A newly minted CFI quickly learns that flying well and teaching well are different skills. A student who keeps flaring too high doesn’t need another demonstration so much as an instructor who can work out why the lesson isn’t sticking and change the approach.
The FAA’s Aviation Instructor’s Handbook is about that second skill: how people learn, how to plan and deliver instruction, and how to assess a student’s progress. It’s the core reference for the Fundamentals of Instructing that every CFI and ground instructor candidate studies, and it stays useful long after the checkride.
ASA prints the FAA-H-8083-9B edition as ASA-8083-9B.
Quick answer: The Aviation Instructor’s Handbook (ASA-8083-9B) is ASA’s printed edition of the FAA’s FAA-H-8083-9B, the FAA’s reference on learning, teaching, and assessment in aviation instruction. It’s for flight and ground instructor candidates preparing for the Fundamentals of Instructing and for working instructors, available on Skyfarer and at Skyfarer Shop.
At a glance
- Source. The FAA’s Aviation Instructor’s Handbook, FAA-H-8083-9B.
- Printed by. Aviation Supplies & Academics (ASA).
- Subject. How people learn and how to teach and assess aviation students.
- Readers. CFI and ground instructor candidates and working instructors.
Where it fits
- FOI preparation. The main reference for the Fundamentals of Instructing knowledge area.
- CFI checkride. Examiners expect you to apply its concepts when you teach a lesson during the practical test.
- Day-to-day instructing. A reference to return to when a student plateaus.
Pilot tip: When a concept in the handbook clicks, write a one-line example from your own training next to it. Real examples are what make FOI answers convincing on the CFI oral.
Where to buy
Aviation Instructor’s Handbook (ASA-8083-9B) 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 FOI book?
It’s the FAA’s primary reference for the Fundamentals of Instructing material.
Isn’t it free from the FAA?
The FAA publishes it free online. This is ASA’s printed edition.
Which version is it?
FAA-H-8083-9B.
