Aviation Training Experts™

handbook

Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge

FAA-H-8083-25C Version October 20, 2025

Chapter Index

Index

A

TopicPage
Adjustable stabilizer6-12
Adverse balance10-3
Adverse conditions13-5
Adverse yaw6-3
Advisory circular (AC)1-10
Aeromedical factors17-1
Aeronautical charts14-3, 16-2
Aeronautical decision-making2-1
-- History of ADM2-2
Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM)1-9
After-landing14-34
Ailerons6-3
-- Coupled ailerons6-4
-- Differential ailerons6-4
-- Frise-type ailerons6-4
Airborne radar13-4
Aircraft documents9-6
Aircraft engine7-1
Aircraft inspections9-8
-- 100-hour Inspection9-8
-- Altimeter system inspection9-9
-- Annual inspection9-8
-- Preflight inspections9-9
-- Transponder inspection9-9
Aircraft maintenance9-8
Aircraft owner/operator responsibilities9-13
Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA)3-13
Aircraft types and categories1-15
Air data computer (ADC)8-14
Airfoil4-6, 4-7
-- Leading edge4-6
-- Trailing edge4-6
Airframe systems7-25
Airline Deregulation Act of 19781-7
Air masses12-17
Air navigation16-1
Airplane1-15
Airplane flight manuals (AFM)9-1, 16-17
Airport beacon14-16
Airport lighting14-18
Airport markings14-5
TopicPage
-- Other markings14-15
-- Runway markings14-5
-- Taxiway markings14-11
Airports14-2
-- Civil airports14-2
-- Military/federal government airports14-2
-- Private airports14-2
-- Towered14-2
-- Nontowered14-2
Airport signs14-15
-- Destination signs14-12, 14-16
-- Direction signs14-16
-- Information signs14-16
-- Location signs14-15
-- Mandatory instruction signs14-15
-- Runway distance remaining signs14-16
Airport surveillance radar13-4
Air Route surveillance radar (ARSR)13-2
Air Route traffic control center (ARTCC)13-2
Airship1-15
Airspace15-1
Airspeed9-2, 16-10
Airspeed indicator (ASI)11-2
Airspeed indicator markings8-9
Airspeed limitations8-9
Airspeed tape8-12
Air traffic control (ATC)14-24, 15-7
Airworthiness certificate9-7
Airworthiness directives (ADs)9-12
Alcohol17-15
Alert areas15-4
Alternator7-30
Altimeter8-3, 8-13
-- Setting the altimeter8-5
Altimeter operation8-6
Altitude8-6, 12-6
-- Absolute altitude8-7
-- Density altitude8-7
-- Indicated altitude8-6
-- Pressure altitude8-7
-- True altitude8-6
Altitude-induced decompression sickness (DCS)17-18
TopicPage
Ammeter7-31
Aneroid barometer12-5
Aneroid wafer8-3
Angle of attack (AOA)6-4
Anti-ice7-40
Antiservo tab3-6, 6-11
Approach light systems14-16
Arm10-4
Assembling necessary material16-17
ATC Automation1-6
ATC delays13-5
ATC radar beacon system (ATCRBS)14-24
ATC radar weather displays13-16
Atmosphere4-1, 11-2, 12-2
Atmospheric circulation12-3
Atmospheric pressure4-3, 11-2
Atmospheric stability12-12
Attitude indicator8-13, 8-18
Autokinesis17-26
Automatic decision-making2-21
-- Operational pitfalls2-21
Automatic direction finder (ADF)16-29
Automation2-25
Automation management2-31
Autopilot6-12
Autopilot systems2-27
Aviation forecasts13-9
-- Area forecasts (FA)13-9, 13-10
-- Terminal aerodrome forecasts (TAF)13-9
-- -- Forecast change group13-9
-- -- Forecast significant weather13-9
-- -- Forecast sky condition13-9
-- -- Forecast visibility13-9
-- -- Forecast wind13-9
-- -- ICAO station identifier13-9
-- -- Probability forecast13-9
-- -- Type of report13-9
Aviation medical examiner (AME)17-2
Aviation routine weather report (METAR)12-17
Aviation safety inspector (ASI)1-9
Aviation weather reports13-5
-- Aviation routine weather report (METAR)
-- -- Altimeter setting13-7
-- -- Modifier13-6
-- -- Remarks13-7
-- -- Sky condition13-7
-- -- Station identifier13-6
-- -- Temperature and dew point13-7
-- -- Type of report13-6
-- -- Visibility13-6
-- -- Weather13-6
TopicPage
-- -- Wind13-6
-- -- Zulu time13-7
-- Pilot weather reports (PIREPs)13-8
Axes of an aircraft5-12
Axes of rotation6-3

B

TopicPage
Balance10-2
Balance tabs6-11
Balloon1-15
Barbs12-12
Basic aerodynamics3-2
-- Drag3-2
-- Lift3-2
-- Thrust3-2
-- Weight3-2
Basic empty weight10-4
Bernoulli, Daniel4-6
Bernoulli’s Principle of Differential Pressure4-6
Best angle-of-climb speed (VX )8-10
Best rate-of-climb speed (VY )8-10
Binocular cues17-26
Blade angle5-28
Bleed air heating systems7-30
Blocked pitot system8-10
Blocked static system8-11
Boundary layer5-6, 5-46
Brake horsepower (BHP)7-6, 7-24
Brakes7-34
Bus bar7-31

C

TopicPage
Cabin pressure control system7-35
Cabin pressurization system7-35
Calibrated airspeed (CAS)8-9, 11-18
Canard6-7
Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning17-12
Carburetor air temperature gauge7-11
Carburetor heat7-10
Carburetor icing7-9
Carburetor systems7-8
-- Float-type carburetor7-8
-- Pressure-type carburetor7-9
Ceiling12-17
Center of gravity (CG)10-2, 10-4
-- CG limits10-5
-- CG range10-5
Central blind spot17-21
Certificated flight instructor (CFI)1-19, 1-23
Certificate of aircraft registration9-6
TopicPage
Chandelles5-36
Chart Supplement U.S16-17
Clearing procedures14-28
-- Before takeoff14-28
-- Climbs and descents14-28
-- Straight and Level14-28
-- Traffic at VOR sites14-28
-- Traffic patterns14-28
-- Training operations14-28
Climb performance11-6
-- Angle of climb (AOC)11-7
-- Climb Performance Factors11-8
-- Rate of climb (ROC)11-7
Clouds12-15
-- Cloud classification12-17
-- -- Alto12-17
-- -- Castellanus12-17
-- -- Cirrus12-17
-- -- Cumulus12-17
-- -- Fracto12-17
-- -- Lenticularus12-17
-- -- Nimbus12-17
-- -- Stratus12-17
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)1-7
Collision avoidance14-28
Combustion7-18
Combustion heater systems7-29
Compass heading16-16
Composite materials in aircraft3-9
Composites3-9
Compressor stalls7-23
Control10-3
Control instruments3-13
Controllability5-15, 5-42
Controlled airport14-2
Controlled airspace15-2
-- Class A airspace15-2
-- Class B airspace15-2
-- Class C airspace15-2
-- Class D airspace15-2
-- Class E airspace15-2
Controlled firing areas (CFAs)15-4
Convective currents12-7
Convective significant meteorological information (WST)13-12
Converting KTS to MPH16-11
Converting minutes to equivalent hours16-11
Cooling7-1
Coriolis force12-3
Corkscrew effect5-31
Course16-10
TopicPage
Course deviation indicator (CDI)16-23
Course intercept16-27
-- Angle of intercept16-27
-- Rate of intercept16-27
Cross-country flying16-1
Crosswind and headwind component chart11-25
Current conditions13-5

D

TopicPage
Dark adaptation17-23
Datum10-5
Data link weather13-21
Data link weather products13-23
-- Flight information service-broadcast (FIS-B)13-23
Daylight saving time16-5
Dead reckoning16-13
DECIDE model2-18
-- Choose (a course of action)2-20
-- Detect (the problem)2-20
-- Do (the necessary actions)2-20
-- Estimate (the need to react)2-20
-- Evaluate (the effect of the action)2-20
-- Identify (solutions)2-20
Decision-making in a dynamic environment2-21
-- Use of resources2-21
-- -- External resources2-23
-- -- Internal resources2-23
Decision-making process2-12
Dehydration17-14
Deice system7-40
Delta10-5
Density altitude4-4
Density altitude charts11-20
Density altitude (DA)12-5
Department of transportation (DOT)1-6
Deposition12-15
Designated pilot examiner1-24
Design maneuvering speed (VA )8-10
Destination forecast13-5
Determining loaded weight and CG10-7
Deviation16-8, 16-16
Dew point12-13, 13-13
Distance measuring equipment (DME)16-27
Doppler radar13-3
Drag5-1, 5-6
-- Form drag5-6
-- Induced drag5-6, 5-7
-- Interference drag5-6
-- Parasite drag5-6
-- Skin friction drag5-6
TopicPage
Drift angle16-10
Drugs17-16
Dutch roll5-20
Dynamic hydroplaning11-13

E

TopicPage
Eddy current damping8-27
Electrical7-1
Electrical system7-30
Electronic flight display (EFD)3-12, 8-12, 13-18
Elevator3-6, 6-5
Emergency locator transmitter (ELT)9-9
Empennage3-3, 3-6
Empty-field myopia17-22
Engine7-1
Engine cooling systems7-17
Engineered materials arresting systems (EMAS)14-35
Engine pressure ratio (EPR)7-22
Engine temperature limitations7-23
Enhanced flight vision system17-28
Enhanced night vision systems17-27
Enhanced situational awareness2-30
Enhanced taxiway centerline markings14-12
En route forecast13-5
Environmental control systems7-1
Equipment use2-27
Equivalent airspeed (EAS)11-18
Equivalent shaft horsepower (ESHP)7-24
Estimated time en route (ETE)16-17
Exhaust gas temperature (EGT)7-22
Exhaust gas temperature (EGT) gauge7-9
Exhaust heating systems7-29
Exhaust systems7-18
Explosive decompression7-36
Exposure to chemicals17-13
-- Engine oil17-14
-- Fuel17-14
-- Hydraulic fluid17-13

F

TopicPage
Fairings5-6
False horizon17-26
Fascination (fixation)17-27
Fatigue17-13
FDC NOTAMs1-13
Featureless terrain illusion17-10
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)1-3
Federal certification of pilots and mechanics1-4
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)9-13, 14-22
Field offices1-8
TopicPage
Filing a VFR flight plan16-21
Flameout7-24
Flaperons6-5
Flaps6-8
-- Fowler flaps6-9
-- Plain flap6-8
-- Split flap6-8
Flicker vertigo17-27
Flight1-2
Flight computers16-12
Flight controls6-2
Flight control systems6-1
Flight diversion16-34
Flight limits9-4
Flight maneuvers5-36
Flight planning16-17
Flight school1-18
Flight service station13-4
Flight Standards District Office (FSDO)1-9
Flight Standards Service (AFS)1-8
Floor load limit10-5
Flux gate compass system8-20
Fog12-15, 17-10
-- Advection fog12-15
-- Ice fog12-15
-- Radiation fog12-15
-- Sea smoke12-15
-- Steam fog12-15
-- Upslope fog12-15
Forces in climbs5-23
Forces in descents5-24
Forces in turns5-22
Foreign object damage (FOD)7-23
Free directional oscillations5-20
Free-stream velocity5-6
Friction4-2
Fronts12-18
-- Cold front12-20
-- -- Fast-moving cold front12-20
-- Occluded front12-21
-- Warm front12-18
Fuel7-1
Fuel consumption16-11
Fuel contamination7-27
Fuel fired geaters7-29
Fuel gauges7-26
Fuel grades7-27
-- Aviation gasoline (AVGAS)7-27
-- Supplemental type certificate (STC)7-27
Fuel injection system7-11
Fuel load10-5
TopicPage
Fuel primer7-25
Fuel rate16-17
Fuel selectors7-26
Fuel systems7-25
-- Fuel-pump system7-25
-- Gravity-feed system7-25
Fuel tanks7-25
Full authority digital engine control (FADEC)7-20
Fuselage3-3