FAR/AIM reference in plain English
The regulations and AIM guidance pilots look up most, each with the official text, a plain-English explanation, practice questions from our free FAA written test prep and links to live weather. A study aid, not legal advice or an FAA interpretation.
Before you fly
Pilot in command duties, preflight action, fuel and VFR weather minimums.
Airspace and altitudes
Right of way, speed limits, minimum altitudes and the rules for each airspace class.
- Right-of-way rules 14 CFR 91.113
- Aircraft speed limits 14 CFR 91.117
- Minimum safe altitudes 14 CFR 91.119
- Operating at an airport in Class G airspace 14 CFR 91.126
- Class D airspace rules 14 CFR 91.129
- Class C airspace rules 14 CFR 91.130
- Class B airspace rules 14 CFR 91.131
- Disaster and hazard area TFRs 14 CFR 91.137
- VFR cruising altitudes 14 CFR 91.159
Pilot certificates and currency
Medicals, endorsements, logbooks, flight reviews and staying current.
- Required certificates and documents 14 CFR 61.3
- Medical certificates: which class and how long 14 CFR 61.23
- Type ratings and airplane endorsements 14 CFR 61.31
- Pilot logbooks 14 CFR 61.51
- Flight review 14 CFR 61.56
- Pilot in command currency 14 CFR 61.57
- Student pilot solo requirements 14 CFR 61.87
- Student pilot limitations 14 CFR 61.89
- Private pilot flight time requirements 14 CFR 61.109
- Private pilot privileges and limitations 14 CFR 61.113
Equipment and maintenance
Required instruments, oxygen, transponders, ADS-B and inspections.
- Required aircraft certificates on board 14 CFR 91.203
- Required instruments and equipment 14 CFR 91.205
- Emergency locator transmitters (ELT) 14 CFR 91.207
- Supplemental oxygen requirements 14 CFR 91.211
- Flying with inoperative instruments and equipment 14 CFR 91.213
- Where a transponder with Mode C is required 14 CFR 91.215
- Where ADS-B Out is required 14 CFR 91.225
- Annual and 100-hour inspections 14 CFR 91.409
Instrument flying
IFR fuel, alternates, VOR checks, approach minimums and lost communications.
- IFR fuel requirements 14 CFR 91.167
- IFR flight plan and alternate airport requirements 14 CFR 91.169
- VOR equipment check for IFR 14 CFR 91.171
- Takeoff and landing under IFR 14 CFR 91.175
- Minimum altitudes for IFR operations 14 CFR 91.177
- IFR lost communications procedures 14 CFR 91.185
- Holding patterns AIM 5-3-8
AIM essentials
Guidance pilots use every day: CTAF calls, traffic patterns, TFRs, METAR/TAF and illusions.
Drones (Part 107)
Altitude and speed limits, night operations, line of sight and recurrent training.
Looking for a section that is not listed? Every 14 CFR section in Parts 1, 43, 61, 67, 68, 91, 97, 103, 107, 117, 135 and 141 and every AIM paragraph has a reference page; ask for it above by number, or start from 14 CFR 91.103.