Definition
A former FAA publication, issued in regional volumes, that listed detailed information for public-use airports, seaplane bases, heliports, and selected military airfields, along with associated communications data, navigation aids, instrument landing systems, and other operational reference material. It has since been replaced by the Chart Supplement.
Plain English
A reference book that gave pilots all the practical details about airports and the services around them — runway lengths, radio frequencies, lighting, fuel availability, and similar information needed for planning a flight.
Context Anchor
You encounter this term when planning a flight, checking airport information before departure, or reviewing details before arriving at an unfamiliar airport.
Derivation
A straightforward compound: 'Airport' (the landing site) and 'Facility' (the supporting services and equipment), combined with 'Directory' (from Latin 'directorium', a guide or listing). The name describes exactly what it is — a directory of airports and their facilities.
Why Pilots Care
Pilots rely on it to verify runway suitability, available services, and contact frequencies before departure or arrival.
Intuition Check
Do not read this as only a list of airports. In FAA use, it is a detailed operating reference for airports and aviation facilities, and it is now known as the Chart Supplement.
Example Sentence 1
Before her cross-country flight, she checked the Airport/Facility Directory for the runway length and CTAF frequency at her destination.
Example Sentence 2
During preflight, she opened the Airport/Facility Directory to locate the correct CTAF frequency for the nontowered airport.