An instructor demonstrates a steep turn, the student tries it, and the altitude wanders off by 200 feet. Back on the ground, the debrief turns to why: the overbanking tendency, the back pressure needed, where to look outside. Those explanations come from somewhere, and for most US flight training that somewhere is the FAA’s Airplane Flying Handbook.
The handbook describes how to perform the flight maneuvers and procedures pilots learn from first lesson through commercial, and examiners and instructors lean on it as a standard reference. It’s free to read on the FAA’s website, but many students and instructors prefer a printed copy to mark up, tab, and keep in the flight bag.
ASA prints the FAA-H-8083-3C version as part number ASA-8083-3C.
Quick answer: The Airplane Flying Handbook (ASA-8083-3C) is ASA’s printed edition of the FAA’s FAA-H-8083-3C handbook, which explains how to perform airplane flight maneuvers and procedures. It’s for student pilots, commercial candidates, and flight instructors who want the FAA’s flying-skills reference in a book they can mark up, available on Skyfarer and at Skyfarer Shop.
At a glance
- Source. The FAA’s Airplane Flying Handbook, FAA-H-8083-3C.
- Printed by. Aviation Supplies & Academics (ASA), part number ASA-8083-3C.
- Subject. How to fly airplane maneuvers and procedures in training and beyond.
- Readers. Student, private, and commercial pilots, and flight instructors.
Ways to use it in training
- Before a lesson. Read the maneuver you’ll fly next so the briefing is review, not new material.
- After a tough flight. Look up what went wrong; the handbook usually explains the common errors.
- Checkride prep. Pair it with the Airman Certification Standards so you know both how to fly a maneuver and how it’s evaluated.
- For instructors. A shared, citable reference makes it easier to explain why a technique is taught a certain way.
Pilot tip: Read the chapter on a maneuver the night before and then chair-fly it with your eyes closed. Talking through the steps out loud makes the next lesson noticeably smoother.
Where to buy
Airplane Flying Handbook (ASA-8083-3C) is sold by Skyfarer Shop. Find it on the Skyfarer marketplace or order directly from Skyfarer Shop. Either link shows the current price, shipping options and return terms.
Frequently asked questions
Isn’t this handbook free from the FAA?
Yes, the FAA publishes it free online. This is ASA’s printed edition for people who prefer a physical book.
Which version is it?
FAA-H-8083-3C, per the part number ASA-8083-3C.
Is it only for student pilots?
No. It’s used from primary training through commercial and by flight instructors.
