flight will all be answered within the pages of the AIM.
There is a ton of information in the FAR AIM, but the most important thing is knowing where to look to find it. A pre-tabbed FAR/AIM can put you ahead in your training to find all of the most important regulations pertaining to the certificate you’re after. However, just having the book is only a small part of the battle. Once you have the FAR/AIM in your hands, go through each tab or get yourself some DIY tabs and read through the parts thoroughly to get a good understanding of what it is telling you. When it comes time for your checkride a perfect score doesn’t exist and it’s ok to forget things, but as long as you have done your homework and can quickly find the information (Google doesn’t count!) you will have a shiny new license in no time. The FAA emphasizes using all of your resources from approved material such as the Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (PHAK), the Airplane Flying Handbook AFH), and most importantly the FAR/AIM. With all the acronyms and abbreviations in aviation it can be difficult to keep all the knowledge from leaking out of your head. The 1200 page handbook looks intimidating, but you don’t need to spend all of your time reading the book cover to cover, instead get familiar with the sections and know how to find your information. Keep a copy in your flight bag to reference or remember that all of these manuals are always available for free on the FAA’s website.
By Ally Melick CRJ Pilot, CFI-I, MEI
Northstar Aviation References brings you the Pre-Tabbed ASA FAR/AIM, DIY tabs for your FAR/AIM and other pilot resources so that you can more easily study the regulations that form the foundation of your flying career or hobby. Have any questions? Check out our FAQs page or contact us. Check out other blog posts here.