Definition
Official documents issued by the aircraft manufacturer that add to or amend the approved Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) or Pilot's Operating Handbook (POH) when optional equipment, modifications, or specific systems are installed on the aircraft. Each supplement contains the limitations, procedures, and performance data that apply to the added equipment, and together with the base AFM/POH forms the complete approved operating information for that specific aircraft.
Plain English
Extra sections added to the aircraft's flight manual that cover equipment or modifications not included in the original manual. They give the pilot the rules and procedures that come with that added equipment.
Context Anchor
You see this term when checking the aircraft documents for advanced equipment, such as an autopilot, flight display, or navigation system.
Derivation
Supplement' comes from the Latin supplere, meaning 'to fill up' or 'complete.' A flight manual supplement fills in the gaps the original manual did not cover, because the equipment it describes was added later.
Why Pilots Care
These documents contain required operating limitations and procedures; flying without consulting them can violate airworthiness requirements and create safety risks.
Intuition Check
Do not think of a flight manual supplement as optional extra reading. In this context, it is an approved part of the aircraft’s operating information when the related equipment or modification is installed.
Example Sentence 1
Before flying the aircraft with its newly installed GPS, the pilot reviewed the flight manual supplement to confirm the approved operating modes and limitations.
Example Sentence 2
Any performance changes listed in the flight manual supplements were applied to the weight-and-balance calculations.