Aeronautical Information Manual

Chapter 1. Air Navigation

Section 1. Navigation Aids

• 1-1-1. General
• 1-1-2. Nondirectional Radio Beacon (NDB)
• 1-1-3. VHF Omni-directional Range (VOR)
• 1-1-4. VOR Receiver Check
• 1-1-5. Tactical Air Navigation (TACAN)
• 1-1-6. VHF Omni-directional Range/Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC)
• 1-1-7. Distance Measuring Equipment (DME)
• 1-1-8. Navigational Aid (NAVAID) Service Volumes
• 1-1-9. Instrument Landing System (ILS)
• 1-1-10. Simplified Directional Facility (SDF)
• 1-1-11. NAVAID Identifier Removal During Maintenance
• 1-1-12. NAVAIDs with Voice
• 1-1-13. User Reports Requested on NAVAID or Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Performance or Interference
• 1-1-14. LORAN
• 1-1-15. Inertial Reference Unit (IRU), Inertial Navigation System (INS), and Attitude Heading Reference System (AHRS)
• 1-1-16. Doppler Radar
• 1-1-17. Global Positioning System (GPS)
• 1-1-18. Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS)
• 1-1-19. Ground Based Augmentation System (GBAS) Landing System (GLS)
• 1-1-20. Precision Approach Systems other than ILS and GLS

Section 2. Performance-Based Navigation (PBN) and Area Navigation (RNAV)

• 1-2-1. General
• 1-2-2. Required Navigation Performance (RNP)
• 1-2-3. Use of Suitable Area Navigation (RNAV) Systems on Conventional Procedures and Routes

Chapter 2. Aeronautical Lighting and Other Airport Visual Aids

Section 1. Airport Lighting Aids

• 2-1-1. Approach Light Systems (ALS)
• 2-1-2. Visual Glideslope Indicators
• 2-1-3. Runway End Identifier Lights (REIL)
• 2-1-4. Runway Edge Light Systems
• 2-1-5. In-runway Lighting
• 2-1-6. Runway Status Light (RWSL) System
• 2-1-7. Stand­Alone Final Approach Runway Occupancy Signal (FAROS)
• 2-1-8. Control of Lighting Systems
• 2-1-9. Pilot Control of Airport Lighting
• 2-1-10. Airport/Heliport Beacons
• 2-1-11. Taxiway Lights

Section 2. Air Navigation and Obstruction Lighting

• 2-2-1. Aeronautical Light Beacons
• 2-2-2. Code Beacons and Course Lights
• 2-2-3. Obstruction Lights

Section 3. Airport Marking Aids and Signs

• 2-3-1. General
• 2-3-2. Airport Pavement Markings
• 2-3-3. Runway Markings
• 2-3-4. Taxiway Markings
• 2-3-5. Holding Position Markings
• 2-3-6. Other Markings
• 2-3-7. Airport Signs
• 2-3-8. Mandatory Instruction Signs
• 2-3-9. Location Signs
• 2-3-10. Direction Signs
• 2-3-11. Destination Signs
• 2-3-12. Information Signs
• 2-3-13. Runway Distance Remaining Signs
• 2-3-14. Aircraft Arresting Systems
• 2-3-15. Security Identifications Display Area (Airport Ramp Area)

Chapter 3. Airspace

Section 1. General

• 3-1-1. General
• 3-1-2. General Dimensions of Airspace Segments
• 3-1-3. Hierarchy of Overlapping Airspace Designations
• 3-1-4. Basic VFR Weather Minimums
• 3-1-5. VFR Cruising Altitudes and Flight Levels

Section 2. Controlled Airspace

• 3-2-1. General
• 3-2-2. Class A Airspace
• 3-2-3. Class B Airspace
• 3-2-4. Class C Airspace
• 3-2-5. Class D Airspace
• 3-2-6. Class E Airspace

Section 3. Class G Airspace

• 3-3-1. General
• 3-3-2. VFR Requirements
• 3-3-3. IFR Requirements

Section 4. Special Use Airspace

• 3-4-1. General
• 3-4-2. Prohibited Areas
• 3-4-3. Restricted Areas
• 3-4-4. Warning Areas
• 3-4-5. Military Operations Areas
• 3-4-6. Alert Areas
• 3-4-7. Controlled Firing Areas
• 3-4-8. National Security Areas

Section 5. Other Airspace Areas

• 3-5-1. Airport Advisory/Information Services
• 3-5-2. Military Training Routes
• 3-5-3. Temporary Flight Restrictions
• 3-5-4. Parachute Jump Aircraft Operations
• 3-5-5. Published VFR Routes
• 3-5-6. Terminal Radar Service Area (TRSA)

Chapter 4. Air Traffic Control

Section 1. Services Available to Pilots

• 4-1-1. Air Route Traffic Control Centers
• 4-1-2. Control Towers
• 4-1-3. Flight Service Stations
• 4-1-4. Recording and Monitoring
• 4-1-5. Communications Release of IFR Aircraft Landing at an Airport Without an Operating Control Tower
• 4-1-6. Pilot Visits to Air Traffic Facilities
• 4-1-7. Operation Take‐off and Operation Raincheck
• 4-1-8. Approach Control Service for VFR Arriving Aircraft
• 4-1-9. Traffic Advisory Practices at Airports Without Operating Control Towers
• 4-1-10. IFR Approaches/Ground Vehicle Operations
• 4-1-11. Designated UNICOM/MULTICOM Frequencies
• 4-1-12. Use of UNICOM for ATC Purposes
• 4-1-13. Automatic Terminal Information Service (ATIS)
• 4-1-14. Automatic Flight Information Service (AFIS) - Alaska FSSs Only
• 4-1-15. Radar Traffic Information Service
• 4-1-16. Safety Alert
• 4-1-17. Radar Assistance to VFR Aircraft
• 4-1-18. Terminal Radar Services for VFR Aircraft
• 4-1-19. Tower En Route Control (TEC)
• 4-1-20. Transponder Operation
• 4-1-21. Airport Reservation Operations and Special Traffic Management Programs
• 4-1-22. Requests for Waivers and Authorizations from Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR)
• 4-1-23. Weather System Processor

Section 2. Radio Communications Phraseology and Techniques

• 4-2-1. General
• 4-2-2. Radio Technique
• 4-2-3. Contact Procedures
• 4-2-4. Aircraft Call Signs
• 4-2-5. Description of Interchange or Leased Aircraft
• 4-2-6. Ground Station Call Signs
• 4-2-7. Phonetic Alphabet
• 4-2-8. Figures
• 4-2-9. Altitudes and Flight Levels
• 4-2-10. Directions
• 4-2-11. Speeds
• 4-2-12. Time
• 4-2-13. Communications with Tower when Aircraft Transmitter or Receiver or Both are Inoperative
• 4-2-14. Communications for VFR Flights

Section 3. Airport Operations

• 4-3-1. General
• 4-3-2. Airports with an Operating Control Tower
• 4-3-3. Traffic Patterns
• 4-3-4. Visual Indicators at Airports Without an Operating Control Tower
• 4-3-5. Unexpected Maneuvers in the Airport Traffic Pattern
• 4-3-6. Use of Runways/Declared Distances
• 4-3-7. Low Level Wind Shear/Microburst Detection Systems
• 4-3-8. Braking Action Reports and Advisories
• 4-3-9. Runway Friction Reports and Advisories
• 4-3-10. Intersection Takeoffs
• 4-3-11. Pilot Responsibilities When Conducting Land and Hold Short Operations (LAHSO)
• 4-3-12. Low Approach
• 4-3-13. Traffic Control Light Signals
• 4-3-14. Communications
• 4-3-15. Gate Holding Due to Departure Delays
• 4-3-16. VFR Flights in Terminal Areas
• 4-3-17. VFR Helicopter Operations at Controlled Airports
• 4-3-18. Taxiing
• 4-3-19. Taxi During Low Visibility
• 4-3-20. Exiting the Runway After Landing
• 4-3-21. Practice Instrument Approaches
• 4-3-22. Option Approach
• 4-3-23. Use of Aircraft Lights
• 4-3-24. Flight Inspection/`Flight Check' Aircraft in Terminal Areas
• 4-3-25. Hand Signals
• 4-3-26. Operations at Uncontrolled Airports With Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS)/Automated Weather Sensor System(AWSS)/Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS)

Section 4. ATC Clearances and Aircraft Separation

• 4-4-1. Clearance
• 4-4-2. Clearance Prefix
• 4-4-3. Clearance Items
• 4-4-4. Amended Clearances
• 4-4-5. Coded Departure Route (CDR)
• 4-4-6. Special VFR Clearances
• 4-4-7. Pilot Responsibility upon Clearance Issuance
• 4-4-8. IFR Clearance VFR-on-top
• 4-4-9. VFR/IFR Flights
• 4-4-10. Adherence to Clearance
• 4-4-11. IFR Separation Standards
• 4-4-12. Speed Adjustments
• 4-4-13. Runway Separation
• 4-4-14. Visual Separation
• 4-4-15. Use of Visual Clearing Procedures
• 4-4-16. Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS I & II)
• 4-4-17. Traffic Information Service (TIS)

Section 5. Surveillance Systems

• 4-5-1. Radar
• 4-5-2. Air Traffic Control Radar Beacon System (ATCRBS)
• 4-5-3. Surveillance Radar
• 4-5-4. Precision Approach Radar (PAR)
• 4-5-5. Airport Surface Detection Equipment - Model X (ASDE-X)
• 4-5-6. Traffic Information Service (TIS)
• 4-5-7. Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) Services
• 4-5-8. Traffic Information Service- Broadcast (TIS-B)
• 4-5-9. Flight Information Service- Broadcast (FIS-B)
• 4-5-10. Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Rebroadcast (ADS-R)

Section 6. Operational Policy/Procedures for Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum (RVSM) in the Domestic U.S., Alaska, Offshore Airspace and the San Juan FIR

• 4-6-1. Applicability and RVSM Mandate (Date/Time and Area)
• 4-6-2. Flight Level Orientation Scheme
• 4-6-3. Aircraft and Operator Approval Policy/Procedures, RVSM Monitoring and Databases for Aircraft and Operator Approval
• 4-6-4. Flight Planning into RVSM Airspace
• 4-6-5. Pilot RVSM Operating Practices and Procedures
• 4-6-6. Guidance on Severe Turbulence and Mountain Wave Activity (MWA)
• 4-6-7. Guidance on Wake Turbulence
• 4-6-8. Pilot/Controller Phraseology
• 4-6-9. Contingency Actions: Weather Encounters and Aircraft System Failures that Occur After Entry into RVSM Airspace
• 4-6-10. Procedures for Accommodation of Non-RVSM Aircraft
• 4-6-11. Non-RVSM Aircraft Requesting Climb to and Descent from Flight Levels Above RVSM Airspace Without Intermediate Level Off

Section 7. Operational Policy/Procedures for the Gulf of Mexico 50 NM Lateral Separation Initiative

• 4-7-1. Introduction and Background
• 4-7-2. Lateral Separation Minima Applied
• 4-7-3. Operation on Routes on the Periphery of the Gulf of Mexico CTAs
• 4-7-4. Provisions for Non-RNP 10 Aircraft (Not Authorized RNP 10 or RNP 4)
• 4-7-5. Operator Action
• 4-7-6. RNP 10 or RNP 4 Authorization: Policy and Procedures for Aircraft and Operators
• 4-7-7. Flight Planning Requirements
• 4-7-8. Pilot and Dispatcher Procedures: Basic and In­flight Contingency Procedures

Chapter 5. Air Traffic Procedures

Section 1. Preflight

• 5-1-1. Preflight Preparation
• 5-1-2. Follow IFR Procedures Even When Operating VFR
• 5-1-3. Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) System
• 5-1-4. Flight Plan - VFR Flights
• 5-1-5. Operational Information System (OIS)
• 5-1-6. Flight Plan- Defense VFR (DVFR) Flights
• 5-1-7. Composite Flight Plan (VFR/IFR Flights)
• 5-1-8. Flight Plan (FAA Form 7233-1)- Domestic IFR Flights
• 5-1-9. International Flight Plan (FAA Form 7233-4)- IFR Flights (For Domestic or International Flights)
• 5-1-10. IFR Operations to High Altitude Destinations
• 5-1-11. Flights Outside the U.S. and U.S. Territories
• 5-1-12. Change in Flight Plan
• 5-1-13. Change in Proposed Departure Time
• 5-1-14. Closing VFR/DVFR Flight Plans
• 5-1-15. Canceling IFR Flight Plan
• 5-1-16. RNAV and RNP Operations
• 5-1-17. Cold Temperature Operations

Section 2. Departure Procedures

• 5-2-1. Pre‐taxi Clearance Procedures
• 5-2-2. Automated Pre-Departure Clearance Procedures
• 5-2-3. Taxi Clearance
• 5-2-4. Line Up and Wait (LUAW)
• 5-2-5. Abbreviated IFR Departure Clearance Procedures
• 5-2-6. Departure Restrictions, Clearance Void Times, Hold for Release, and Release Times
• 5-2-7. Departure Control
• 5-2-8. Instrument Departure Procedures (DP) - Obstacle Departure Procedures (ODP) and Standard Instrument Departures (SID)

Section 3. En Route Procedures

• 5-3-1. ARTCC Communications
• 5-3-2. Position Reporting
• 5-3-3. Additional Reports
• 5-3-4. Airways and Route Systems
• 5-3-5. Airway or Route Course Changes
• 5-3-6. Changeover Points (COPs)
• 5-3-7. Minimum Turning Altitude (MTA)
• 5-3-8. Holding

Section 4. Arrival Procedures

• 5-4-1. Standard Terminal Arrival (STAR) Procedures
• 5-4-2. Local Flow Traffic Management Program
• 5-4-3. Approach Control
• 5-4-4. Advance Information on Instrument Approach
• 5-4-5. Instrument Approach Procedure (IAP) Charts
• 5-4-6. Approach Clearance
• 5-4-7. Instrument Approach Procedures
• 5-4-8. Special Instrument Approach Procedures
• 5-4-9. Procedure Turn and Hold-in-lieu of Procedure Turn
• 5-4-10. Timed Approaches from a Holding Fix
• 5-4-11. Radar Approaches
• 5-4-12. Radar Monitoring of Instrument Approaches
• 5-4-13. ILS Approaches to Parallel Runways
• 5-4-14. Parallel ILS Approaches (Dependent) (See FIG 5-4-20.)
• 5-4-15. Simultaneous (Parallel) Independent ILS/RNAV/GLS Approaches (See FIG 5-4-21.)
• 5-4-16. Simultaneous Close Parallel ILS PRM/RNAV PRM/GLS PRM Approaches and Simultaneous Offset Instrument Approaches (SOIA) (See FIG 5-4-22.)
• 5-4-17. Simultaneous Converging Instrument Approaches
• 5-4-18. RNP AR Instrument Approach Procedures
• 5-4-19. Side-step Maneuver
• 5-4-20. Approach and Landing Minimums
• 5-4-21. Missed Approach
• 5-4-22. Use of Enhanced Flight Vision Systems (EFVS) on Instrument Approaches
• 5-4-23. Visual Approach
• 5-4-24. Charted Visual Flight Procedure (CVFP)
• 5-4-25. Contact Approach
• 5-4-26. Landing Priority
• 5-4-27. Overhead Approach Maneuver

Section 5. Pilot/Controller Roles and Responsibilities

• 5-5-1. General
• 5-5-2. Air Traffic Clearance
• 5-5-3. Contact Approach
• 5-5-4. Instrument Approach
• 5-5-5. Missed Approach
• 5-5-6. Radar Vectors
• 5-5-7. Safety Alert
• 5-5-8. See and Avoid
• 5-5-9. Speed Adjustments
• 5-5-10. Traffic Advisories (Traffic Information)
• 5-5-11. Visual Approach
• 5-5-12. Visual Separation
• 5-5-13. VFR‐on‐top
• 5-5-14. Instrument Departures
• 5-5-15. Minimum Fuel Advisory
• 5-5-16. RNAV and RNP Operations

Section 6. National Security and Interception Procedures

• 5-6-1. National Security
• 5-6-2. Interception Procedures
• 5-6-3. Law Enforcement Operations by Civil and Military Organizations
• 5-6-4. Interception Signals
• 5-6-5. ADIZ Boundaries and Designated Mountainous Areas (See FIG 5-6-3.)
• 5-6-6. Visual Warning System (VWS)

Chapter 6. Emergency Procedures

Section 1. General

• 6-1-1. Pilot Responsibility and Authority
• 6-1-2. Emergency Condition- Request Assistance Immediately

Section 2. Emergency Services Available to Pilots

• 6-2-1. Radar Service for VFR Aircraft in Difficulty
• 6-2-2. Transponder Emergency Operation
• 6-2-3. Intercept and Escort
• 6-2-4. Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT)
• 6-2-5. FAA K-9 Explosives Detection Team Program
• 6-2-6. Search and Rescue

Section 3. Distress and Urgency Procedures

• 6-3-1. Distress and Urgency Communications
• 6-3-2. Obtaining Emergency Assistance
• 6-3-3. Ditching Procedures
• 6-3-4. Special Emergency (Air Piracy)
• 6-3-5. Fuel Dumping

Section 4. Two‐way Radio Communications Failure

• 6-4-1. Two‐way Radio Communications Failure
• 6-4-2. Transponder Operation During Two‐way Communications Failure
• 6-4-3. Reestablishing Radio Contact

Section 5. Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting Communications

• 6-5-1. Discrete Emergency Frequency
• 6-5-2. Radio Call Signs
• 6-5-3. ARFF Emergency Hand Signals

Chapter 7. Safety of Flight

Section 1. Meteorology

• 7-1-1. National Weather Service Aviation Weather Service Program
• 7-1-2. FAA Weather Services
• 7-1-3. Use of Aviation Weather Products
• 7-1-4. Preflight Briefing
• 7-1-5. Inflight Aviation Weather Advisories
• 7-1-6. Categorical Outlooks
• 7-1-7. Telephone Information Briefing Service (TIBS)
• 7-1-8. Transcribed Weather Broadcast (TWEB) (Alaska Only)
• 7-1-9. Inflight Weather Broadcasts
• 7-1-10. Flight Information Services (FIS)
• 7-1-11. Weather Observing Programs
• 7-1-12. Weather Radar Services
• 7-1-13. ATC Inflight Weather Avoidance Assistance
• 7-1-14. Runway Visual Range (RVR)
• 7-1-15. Reporting of Cloud Heights
• 7-1-16. Reporting Prevailing Visibility
• 7-1-17. Estimating Intensity of Rain and Ice Pellets
• 7-1-18. Estimating Intensity of Snow or Drizzle (Based on Visibility)
• 7-1-19. Pilot Weather Reports (PIREPs)
• 7-1-20. PIREPs Relating to Airframe Icing
• 7-1-21. Definitions of Inflight Icing Terms
• 7-1-22. PIREPs Relating to Turbulence
• 7-1-23. Wind Shear PIREPs
• 7-1-24. Clear Air Turbulence (CAT) PIREPs
• 7-1-25. Microbursts
• 7-1-26. PIREPs Relating to Volcanic Ash Activity
• 7-1-27. Thunderstorms
• 7-1-28. Thunderstorm Flying
• 7-1-29. Key to Aerodrome Forecast (TAF) and Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR)
• 7-1-30. International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Weather Formats

Section 2. Altimeter Setting Procedures

• 7-2-1. General
• 7-2-2. Procedures
• 7-2-3. Altimeter Errors
• 7-2-4. High Barometric Pressure
• 7-2-5. Low Barometric Pressure

Section 3. Wake Turbulence

• 7-3-1. General
• 7-3-2. Vortex Generation
• 7-3-3. Vortex Strength
• 7-3-4. Vortex Behavior
• 7-3-5. Operations Problem Areas
• 7-3-6. Vortex Avoidance Procedures
• 7-3-7. Helicopters
• 7-3-8. Pilot Responsibility
• 7-3-9. Air Traffic Wake Turbulence Separations

Section 4. Bird Hazards and Flight Over National Refuges, Parks, and Forests

• 7-4-1. Migratory Bird Activity
• 7-4-2. Reducing Bird Strike Risks
• 7-4-3. Reporting Bird Strikes
• 7-4-4. Reporting Bird and Other Wildlife Activities
• 7-4-5. Pilot Advisories on Bird and Other Wildlife Hazards
• 7-4-6. Flights Over Charted U.S. Wildlife Refuges, Parks, and Forest Service Areas

Section 5. Potential Flight Hazards

• 7-5-1. Accident Cause Factors
• 7-5-2. VFR in Congested Areas
• 7-5-3. Obstructions To Flight
• 7-5-4. Avoid Flight Beneath Unmanned Balloons
• 7-5-5. Unmanned Aircraft Systems
• 7-5-6. Mountain Flying
• 7-5-7. Use of Runway Half-way Signs at Unimproved Airports
• 7-5-8. Seaplane Safety
• 7-5-9. Flight Operations in Volcanic Ash
• 7-5-10. Emergency Airborne Inspection of Other Aircraft
• 7-5-11. Precipitation Static
• 7-5-12. Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation (Laser) Operations and Reporting Illumination of Aircraft
• 7-5-13. Flying in Flat Light and White Out Conditions
• 7-5-14. Operations in Ground Icing Conditions
• 7-5-15. Avoid Flight in the Vicinity of Exhaust Plumes (Smoke Stacks and Cooling Towers)

Section 6. Safety, Accident, and Hazard Reports

• 7-6-1. Aviation Safety Reporting Program
• 7-6-2. Aircraft Accident and Incident Reporting
• 7-6-3. Near Midair Collision Reporting
• 7-6-4. Unidentified Flying Object (UFO) Reports
• 7-6-5. Safety Alerts For Operators (SAFO) and Information For Operators (InFO)

Chapter 8. Medical Facts for Pilots

Section 1. Fitness for Flight

• 8-1-1. Fitness For Flight
• 8-1-2. Effects of Altitude
• 8-1-3. Hyperventilation in Flight
• 8-1-4. Carbon Monoxide Poisoning in Flight
• 8-1-5. Illusions in Flight
• 8-1-6. Vision in Flight
• 8-1-7. Aerobatic Flight
• 8-1-8. Judgment Aspects of Collision Avoidance

Chapter 9. Aeronautical Charts and Related Publications

Section 1. Types of Charts Available

• 9-1-1. General
• 9-1-2. Obtaining Aeronautical Charts
• 9-1-3. Selected Charts and Products Available
• 9-1-4. General Description of Each Chart Series
• 9-1-5. Where and How to Get Charts of Foreign Areas

Chapter 10. Helicopter Operations

Section 1. Helicopter IFR Operations

• 10-1-1. Helicopter Flight Control Systems
• 10-1-2. Helicopter Instrument Approaches
• 10-1-3. Helicopter Approach Procedures to VFR Heliports
• 10-1-4. The Gulf of Mexico Grid System

Section 2. Special Operations

• 10-2-1. Offshore Helicopter Operations
• 10-2-2. Helicopter Night VFR Operations
• 10-2-3. Landing Zone Safety
• 10-2-4. Emergency Medical Service (EMS) Multiple Helicopter Operations