Why Every Pilot Should Read Advisory Circulars

Have you ever dug around the regulations, but you still couldn’t find the reference?

It’s probably because it was buried in an Advisory Circular, and not the FARs or AIM.

Advisory Circulars are produced by the FAA, and they contain an amazing amount of useful information you won’t find in the FARs or AIM. Every pilot should read Advisory Circulars to help them understand regulations and also delve deeper into important topics like icing.

Here is the official purpose of the Advisory Circular system:

In other words, Advisory Circulars serve a wide variety of purposes. The two most useful types for pilots are the “best practices” ACs, and the ones which “explain regulations.”

For example, here is an informational AC on wake turbulence.

Here is an example of an AC designed to explain the electronic flight bag regulation.

Notice it says the AC sets for “an acceptable means, but not the only means….” Which leads me to my next point:

Are ACs regulatory?

Advisory Circulars aren’t regulatory or binding. This is a common misperception.

It’s easy to think they are regulatory because the FAA uses some of them to thoroughly explain confusing regulations and provide guidance on complying with airworthiness directives.

While you could choose to ignore the regulatory advice in ACs, I highly recommend you follow the suggestions outlined in the Advisory Circular. They provide left and right limits like rubber bumpers on a bowling lane.

Most of the Advisory Circulars on regulations are quite boring. The informational ACs, though, are fantastic and will help you become a better pilot.