Definition
A document developed by the airplane manufacturer and approved by the FAA that contains the operating procedures, limitations, performance data, weight and balance information, and emergency procedures specific to a particular airplane. The AFM is required to be on board the aircraft during flight and is the authoritative reference for how that specific airplane must be operated.
Plain English
The official handbook for a specific airplane, written by the people who built it and approved by the FAA. It tells the pilot exactly how that airplane must be flown, what it can and cannot do, and what to do if something goes wrong.
Context Anchor
Pilots use the AFM before and during flight planning, when checking limits, performance, loading, and approved procedures for a particular airplane.
Why Pilots Care
The AFM is a required document for the aircraft; its limitations are legally binding and its procedures must be followed to maintain airworthiness and safety.
Intuition Check
Do not treat an AFM as a generic instruction booklet for all airplanes. It is the approved operating source for a particular airplane type, and sometimes for one specific airplane.
Example Sentence 1
Before flying an unfamiliar airplane, the pilot reviewed the AFM to confirm the maximum takeoff weight and the recommended approach speed.
Example Sentence 2
During an electrical failure the crew followed the exact steps listed in the AFM for that aircraft.