Aeronautical Information Manual — FRNAS Aviation Library

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Publisher

FAA

Updated

Annually

Level

Reference

Category

ATC & Procedures

About This Book

The Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM) is the FAA's official guide to the National Airspace System. Updated annually, it is the authoritative source for how pilots and air traffic controllers communicate, what the rules of the airspace are, and how the entire system of aviation in the United States functions.

Unlike the handbooks that teach you to fly, the AIM teaches you to operate in the system. It covers every type of airspace, every ATC facility, every type of radio call, every navigation aid, every airport sign and marking, and every procedure you will encounter as a pilot.

Chapter Breakdown

Ch. 1

Air Navigation & NAVAIDs

VOR: ground station transmits 360 radials; receiver shows bearing to/from. VOR accuracy check methods: VOT (±4°), airborne checkpoint (±6°), ground checkpoint (±4°). NDB/ADF: low-frequency beacon; needle points to station. ILS components: Localizer (108.1-111.95 MHz, 1° full-scale deflection), Glideslope (329-335 MHz, 0.7° full-scale), Marker beacons (outer/middle/inner). GPS: RAIM required for IFR; WAAS provides vertical guidance for LPV approaches. Required GPS WPT check before IFR flight.

Ch. 2

Aeronautical Lighting & Airport Visual Aids

Airport beacon: white/green (lighted land), white/white/green (military), white/yellow (water), white/green/yellow (heliport). VASI: two bars; on-glide = white/red; too high = white/white; too low = red/red. PAPI: four lights; 2W2R = on glide; 4W = too high; 4R = too low. Runway edge lights: white (threshold to 2000 ft prior to departure end), yellow (last 2000 ft). PCL (Pilot-Controlled Lighting): 3 mic clicks = low, 5 = medium, 7 = high intensity. Taxiway signs: red/white = mandatory instruction; black/yellow = location; yellow/black = direction; white/black = information.

Ch. 3

Airspace Classification

Class A: FL180-FL600, IFR only, ATC clearance required. Class B: 30 NM Mode C veil, ATC clearance required, specific equipment. Class C: 5 NM/10 NM/20 NM rings, two-way radio contact required. Class D: surface to 2500 ft AGL, two-way radio contact required. Class E: begins at surface (airport symbol with dashed magenta), 700 ft AGL (magenta vignette), or 1200 ft AGL (default). Class G: uncontrolled; from surface to E floor. Special use: Prohibited, Restricted, Warning, Military, Alert, Controlled Firing areas.

Ch. 4

ATC Services & Transponder Codes

Radar services: basic radar (traffic advisories), TRSA (radar sequencing), ARSA, TCA. Standard transponder codes: 1200 (VFR), 7700 (emergency), 7600 (lost communications), 7500 (hijack). ATC phraseology standards: position, altitude, heading, speed instructions. Wake turbulence categories: Small (<12,500 lbs), Large (12,500-300,000 lbs), Heavy (>300,000 lbs), Super (A380/AN-225). 2-minute wait behind Heavy departing same runway.

Ch. 5

IFR Procedures & Approach Categories

CRAFT clearance readback: Clearance limit, Route, Altitude, Frequency, Transponder. Approach categories by Vref: A (<91 kts), B (91-120), C (121-140), D (141-165), E (>166). Precision approach: DA (Decision Altitude) based on barometric; DH (Decision Height) for CAT II/III using radio altimeter. Non-precision: MDA (Minimum Descent Altitude). Lost comms: AVEF route — Assigned, Vectored, Expected, Filed. Squawk 7600; continue to destination.

Ch. 6-7

Emergency Procedures & Safety of Flight

Emergency frequency: 121.5 MHz (monitored by most ATC and airline aircraft). ELT: activates on impact, operates on 121.5 MHz and 406 MHz. Distress: "MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY"; urgency: "PAN-PAN PAN-PAN PAN-PAN." Wake turbulence avoidance: stay above and upwind of preceding aircraft; vortices sink 300-500 FPM and drift with crosswind. Bird strike reporting: FAA Wildlife Strike Database (voluntary but highly encouraged). NOTAM types: D (distant), FDC (regulatory), Pointer, SAA.

Ch. 8-10

Medical, Charts & Helicopter Operations

Medical certificate classes: First class (ATP, valid 12 months under age 40, 6 months over); Second class (commercial, 12 months); Third class (private, 60 months under 40, 24 months over). BasicMed: exam every 48 months, online course every 24 months. Sectional chart scale: 1:500,000. TAC (Terminal Area Chart): 1:250,000. IFR Enroute Low: 1:1,013,760. VFR cruising altitudes: odd thousands + 500 (0-179°), even thousands + 500 (180-359°). Helicopter operations: confined areas, slope landings, pinnacle approaches, autorotation procedures.

Key Rules & Codes

Airport Sign Colors: Mandatory vs. Informational

Red signs with white text = mandatory instruction (runway holding positions, NO ENTRY). Black signs with yellow text = location identifier (taxiway/runway you are on). Yellow signs with black text = direction (taxiway/runway ahead). White signs with black text = information (distance, frequencies).
VFR Cruising Altitudes (3,000 ft AGL and above)

Magnetic course 0-179°: odd thousands + 500 ft. Magnetic course 180-359°: even thousands + 500 ft. Applies in uncontrolled airspace and when not following an ATC altitude assignment.
CRAFT IFR Clearance Readback

Clearance limit, Route, Altitude, Frequency (departure), Transponder squawk. Read back the entire clearance in this order to confirm receipt and reduce errors.
Lost Comms IFR Route: AVEF

Fly the route in this priority: Assigned (last ATC assignment), Vectored (last radar vector), Expected (route in last ATC clearance or expected by ATC), Filed (route in original IFR flight plan). Squawk 7600 throughout.

Who Should Read It

Every certificated pilot should own and regularly refer to the AIM. It is updated annually and pilots are expected to keep up with changes. It is especially critical for instrument-rated pilots and anyone flying in controlled airspace. The pilot-controller glossary alone is worth the read — understanding exactly what ATC means when they say something is essential for safe, professional operations.

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