Definition
An FAA Advisory Circular that provides guidance on training, qualification, and operational practices, including material referenced by aviation instructors when teaching aeronautical decision-making and human factors. Advisory Circulars (ACs) are non-regulatory documents issued by the FAA to explain, clarify, or provide acceptable means of complying with regulations.
Plain English
An official FAA guidance document that instructors and pilots can use as a reference. It is not a regulation itself, but it explains how to meet certain standards and offers recommended practices.
Context Anchor
Seen in FAA training and instructor materials when discussing computer-based aviation training devices and their approved use in training.
Derivation
"AC" stands for Advisory Circular. The number 61-126 follows the FAA's filing system: "61" matches the subject area to 14 CFR Part 61 (Certification of Pilots and Instructors), and "126" is the sequential issue number within that subject area. Knowing this pattern helps you recognize at a glance which regulatory area any AC relates to.
Why Pilots Care
Advisory Circulars give pilots and instructors a clear, FAA-endorsed way to meet a regulation or apply best practices. While not legally binding, following an AC is generally accepted by the FAA as compliance with the related rule.
Intuition Check
Do not read AC 61-126 as a regulation number. It is an FAA guidance document number, not a rule by itself.
Example Sentence 1
The instructor referenced AC 61-126 when explaining how to introduce aeronautical decision-making concepts during ground training.
Example Sentence 2
FAA inspectors referenced AC 61-126 when evaluating the content of the flight school’s instructor update program.