Definition
The pilot's operating handbook is the manufacturer-produced document that describes a specific aircraft and how to operate it safely. It contains the aircraft's limitations, normal and emergency procedures, performance data, weight and balance information, systems descriptions, and recommended operating practices. For aircraft certified after 1979, the POH typically also serves as the FAA-approved Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) when it includes the required approved sections.
Plain English
The official book that comes with a specific airplane, written by the people who built it, telling the pilot exactly how to fly it, what it can and cannot do, and what to do when things go wrong.
Context Anchor
A pilot uses the POH during training, preflight planning, aircraft checkout, performance planning, and when reviewing procedures for a specific airplane.
Why Pilots Care
The POH is the legal and practical authority for operating that aircraft; deviations from its procedures or limitations can compromise safety or airworthiness.
Intuition Check
Do not think of a POH as a general flying textbook. It is the operating guide for a particular airplane type, and often contains information that applies only to that aircraft model or individual aircraft.
Example Sentence 1
Before her solo cross-country, she pulled the POH from the side pocket and reviewed the short-field takeoff procedure.
Example Sentence 2
When the engine lost power, the pilot immediately referred to the emergency checklist in the POH.