Sooner or later every A&P student opens this book. It’s the FAA’s Aviation Maintenance Technician Handbook for airframes, FAA-H-8083-31, the reference behind the airframe section of maintenance school and the airframe knowledge test, and a book many mechanics keep on the shelf long after the oral and practical.
It covers the whole airplane outside the engine: structures, assembly and rigging, sheet metal repair, welding, wood and fabric, composites, painting and finishing, electrical systems, instruments, communication and navigation, hydraulics and pneumatics, landing gear, fuel systems, ice and rain protection, cabin environmental systems, and fire protection.
This listing is ASA’s print edition under the part number ASA-8083-31B, matching the FAA handbook’s current B revision.
Quick answer: The Aviation Maintenance Technician Handbook: Airframe (ASA-8083-31B) is ASA’s printed edition of the FAA’s airframe handbook, FAA-H-8083-31B, for A&P students, mechanics studying for the airframe written, oral, and practical tests, and owners who want to understand how their aircraft’s systems work. It’s a companion to the General and Powerplant handbooks, available on Skyfarer and at Skyfarer Shop.
What it covers
- Structures and repair. Aircraft structures, sheet metal repair, welding, wood, fabric covering, and advanced composites.
- Assembly and finishing. Assembly and rigging, plus painting and finishing.
- Systems. Electrical, instruments, communication and navigation, hydraulic and pneumatic power, landing gear, and fuel systems.
- Environment and safety. Ice and rain protection, cabin environmental control, and fire protection.
Who it’s for
- A&P students working through the airframe curriculum and preparing for the airframe knowledge test, oral, and practical.
- Working mechanics who want a broad reference on systems they don’t see every day.
- Owners and builders who want to understand what their mechanic is talking about at the annual.
Good to know
The handbook is a training text. It teaches principles and common practices, but it isn’t approved data for a specific repair. Actual work on a certificated aircraft follows the manufacturer’s maintenance manual and other approved or acceptable data, and must be done or supervised by an appropriately certificated mechanic.
Where to buy
Aviation Maintenance Technician Handbook: Airframe (ASA-8083-31B) 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
Is this the FAA handbook?
Yes. It’s ASA’s printed edition of the FAA’s Aviation Maintenance Technician Handbook: Airframe, FAA-H-8083-31B.
Do I need the other AMT handbooks too?
The FAA series also includes the General (FAA-H-8083-30) and Powerplant (FAA-H-8083-32) handbooks. A&P students usually use all three.
Can I use it as the basis for a repair?
No. Use the manufacturer’s maintenance data and other approved or acceptable data for actual repairs; the handbook is for learning.
