Whether you’re a student pilot preparing for your first FAA knowledge test, an airline pilot reviewing operational requirements, or an aviation mechanic researching maintenance regulations, one thing is certain: knowing where to find the right information matters. The Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs) and FAA guidance publications provide the foundation for safe aviation operations in the United States. The FAR/AIM, FAR-FC, and FAR-AMT organize that information for different aviation professionals, making it easier to find the regulations and guidance relevant to your training, certification, and daily responsibilities. The 2027 editions are now available, so let’s take a closer look at what each publication contains and how to determine which one belongs in your flight bag or toolbox.
What Are the Federal Aviation Regulations?
The Federal Aviation Regulations, commonly called the FARs, are the rules that govern civil aviation in the United States. Most of these regulations are found in Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations, which is why you may hear them referred to as 14 CFR. The FARs cover nearly every area of aviation, from pilot certification, aircraft operations, and maintenance to air carrier operations, repair stations, aircraft certification, and flight schools.
Pilots frequently work with regulations. Part 61 includes pilot and flight instructor certification; general operating and flight rules are in Part 91. Part 121 covers domestic, flag, and supplemental air carrier operations, and Part 135 governs commuter, on-demand, and certain commercial operations. Aviation maintenance professionals also regularly reference regulations. For them Parts 43, 65, 91, 145, and 147 are the important ones.
Don’t worry, no one is expected to memorize every regulation! However, you will want to know which rules apply to your operation and where to find them when you need them.
What Is the Aeronautical Information Manual?
The Aeronautical Information Manual, better known as the AIM, is the FAA’s official guide to basic flight information and air traffic control procedures.
The AIM provides pilots with practical information about operating within the National Airspace System. It covers air traffic control procedures, airport operations, airspace, navigation, flight safety, aeronautical charts, medical considerations, and emergency procedures.
Unlike the FARs, which establish regulatory requirements, the AIM is generally nonregulatory. However, many of the procedures it describes support or explain requirements found in FAA regulations, orders, and operating procedures. The AIM serves as the FAA’s primary source of guidance on recommended practices, air traffic procedures, and the day-to-day operation of the National Airspace System.
An easy way to think about the two is that the FARs contain the rules, while the AIM helps explain many of the procedures and operating practices pilots use to follow those rules.
Common Misconceptions about the FAR/AIM
The FAR/AIM is one of the most familiar publications in aviation, but there are still several common misconceptions about what it contains and how it should be used.
Misconception 1: The FARs and AIM have the same legal authority.
Although they are published together for convenience, the FARs and AIM do not have the same legal status. The Federal Aviation Regulations contain regulatory requirements. The AIM is not, by itself, a regulatory publication. It provides information, procedures, and recommended operating practices intended to help pilots safely operate within the National Airspace System.
Do not treat the AIM as unimportant or optional reading. Some procedures discussed in the AIM may also be required by a regulation or another federal publication. The AIM helps pilots understand how to apply many of those requirements during actual flight operations.
Misconception 2: A new printed edition remains current for the entire year.
A publication year does not mean that the regulations and procedures are frozen until the next edition is released. Regulations can be amended throughout the year, and changes to the AIM may also be issued as procedures and information are updated. A current printed edition provides a reliable starting point, but pilots and mechanics should continually check for changes that may affect their operations.
ASA provides free updates throughout the year to help readers stay informed of regulatory and procedural changes released after the books are printed.
Misconception 3: Because it’s nonregulatory, the AIM can be ignored.
The AIM may not be a regulation, but that does not mean its procedures and recommendations should be ignored. It explains how the NAS operates and provides guidance on subjects like air traffic control procedures, radio communications, airport operations, navigation, and flight safety.
A pilot who reads only the regulations may understand what is legally required, but they may miss important information about how to safely and effectively carry out those responsibilities.
Misconception 4: Advisory Circulars are regulations.
FAA Advisory Circulars, commonly called ACs, provide information, guidance, and acceptable methods of complying with regulations. They are generally not regulations unless their contents are incorporated into a regulation by reference.
This distinction is especially important for aviation maintenance professionals, who regularly work with regulations, Advisory Circulars, Airworthiness Directives, manufacturer instructions, and other technical information that may carry different levels of authority.
Misconception 5: Pilots and mechanics must memorize every regulation.
Aviation professionals should know the regulations that regularly apply to their certificates and operations, but no one is expected to memorize the entire Code of Federal Regulations.
More useful skills are learning how the regulations are organized, knowing which parts apply to your responsibilities, and being able to quickly locate and interpret the correct section. A current and well-organized reference makes that process much easier.
FAR/AIM: The Starting Point for Pilots
The 2027 FAR/AIM is the starting point for student pilots, certificated pilots, flight instructors, remote pilots, and other general aviation professionals. All pilots should have access to a current FAR/AIM, which remains one of the most widely used FAA regulation references for student and certificated pilots. It is useful throughout training and should stay in a pilot’s aviation library long after earning a certificate.
ASA’s 2027 FAR/AIM includes the regulations most relevant to general aviation pilots, along with the complete Aeronautical Information Manual and full-color graphics. It also includes the Pilot/Controller Glossary, a suggested study list for each pilot certificate and rating, and a detailed index.
The FAR/AIM is helpful when preparing for an FAA knowledge test, practical test, flight review, or instructor lesson. It is also useful when researching an unfamiliar operation, reviewing airspace requirements, or confirming exactly what a regulation says.
Page-margin tabs and an organized layout make commonly used sections easier to locate. Changes from the previous edition are clearly identified to help readers recognize recently updated material.
Learn more about the 2027 FAR/AIM.
Go behind the scenes for a short look at how the ASA FAR/AIM is produced.
FAR-FC: For Professional Flight Crews
Pilots operating as part of a professional flight crew should also have access to a current FAR-FC, or Federal Aviation Regulations for Flight Crew. The FAR-FC is intended for pilots and flight crews operating under regulations beyond general aviation, including air carrier and compensation-or-hire operations conducted under Parts 121 and 135.
The FAR-FC includes regulations relevant to airline transport pilots, air carriers, charter operators, dispatchers, flight engineers, fractional ownership programs, and other professional flight operations. It covers subjects such as crew qualifications, flight and duty limitations, air carrier operating requirements, drug and alcohol testing, hazardous materials, and security.
For pilots moving from general aviation into airline, charter, corporate, or other commercial operations, the FAR-FC provides a more focused reference for the additional regulations that apply to professional flight operations.
The FAR-FC does not necessarily replace the FAR/AIM. The FAR/AIM remains the primary reference for general pilot regulations and FAA procedures, while the FAR-FC provides the additional material needed for air carrier and commercial operations.
Learn more about the 2027 FAR-FC.
FAR-AMT: For Aviation Maintenance Professionals
Aviation mechanics must also understand the regulations that govern aircraft maintenance, inspections, alterations, recordkeeping, and return to service. The 2027 FAR-AMT, or Federal Aviation Regulations for Aviation Maintenance Technicians, organizes the regulations most relevant to aviation maintenance professionals into one convenient reference. It includes important sections from Parts 21, 39, 43, 45, 65, 91, 121, 125, 135, 145, and 147, in addition to maintenance-related FAA Advisory Circulars.
The FAR-AMT is designed for aviation maintenance students, certificated mechanics, inspection authorization holders, repair station personnel, instructors, and others responsible for maintaining aircraft in an airworthy condition. Whether they’re determining who may perform a maintenance task, reviewing an inspection requirement, or confirming what must be included in a maintenance record, the FAR-AMT helps technicians find the information they need quickly.
Learn more about the 2027 FAR-AMT.
Keeping a Current Edition Matters
Aviation regulations and FAA procedures change. New rules are added, existing regulations are revised, and operating procedures are updated. Using an older edition can make it easier to overlook an important change or rely on information that is no longer current.
ASA publishes new editions of the FAR Series each year and identifies changes from the previous editions. ASA also provides free online updates throughout the year. These are created when regulatory or procedural changes are released after the books are printed.
Keeping a current regulatory reference should not be viewed as something that is only necessary while preparing for a test. It is part of being a prepared and responsible aviation professional.
Which FAR Publication Do You Need?
Whether you’re flying an aircraft, teaching others to fly, operating as part of a professional flight crew, or maintaining aircraft for safe operation, success depends on having access to accurate and current information.
The FAR/AIM, FAR-FC, and FAR-AMT each serve a different purpose, but they share a common goal: helping aviation professionals understand and comply with FAA regulations while operating safely and efficiently.
Choose the reference that matches your role, keep it current, and make it a habit to regularly review the regulations and guidance that apply to your responsibilities.
