AFM vs POH

AFM stands for Aircraft Flight Manual and POH stands for Pilots Operating Handbook. Both the AFM and POH are manuals or handouts for operation of an aircraft. Though these two are considered to be almost the same information regarding an aircraft’s operation, they have slight difference between them.

It is said that Pilots Operating Handbook was used in aircrafts that were manufactured before 1979. The POH mainly consists of all information that the manufacturer considers important for the operation of an aircraft. The aircraft that rolled out after 1979 started to use Aircraft Flight Manual, which is considered to b a standardized manual for flight operations.

Both the Pilots Operating Handbook and Aircraft Flight Manual contain operating limitations and markings/placards for the aircraft. When the Pilots Operating Handbook covers only a particular model or type of the aircraft, the Aircraft Flight Manual is very specific to the aircraft. There is no need that the AFM match the aircraft it stands for. The Pilots Operating Handbook cannot be substituted for Aircraft Flight Manual but the AFM can be used a substitute for POH.

Another thing that can be noted is that the Pilots Operating Handbook must be current. It can be seen that there is no need for the Aircraft Flight Manual to be current and no need to be serialized as Pilots Operating Handbook.

The Pilots Operating Handbook also contains additional information like GPS, STC’s that pertain to that precise N number.

Nowadays, Aircraft Flight Manual has replaced Pilots Operating Handbook in flight operations.

Summary

1. AFM stands for Aircraft Flight Manual and POH stands for Pilots Operating Handbook.

2. When the Pilots Operating Handbook covers only a particular model or type of the aircraft, the Aircraft Flight Manual is very specific to the aircraft.

3. The Pilots Operating Handbook cannot be substituted for Aircraft Flight Manual but the AFM can be used a substitute for POH.

4. Pilots Operating Handbook was used in aircrafts that were manufactured before 1979. The aircrafts that rolled out after 1979 started to use Aircraft Flight Manual.

5. The Pilots Operating Handbook also contains additional information like GPS, STC’s that pertain to that precise N number.

6. The Pilots Operating Handbook must be current. It can be seen that there is no need for the Aircraft Flight Manual to be current and no need to be serialized as Pilots Operating Handbook.

7. Aircraft Flight Manual has replaced Pilots Operating Handbook in flight operations now.

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