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4 Answers

AFM and POH

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Student Pilot

Guys, what's the diference between the AFM (Air Flight Manual) and the POH (Pilot Operating Handbook)? Why specific aircrafts has POH and others the AFM? Regards, Carlos

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4 Answers

  1. Best Answer


    Mark Kolber on Sep 25, 2013

    Short:

    The AFM is a regulatory creature; the POH is a format for the AFM and other information.

    Long:

    The AFM)is a document containing operating limitations and other required aircraft certification information. It’s been a required document since 1979, but a number of manufacturers issued them for years before that (which is why 91.9(b) talks in terms of a required one and a non-required one).

    If you look at a bunch of older flight manuals, pre 1970’s, you’ll see there is no real consistency among them. Different information, different order. Part of the chore of checking out in a new aircraft was trying to figure out where the heck things are in in manual.

    In the mid-1970s, the General Aviation Manufacturer’s Association (GAMA) introduced the “GAMA Specification No. 1” format for the “Pilot’s Operating Handbook” as a way of standardizing the presentation of AFM and other operating information.

    So that’re really all a POH is – the presentation of the AFM and whatever other information the manufacturer wants to add, in a standard format so we can find things easier.

    Although you didn’t ask, we should also mention the PIM – the Pilot “Information” Manual. The POH is a N-number-specific document that applies to one aircraft (N1234X) only and is updated by the manufacturer. The PIM applies to the make model series (C172P), is not updated, and is for general informational purposes only.

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  2. Wes Beard on Sep 25, 2013

    Most, if not all, Part 25 certified airplanes have AFMs including all jets. Most, if not all, Part 23 certified airplanes have POH’s.

    Part 25 is transport category airplanes so we are talking jets and turboprops and other airplanes that can carry quite a lot of people.

    Part 23 is normal, utility, acrobatic and other category airplanes and most small piston powered airplanes fall under this part.

    Both the AFM and POH have the same information especially after the GAMA specification.

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  3. Mark Kolber on Sep 25, 2013

    Just as a point of information, Part 23 aircraft require an AFM as much as Part 25 aircraft. You won’t even find the term POH once in the FAR.

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  4. Cadu on Sep 26, 2013

    Thank you guys for the explanation.

    Regards

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