Pilots, student pilots, and instructors
Aeronautical Information Manual
The FAA’s official guide to basic flight information and air traffic control procedures.
This page is educational and does not replace the current FAA publication or regulation.
What belongs in the AIM
Use the AIM for FAA procedures and operating practices involving navigation, air traffic control, airport operations, airspace, air traffic services, emergency procedures, and safety reporting.
Regulation versus procedure
The AIM is not the CFR. A procedure described in the AIM and a regulatory requirement may work together, but they are different source types. Verify the controlling regulation when the question is legal rather than procedural.
Use the current effective edition
The AIM changes on a publication cycle. Link to the live FAA HTML edition or current publication page instead of treating an old downloaded copy as permanent.