In United States and Canadian aviation, the ''Aeronautical Information Manual'' (''AIM'')
[''Aeronautical Information Manual: Official Guide to Basic Flight Information and ATC Procedures''](_blank)
(formerly the ''Airman's Information Manual'') is the respective nation's official guide to basic flight information and
air traffic control
Air traffic control (ATC) is a service provided by ground-based air traffic controllers who direct aircraft on the ground and through a given section of controlled airspace, and can provide advisory services to aircraft in non-controlled air ...
procedures.
These manuals contains the fundamentals required in order to fly legally in the country of origin. They also contain items of interest to pilots concerning health and medical facts, factors affecting flight safety, a pilot/controller glossary of terms used in the ATC System, and information on safety, accident, and hazard reporting. Although the ''AIMs'' are not regulatory in nature, parts of them re-state and amplify federal regulations.
United States
In the United States, the ''AIM'' is published by the
Federal Aviation Administration
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is a Federal government of the United States, U.S. federal government agency within the United States Department of Transportation, U.S. Department of Transportation that regulates civil aviation in t ...
, and contains eleven chapters,
as follows:
#Air Navigation
#Aeronautical Lighting and Other Airport Visual Aids
#Airspace
#Air Traffic Control
#Air Traffic Procedures
#Emergency Procedures
#Safety of Flight
#Medical Facts for Pilots
#Aeronautical Charts and Related Publications
#Helicopter Operations
#Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS)
The ''AIM''s text and images are produced by the FAA, and are available in electronic form. Several commercial enterprises sell typeset books containing the AIM, usually in combination with those chapters of the Federal regulations that are particularly important to pilots. The books are usually called "FAR/AIM".
Canada
In Canada, the ''AIM'' is published by
Transport Canada
Transport Canada () is the Ministry (government department), department within the Government of Canada responsible for developing regulations, Policy, policies and Public services, services of road, rail, marine and air Transport in Canada, tra ...
, and contains the following chapters:
#General (GEN)
#Aerodromes (AGA)
#Communications (COM)
#Meteorology (MET)
#Rules of the Air and Air Traffic Services (RAC)
#North Atlantic Operations (NAT)
#Search and Rescue (SAR)
#Aeronautical Charts and Publications (MAP)
#Licensing, Registration and Airworthiness (LRA)
#Airmanship (AIR)
#Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA)
New editions of the ''AIM'' are published twice a year, usually in April and October.
Transport Canada ''AIM'' publication schedule
References
{{Reflist
External links
Latest version of online ''AIM''
on the FAA's website
Aviation in the United States
Aviation in Canada
Aviation books
Aviation publications