Plain English Meaning
The book the manufacturer provides for a specific aircraft that tells the pilot how to operate it, what its limits are, how it performs, and what to do in emergencies.
Full Definition
An aircraft-specific manual produced by the manufacturer that contains the operating procedures, performance data, limitations, systems descriptions, and emergency procedures for a particular make and model of aircraft. For aircraft certificated after 1979, much of its content is FAA-approved and serves as the Airplane Flight Manual; for earlier aircraft, it supplements the separate Airplane Flight Manual.
Context Anchor
Pilots use the pilot’s operating handbook during aircraft checkout, , checks, and any time they need the official information for that specific aircraft.