Advisory Circular
Advisory Circulars are non-regulatory guidance published by the Federal Aviation Administration on a wide array of topics.
Introduction to Advisory Circular
- Advisory Circulars (ACs) provide a single, uniform, agency-wide system that the FAA uses to deliver advisory (non-regulatory) material to the aviation community
- The FAA provides a searchable database of all aviation current and historical advisory circulars.
Advisory Circular Key Highlights
- Advisory Circulars (ACs) are FAA publications that provide guidance, information, and recommended practices for aviation operations and compliance.
- Advisory Circulars explain acceptable methods of compliance with regulations but are generally not regulatory requirements themselves.
- ACs cover a wide range of aviation topics including pilot training, aircraft maintenance, operations, safety procedures, and certification standards.
- Pilots, mechanics, operators, and aviation organizations use Advisory Circulars to improve regulatory understanding and operational safety.
- FAA Advisory Circular numbering systems categorize publications by aviation subject area and applicable regulations.
- Many FAA knowledge tests, practical tests, and training programs reference information contained within Advisory Circulars.
- Advisory Circulars are periodically updated to reflect regulatory changes, technological advancements, and evolving aviation safety practices.
- Pilots should verify they are using the current version of an Advisory Circular when referencing FAA guidance materials.
- Advisory Circulars supplement other FAA publications such as the Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM) and Airman Certification Standards (ACS).
- Understanding Advisory Circulars improves regulatory knowledge, operational proficiency, and overall flight safety.
Advisory Circular Purpose
- Provide an acceptable, clearly understood method for complying with a regulation
- Standardize implementation of a regulation or harmonize implementation for the international aviation community
- Resolve a general misunderstanding of a regulation
- Respond to a request from some government entity, such as General Accounting Office, NTSB, or the Office of the Inspector General
- Help the industry and FAA effectively implement a regulation
- Explain requirements and limits of an FAA grant program
- Expand on standards needed to promote aviation safety, including the safe operation of airports
Heading Information
-
Subject:
- Simply the title of the advisory circular. []
-
Date:
- Date of that advisory circular release
-
Advisory Circular Number:
- There are three parts to an AC number. []
Part 1 - Subject Matter Area:
- The first part of the number identifies the subject matter area of the AC and corresponds to the appropriate 14 CFR part
- For example, an AC on "Certification: Pilots and Flight and Ground Instructors" is numbered as AC 61-65E.
Part 2 - Sequence:
- Since ACs are numbered sequentially within each subject area, the second part of the number beginning with the dash identifies this sequence.
Part 3 - Revision:
- The third part of the number is a letter assigned by the originating office and shows the revision sequence if an AC is revised.
- The first version of an AC does not have a revision letter
- For example, AC 61-65E reflects that this is the fifth revision, as designated by the "E".
-
Initiated by:
- Lists who issued the advisory circular
- AFS: Aviation Flight Standards District
-
Changes:
Body Information
- Purpose
- Cancellation
- Related Reading Material
- The remaining of the circular will discuss information about the subject matter
Use of an Advisory Circular
- Provide an acceptable, clearly understood method for complying with a regulation
- Standardize implementation of a regulation or harmonize implementation for the international aviation community
- Resolve a general misunderstanding of a regulation
- Respond to a request from some government entity, such as General Accounting Office, NTSB, or the Office of the Inspector General
- Help the industry and FAA effectively implement a regulation
- Explain requirements and limits of an FAA grant program
- Expand on standards needed to promote aviation safety, including the safe operation of airports
Advisory Circular Development
- Advisory Circulars are sometimes first published as drafts, open to public comment
- You can find these drafts by visiting: https://www.faa.gov/aircraft/draft_docs/afs_ac/.
- You may subscribe to the Flight Standards Service to receive updates
Advisory Circular Knowledge Check
Private Pilot
Core Knowledge Review
Review the foundational knowledge, key concepts, and practical considerations for Advisory Circular.
Foundational
Immediate Feedback
Answer Explanations
Commercial Pilot
Advanced Application
Apply your knowledge of Advisory Circular to advanced operational scenarios, risk management, and aeronautical decision-making.
Advanced
Scenario Based
Risk Management
Why Take a Quiz?
Quizzes reinforce key concepts, identify knowledge gaps, and build confidence for real-world decisions in the cockpit.
Advisory Circular Interactive Scenario
Interactive Scenario
Loading scenario details...
Decision 1
0%
Scenario Complete
Advisory Circulars Conclusion
- The FAA issues Advisory Circulars (ACs) to inform the aviation public in a systematic way of non-regulatory material.
- Unless incorporated into a regulation by reference, the contents of an advisory circular are not binding on the public.
- Advisory Circulars are issued in a numbered subject system corresponding to the subject areas of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFRs) (Title 14, Chapter 1, FAA).
- Still looking for something? Continue searching:
Advisory Circulars References
- Federal Aviation Administration - Pilot/Controller Glossary.
- FAA - Advisory Circulars (resource 1).
- https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/#manuals - Preface
- Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).