Aviation Instructor's Handbook
Flight instruction
Aviation Instructor's Handbook
Covers learning theory, instructor responsibilities, and effective flight training techniques.
- Publication number
- FAA-H-8083-9B
- Publisher
- Federal Aviation Administration
- Access
- Free official publication
- Best for
- Flight instruction
Purpose and audience
About this handbook
A teaching-focused reference covering how people learn, how instructors communicate, and how safe aviation instruction is planned and evaluated.
Who should use it
Current and aspiring flight instructors, ground instructors, and aviation educators.
Key subjects
What you’ll learn
Learning and human behavior
Effective communication
Lesson planning and assessment
Risk management and instructor responsibilities
Practical study
How to use it in training
Use it to design lessons, choose meaningful scenarios, improve critiques, and evaluate whether students are developing sound judgment as well as technical skill.
- Set an objective. Choose the chapter or topic that supports the next lesson, task, or operating decision.
- Read actively. Mark definitions, diagrams, limitations, and questions to discuss with an instructor or qualified professional.
- Apply the material. Work a scenario, calculation, briefing, simulator exercise, or supervised practical task.
- Verify current information. Check regulations, official notices, charts, and approved aircraft or equipment documents.
Edition awareness
Revision and authority notes
Use the current FAA publication page and review any posted changes. Certification standards and current regulations control when requirements differ.
Directory review date: August 1, 2026
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