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432 paragraphs indexed
AIM LIBRARY

The FAA AIM. Plain English.

Search the FAA Aeronautical Information Manual by chapter and paragraph — air navigation, airspace, ATC procedures, emergency operations, weather, charts, and helicopter/UAS operations. Every paragraph explained for student pilots.

FAA source checkLast verified: 2026-06-20

Current FAA AIM online edition

The FAA AIM is the Aeronautical Information Manual. As of 2026-06-20, the FAA online AIM is Basic with Change 1 and 2, effective January 22, 2026; this page indexes 432 AIM paragraphs for pilot-friendly study and oral-exam practice.

Sources: FAA AIM HTML, FAA publications index, and AIM Explanation of Changes; date_retrieved: 2026-06-20.

Current FAA AIM
Basic with Change 1 and 2

The FAA publications page lists the online AIM as Basic with Change 1 and 2, effective January 22, 2026.

Best online source
FAA HTML

Use the FAA HTML manual when you need the live paragraph text, then drill the paragraph here in plain English.

Student pilot shortcut
Ch. 3-8

Most private-pilot AIM study lives in airspace, ATC, traffic procedures, emergencies, weather, and medical facts.

AIM FAQ
Q1What is the FAA AIM Aeronautical Information Manual?
The FAA AIM is the Aeronautical Information Manual: the FAA guide to basic flight information, air traffic control procedures, airport operations, weather services, safety-of-flight practices, and medical facts for pilots. The current FAA online edition is Basic with Change 1 and 2, effective January 22, 2026.
Q2Is the AIM regulatory like the FAR?
The AIM is not the regulation itself; the FARs are the legal rules in Title 14 CFR. Pilots still use the AIM because it explains ATC procedures, services, phraseology, airport operations, weather information, and safety practices that checkrides and real flights expect you to know.
Q3Where can I read the current AIM online?
Read the FAA HTML AIM for the official source text, then use GroundScholar to jump by paragraph and practice the oral-exam version of the same topic. This page indexes the AIM by chapter and paragraph so a search for "AIM 4-2-3" or "AIM Chapter 7" lands on the relevant section.
Q4Which AIM chapters should a student pilot study first?
Start with Chapter 3 airspace, Chapter 4 air traffic control, Chapter 5 traffic procedures, Chapter 6 emergency procedures, Chapter 7 safety of flight and weather, and Chapter 8 medical facts. Those chapters map directly to common private-pilot oral questions.
Common AIM cross-references

Start with the paragraphs pilots cite in real checkride answers.

These AIM sections connect radio work, pilot-in-command authority, ATC roles, and wake-turbulence decisions before you browse the full manual.

AIM 4-2-3
Initial contact radio callup

Facility name, full aircraft ID, request, and ATIS code in the first radio call.

AIM 5-5-1
Pilot/controller responsibilities

PIC final authority, ATC priorities, and the overlap that keeps separation resilient.

AIM 7-4-8
Wake turbulence responsibility

When traffic information, follow instructions, or a visual approach shift wake spacing to you.

AIM 4-7-6
Reduced-separation contingencies

Weather-deviation and contingency procedures outside direct ATC surveillance and VHF coverage.

AIM Chapter 1

Air Navigation

24 paragraphs
1-1-1
Navigation Aids General
1-1-2
Nondirectional Radio Beacon (NDB)
1-1-3
VOR and VOR MON
1-1-4
VOR Receiver Check
1-1-5
TACAN Navigation System
1-1-6
VORTAC Navigation Aid
1-1-7
Distance Measuring Equipment
1-1-8
NAVAID Service Volumes
1-1-9
Instrument Landing System
1-1-10
Simplified Directional Facility
1-1-11
NAVAID Identifier Removal
1-1-12
NAVAIDs With Voice
1-1-13
NAVAID Outage Reports
1-1-14
LORAN-C Termination
1-1-15
IRU, INS, and AHRS
1-1-16
Doppler Radar Navigation
1-1-17
GPS Navigation and RAIM
1-1-18
WAAS GPS Augmentation
1-1-19
GBAS Landing System (GLS)
1-1-20
Special Precision Approach Procedures
1-2-1
Performance-Based Navigation (PBN)
1-2-2
Required Navigation Performance
1-2-3
Suitable RNAV Substitution
1-2-4
GPS Jamming and Spoofing

AIM Chapter 2

Aeronautical Lighting & Airport Visual Aids

29 paragraphs
2-1-1
Approach Light Systems
2-1-2
Visual Glideslope Indicators
2-1-3
Runway End Identifier Lights
2-1-4
Runway Edge Lights
2-1-5
In-Runway Lighting
2-1-6
Runway Status Lights (RWSL)
2-1-7
Airport Lighting Control
2-1-8
Pilot Controlled Lighting
2-1-9
Airport Beacons
2-1-10
Taxiway Lights
2-2-1
Aeronautical Light Beacons
2-2-2
Code Beacons and Course Lights
2-2-3
Obstruction Lights
2-2-4
LED Lighting and NVGs
2-3-1
Airport Markings and Signs
2-3-2
Airport Pavement Markings
2-3-3
Runway Markings
2-3-4
Taxiway Markings
2-3-5
Holding Position Markings
2-3-6
Other Airport Markings
2-3-7
Airport Signs
2-3-8
Mandatory Instruction Signs
2-3-9
Airport Location Signs
2-3-10
Airport Direction Signs
2-3-11
Destination Signs
2-3-12
Information Signs
2-3-13
Runway Distance Remaining Signs
2-3-14
Aircraft Arresting Systems
2-3-15
SIDA Security Areas

AIM Chapter 3

Airspace

17 paragraphs
3-1-1
Airspace Categories and Types
3-1-2
Airspace Dimensions Reference
3-1-3
Overlapping Airspace Hierarchy
3-1-4
Basic VFR Weather Minimums
3-1-5
VFR Cruising Altitudes
3-3-1
Class G Airspace
3-3-2
VFR Weather Minimums
3-3-3
IFR Altitude Requirements
3-4-1
Special Use Airspace
3-4-2
Prohibited Areas
3-4-3
Restricted Areas
3-4-4
Warning Areas
3-4-5
Military Operations Areas
3-4-6
Alert Areas
3-4-7
Controlled Firing Areas
3-4-8
National Security Areas
3-4-9
Special Use Airspace Status

AIM Chapter 4

Air Traffic Control

27 paragraphs
4-5-1
Radar Capabilities and Limitations
4-5-2
ATCRBS Secondary Surveillance Radar
4-5-3
Surveillance Radar
4-5-4
Precision Approach Radar
4-5-5
ASDE-X/ASSC Surface Surveillance
4-5-6
Traffic Information Service (TIS)
4-5-7
ADS-B Services
4-5-8
TIS-B Traffic Service
4-5-9
FIS-B Weather Broadcast
4-5-10
ADS-R Rebroadcast
4-6-1
RVSM Applicability and Mandate
4-6-2
Flight Level Orientation
4-6-3
RVSM Approval Procedures
4-6-4
RVSM Flight Plan Filing
4-6-5
RVSM Operating Procedures
4-6-6
Severe Turbulence & Mountain Wave
4-6-7
RVSM Wake Turbulence
4-6-8
RVSM Phraseology
4-6-9
RVSM Contingency Actions
4-6-10
Non-RVSM Accommodation
4-6-11
Non-RVSM Climb/Descent
4-7-1
Gulf RNP Lateral Separation
4-7-2
Non-RNP 10 Gulf Operations
4-7-3
RNP 10/4 Authorization
4-7-4
Single LRNS Authority
4-7-5
RNP Flight Plan Requirements
4-7-6
Oceanic Contingency Procedures

AIM Chapter 5

Air Traffic Procedures

49 paragraphs
5-2-1
Pre-Taxi Clearance Procedures
5-2-2
Pre-Departure Clearance Procedures
5-2-3
IFR Clearance Uncontrolled Airports
5-2-4
IFR Taxi Clearance
5-2-5
Line Up and Wait
5-2-6
Abbreviated IFR Departure Clearance
5-2-7
Clearance Void Times
5-2-8
Departure Control
5-2-9
Instrument Departure Procedures
5-3-1
ARTCC Communications
5-3-2
IFR Position Reporting
5-3-3
IFR Additional Reports
5-3-4
Airways and Route Systems
5-3-5
Airway Course Changes
5-3-6
Changeover Points (COPs)
5-3-7
Minimum Turning Altitude
5-3-8
IFR Holding Procedures
5-5-1
Pilot/Controller Responsibilities
5-5-2
Air Traffic Clearance
5-5-3
Contact Approach
5-5-4
Instrument Approach Clearance
5-5-5
Missed Approach Procedures
5-5-6
ATC Radar Vectors
5-5-7
ATC Safety Alerts
5-5-8
See and Avoid
5-5-9
ATC Speed Adjustments
5-5-10
Traffic Advisories
5-5-11
Visual Approach
5-5-12
Visual Separation
5-5-13
VFR-on-Top Clearance
5-5-14
Instrument Departures
5-5-15
Minimum Fuel Advisory
5-5-16
RNAV and RNP Operations
5-6-1
National Security ATC
5-6-2
National Security Requirements
5-6-3
ADIZ Definitions
5-6-4
ADIZ Requirements
5-6-5
Civil Aircraft US Airspace Entry
5-6-6
Civil Aircraft U.S. Airspace
5-6-7
Civil Aircraft Transit Rules
5-6-8
Foreign State Aircraft Operations
5-6-9
FAA/TSA Airspace Waivers
5-6-10
TSA Aviation Security Programs
5-6-11
FAA Flight Routing Authorizations
5-6-12
ESCAT Procedures
5-6-13
Aircraft Interception Procedures
5-6-14
Aircraft Interception Signals
5-6-15
ADIZ Boundaries
5-6-16
Visual Warning System

AIM Chapter 6

Emergency Procedures

9 paragraphs
6-2-1
Radar Service VFR Difficulty
6-2-2
Transponder Emergency Squawk
6-2-3
SAR Intercept and Escort
6-2-4
Emergency Locator Transmitter
6-2-5
FAA K-9 Explosives Detection
6-2-6
Search and Rescue
6-5-1
Discrete Emergency Frequency
6-5-2
ARFF Radio Call Signs
6-5-3
ARFF Emergency Hand Signals

AIM Chapter 7

Safety of Flight

17 paragraphs
7-3-1
Cold Temperature Altimeter Error
7-3-2
Cold Temperature Altimeter Pre-Flight Planning
7-3-3
Cold Temperature Baro-VNAV Effects
7-3-4
Cold Temperature Airports
7-3-5
Cold Temperature Altitude Corrections
7-3-6
Cold Temperature Altitude Corrections
7-5-1
Migratory Bird Activity
7-5-2
Bird Strike Risk Reduction
7-5-3
Reporting Bird Strikes
7-5-4
Bird Strike Reporting
7-5-5
Wildlife Hazard Advisories
7-5-6
Flights Over National Parks
7-7-1
Aviation Safety Reporting Program
7-7-2
Accident and Incident Reporting
7-7-3
Near Midair Collision Reporting
7-7-4
UAP Reporting
7-7-5
SAFO and InFO Bulletins

AIM Chapter 9

Aeronautical Charts & Related Publications

6 paragraphs
9-1-1
FAA Aeronautical Charts
9-1-2
Obtaining Aeronautical Charts
9-1-3
Safety Alerts and Charting Notices
9-1-4
FAA Charts and Products
9-1-5
FAA Chart Series Overview
9-1-6
Foreign Area Charts

AIM Chapter 10

Helicopter Operations

9 paragraphs
10-1-1
Helicopter Flight Control Systems
10-1-2
Helicopter Instrument Approaches
10-1-3
Helicopter VFR Heliport Approaches
10-1-4
Gulf Grid System
10-1-5
PinS Departure Procedures
10-2-1
Offshore Helicopter Operations
10-2-2
Helicopter Night VFR Lighting
10-2-3
HEMS Landing Zone Safety
10-2-4
EMS Multi-Helicopter Operations

AIM Chapter 11

Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS)

27 paragraphs
11-1-1
UAS Operations Overview
11-1-2
UAS NAS Access
11-2-1
Part 107 sUAS Operations
11-2-2
UAS Registration Requirements
11-3-1
Large Public UAS Operations
11-3-2
Section 44807 UAS Exemptions
11-3-3
Large UAS Civil Operations
11-4-1
Recreational UAS Operations
11-4-2
Part 107 and Waivers
11-4-3
Public Aircraft Operations
11-4-4
UAS Remote ID & FRIAs
11-4-5
UAS Part 135 and 137 Access
11-4-6
UAS Airspace Restrictions
11-4-7
UAS Traffic Management
11-5-1
UAS Pilot Certification
11-5-2
PAO Pilot Certification
11-5-3
UAS Pilot Certification
11-5-4
Foreign Pilot UAS Certification
11-6-1
Advanced Air Mobility
11-7-1
UAS Airport Operations
11-8-1
UAS Pilot Responsibilities
11-8-2
UAS ATC Coordination
11-8-3
UAS Operational Precautions
11-8-4
UAS Accident Reporting
11-8-5
SGI Emergency UAS Waivers
11-8-6
UAS Environmental Best Practices
11-8-7
UAS Operator Resources

Chapter 3

16 paragraphs
3-2-1
Controlled Airspace General
3-2-2
Class A Airspace
3-2-3
Class B Airspace
3-2-4
Class C Airspace
3-2-5
Class D Airspace
3-2-6
Class E Airspace
3-5-1
Airport Advisory Services
3-5-2
Military Training Routes
3-5-3
Temporary Flight Restrictions
3-5-4
Parachute Jump Operations
3-5-5
Published VFR Routes
3-5-6
Terminal Radar Service Area
3-5-7
SATR and SFRA
3-5-8
Washington DC SFRA/FRZ
3-5-9
Weather Reconnaissance Area
3-5-10
Non-Charted Airspace Areas

Chapter 4

81 paragraphs
4-1-1
Air Route Traffic Control Centers
4-1-2
Control Tower Services
4-1-3
Flight Service Stations
4-1-4
ATC Recording and Monitoring
4-1-5
IFR Release at Non-Towered Airports
4-1-6
Pilot ATC Facility Visits
4-1-7
Operation Rain Check
4-1-8
VFR Approach Control Service
4-1-9
Non-Towered Airport Communications
4-1-10
CTAF IFR Approach Procedures
4-1-11
UNICOM/MULTICOM Frequencies
4-1-12
UNICOM for ATC
4-1-13
ATIS Broadcasts
4-1-14
Alaska AFIS Broadcasts
4-1-15
Radar Traffic Advisories
4-1-16
ATC Safety Alerts
4-1-17
Radar Assistance to VFR
4-1-18
Terminal Radar Services VFR
4-1-19
Tower En Route Control
4-1-20
Transponder & ADS-B Operation
4-1-21
Airport Reservations and STMPs
4-1-22
Certificates of Waiver
4-1-23
Weather Systems Processor
4-2-1
Pilot-Controller Communications
4-2-2
Radio Technique
4-2-3
Radio Contact Procedures
4-2-4
Aircraft Call Signs
4-2-5
Interchange Aircraft Identification
4-2-6
Ground Station Call Signs
4-2-7
ICAO Phonetic Alphabet
4-2-8
Radio Number Pronunciation
4-2-9
Altitude Radio Phraseology
4-2-10
Radio Directions Phraseology
4-2-11
Speed Phraseology
4-2-12
UTC Time Reporting
4-2-13
NORDO Tower Procedures
4-2-14
VFR FSS Communications
4-3-1
Airport Operations Safety
4-3-2
Towered Airport Operations
4-3-3
Airport Traffic Patterns
4-3-4
Segmented Circle Indicators
4-3-5
Unexpected Pattern Maneuvers
4-3-6
Runways and Declared Distances
4-3-7
Wind Shear Detection Systems
4-3-8
Braking Action Reports
4-3-9
Runway Condition Reports
4-3-10
Intersection Takeoffs
4-3-11
LAHSO Pilot Responsibilities
4-3-12
Low Approach Procedures
4-3-13
ATC Light Gun Signals
4-3-14
Tower Ground Communications
4-3-15
Gate Holding Procedures
4-3-16
VFR Terminal Area Practices
4-3-17
VFR Helicopter Operations
4-3-18
Taxi Clearances and Readbacks
4-3-19
Low Visibility Taxi
4-3-20
Standard Taxi Routes
4-3-21
Exiting Runway After Landing
4-3-22
Practice Instrument Approaches
4-3-23
Cleared for the Option
4-3-24
Use of Aircraft Lights
4-3-25
Flight Check Aircraft
4-3-26
Ground Hand Signals
4-3-27
ASOS/AWOS Uncontrolled Airport Ops
4-4-1
ATC Clearance
4-4-2
ATC Clearance Prefix
4-4-3
IFR Clearance Items
4-4-4
Amended IFR Clearances
4-4-5
Coded Departure Routes
4-4-6
Special VFR Clearances
4-4-7
ATC Clearance Readback
4-4-8
VFR-on-Top Clearance
4-4-9
VFR to IFR Clearance
4-4-10
Adherence to ATC Clearance
4-4-11
IFR Separation Standards
4-4-12
ATC Speed Adjustments
4-4-13
Runway Separation
4-4-14
Visual Separation
4-4-15
Visual Clearing & Scanning
4-4-16
TCAS I and II
4-4-17
Traffic Information Service

Chapter 5

44 paragraphs
5-1-1
Preflight Preparation
5-1-2
IFR Procedures While VFR
5-1-3
NOTAM System
5-1-4
Operational Information System
5-1-5
VFR Flight Plans
5-1-6
IFR Flight Plan Filing
5-1-7
Military DoD Flight Plans
5-1-8
DVFR Flight Plans
5-1-9
Composite VFR/IFR Flight Plans
5-1-10
IFR High Altitude Destinations
5-1-11
International Flight Operations
5-1-12
Flight Plan Changes
5-1-13
Departure Time Changes
5-1-14
Closing VFR Flight Plans
5-1-15
Canceling IFR Flight Plan
5-1-16
RNAV and RNP Operations
5-1-17
Cold Temperature Operations
5-4-1
STAR Procedures and Descend Via
5-4-2
Local Flow Traffic Management
5-4-3
Approach Control Radar Vectors
5-4-4
Advance Approach Information
5-4-5
IAP Chart Interpretation
5-4-6
IFR Approach Clearance
5-4-7
Instrument Approach Procedures
5-4-8
Special Instrument Approach Procedures
5-4-9
Procedure Turn
5-4-10
Timed Approaches from Holding Fix
5-4-11
Radar Approaches
5-4-12
Radar Monitoring Instrument Approaches
5-4-13
Simultaneous Parallel Approaches
5-4-14
Simultaneous Dependent Approaches
5-4-15
Simultaneous Independent Parallel Approaches
5-4-16
PRM and SOIA Approaches
5-4-17
Simultaneous Converging Approaches
5-4-18
RNP AR Procedures
5-4-19
Side-step Maneuver
5-4-20
Approach and Landing Minimums
5-4-21
Missed Approach Procedures
5-4-22
EFVS Instrument Approaches
5-4-23
Visual Approach
5-4-24
Charted Visual Flight Procedure
5-4-25
Contact Approach
5-4-26
Landing Priority
5-4-27
Overhead Approach Maneuver

Chapter 6

10 paragraphs
6-1-1
PIC Emergency Authority
6-1-2
Declaring an Emergency
6-3-1
Distress and Urgency Communications
6-3-2
Obtaining Emergency Assistance
6-3-3
Aircraft Ditching Procedures
6-3-4
Special Emergency Air Piracy
6-3-5
Fuel Dumping Procedures
6-4-1
Lost Communications Procedures
6-4-2
Radio Failure Transponder Code
6-4-3
Reestablishing Radio Contact

Chapter 7

59 paragraphs
7-1-1
NWS Aviation Weather Program
7-1-2
FAA Weather Services
7-1-3
Aviation Weather Products
7-1-4
Graphical Forecasts for Aviation
7-1-5
Preflight Weather Briefings
7-1-6
Inflight Weather Advisories
7-1-7
Categorical Ceiling and Visibility
7-1-8
Inflight Weather Advisory Broadcasts
7-1-9
Flight Information Services
7-1-10
Weather Observing Programs
7-1-11
Weather Radar Services
7-1-12
ATC Weather Avoidance
7-1-13
Runway Visual Range
7-1-14
Reporting Cloud Heights
7-1-15
Prevailing Visibility Reporting
7-1-16
Rain and Ice Pellet Intensity
7-1-17
Snow Drizzle Intensity
7-1-18
Pilot Weather Reports (PIREPs)
7-1-19
Airframe Icing PIREPs
7-1-20
Inflight Icing Definitions
7-1-21
Turbulence PIREPs
7-1-22
Wind Shear PIREPs
7-1-23
Clear Air Turbulence PIREPs
7-1-24
Microbursts and Wind Shear
7-1-25
Volcanic Ash PIREPs
7-1-26
Thunderstorm Hazards
7-1-27
Thunderstorm Flying
7-1-28
TAF and METAR Decoding
7-1-29
METAR and TAF Decoding
7-2-1
Altimeter Errors
7-2-2
Barometric Altimeter Errors
7-2-3
Altimeter Errors and Settings
7-4-1
Wake Turbulence Basics
7-4-2
Wake Vortex Generation
7-4-3
Wake Vortex Strength
7-4-4
Wake Vortex Behavior
7-4-5
Wake Turbulence Problem Areas
7-4-6
Wake Turbulence Avoidance
7-4-7
Helicopter Wake Turbulence
7-4-8
Wake Turbulence Pilot Responsibility
7-4-9
ATC Wake Turbulence Separation
7-6-1
GA Accident Causal Factors
7-6-2
Radio Altimeter Anomaly Reporting
7-6-3
VFR Congested Areas
7-6-4
Obstructions To Flight
7-6-5
Unmanned Free Balloons
7-6-6
Unmanned Aircraft Systems
7-6-7
Mountain Flying
7-6-8
Runway Half-way Signs
7-6-9
Seaplane Safety
7-6-10
Volcanic Ash Operations
7-6-11
Emergency Airborne Inspection
7-6-12
Precipitation Static
7-6-13
Laser Illumination Reporting
7-6-14
Flat Light Brownout Whiteout
7-6-15
Ground Icing Operations
7-6-16
Exhaust Plume Hazards
7-6-17
Space Launch Reentry Areas
7-6-18
Automatic Landing Operations

Chapter 8

8 paragraphs
8-1-1
Fitness For Flight
8-1-2
Effects of Altitude
8-1-3
Hyperventilation in Flight
8-1-4
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
8-1-5
Flight Illusions
8-1-6
Vision in Flight
8-1-7
Aerobatic G-Force Physiology
8-1-8
Collision Avoidance Judgment
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