A student reviewing checkride study material with a Certified Flight Instructor

Pilot Resource Center

Every FAA publication you need, in one place.

Free study materials, Airman Certification Standards, and handbooks from the FAA. 20 resources, organized by certificate level. Bookmark this page.

Jump to: Airman Certification Standards Practical Test Standards FAA Pilot Handbooks AIM & Chart References

Free, current, authoritative

Everything below comes straight from the FAA.

The FAA updates these documents on its own schedule, so we link to the source rather than host stale copies. Click any title, save the PDF, then come back here when the next revision drops and we will have the new link up.

If you are training with us, your instructor will tell you which section to read before each lesson. If you are not training with us yet, this list is a decent self-assessment: read the Private Pilot ACS and the PHAK first, then come fly with us when you are ready.

5 documents

Airman Certification Standards (ACS)

The ACS is what your DPE grades you against on every FAA practical test. Read the matching ACS cover-to-cover before the checkride, then read it again. Free, current, and authoritative.

Student pilot and CFI reviewing FAA study material before a checkride — Reading the ACS is study one. Flying the ACS is study two.

3 documents

Practical Test Standards (PTS)

CFI, CFII, and MEI candidates still test against PTS rather than ACS. These are the documents your DPE will use on flight instructor checkrides.

10 documents

FAA Pilot Handbooks

The FAA reference library. Every student pilot needs the PHAK and Airplane Flying Handbook. Instrument students add the Instrument Flying Handbook and IPH. Every pilot benefits from the Aviation Weather Handbook and Risk Management Handbook.

Instrument rating training cockpit view — The handbook teaches the procedure. The airplane teaches the scan.

2 documents

AIM & Chart References

Day-to-day reference material every pilot should have within arm’s reach.

Reading is not flying

The PHAK is a great book. The airplane is a better teacher.

When you are ready to put the handbook down and try the real thing, a discovery flight is the cheapest way in. From $199.

Book a discovery flight See training programs

Every FAA publication you need, in one place.

Everything below comes straight from the FAA.

Airman Certification Standards (ACS)

Private Pilot — Airplane ACS

Instrument Rating — Airplane ACS

Commercial Pilot — Airplane ACS

Airline Transport Pilot ACS

Remote Pilot — Small UAS ACS

Practical Test Standards (PTS)

Flight Instructor — Airplane (CFI)

Flight Instructor — Instrument (CFII)

Flight Instructor — Multi-Engine (MEI)

FAA Pilot Handbooks

Airplane Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-3)

Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (FAA-H-8083-25)

Aviation Weather Handbook (FAA-H-8083-28)

Aviation Weather Services (AC 00-45)

Weight & Balance Handbook (FAA-H-8083-1)

Advanced Avionics Handbook (FAA-H-8083-6)

Instrument Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-15B)

Instrument Procedures Handbook (FAA-H-8083-16B)

Risk Management Handbook (FAA-H-8083-2)

Aviation Instructor’s Handbook (FAA-H-8083-9)

AIM & Chart References

Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM)

Aeronautical Chart User’s Guide

The PHAK is a great book. The airplane is a better teacher.