Definition
FAA-H-8083-3 is the official Federal Aviation Administration publication number for the Airplane Flying Handbook, the FAA's primary reference on the techniques and procedures used to fly airplanes safely.
Plain English
It is the FAA's main book on how to actually fly an airplane. The number on the cover identifies which book it is.
Context Anchor
Seen in FAA handbook references when one FAA book points the reader to another FAA training handbook for more detail.
Derivation
FAA stands for Federal Aviation Administration. The H stands for Handbook. The 8083 is the FAA's numbering series for handbooks aimed at pilots, and the -3 identifies this specific title (the Airplane Flying Handbook) within that series.
Why Pilots Care
When a handbook says 'see FAA-H-8083-3,' the pilot needs to know that refers to the Airplane Flying Handbook, not a regulation or a different document. It is one of the core books a student pilot studies during training.
Intuition Check
Do not read FAA-H-8083-3 as an aircraft model or regulation number. It is a document identifier for an FAA handbook.
Example Sentence 1
For more detail on stall recovery techniques, the chapter referred the reader to FAA-H-8083-3.
Example Sentence 2
Private pilot applicants study FAA-H-8083-3 to prepare for the practical test.