Change 1 Efficient August 7, 2025
A brand new revision to the Aeronautical Info Guide (AIM) is now in impact, and it contains an necessary clarification for pilots working at towered airports. The FAA has up to date paragraph 4-3-3 to realign the definition and depiction of the upwind leg with the way it’s utilized by air visitors management (ATC) in follow.
Beforehand, there was a disconnect between how the AIM outlined the upwind leg and the way controllers utilized it operationally. The brand new steerage clearly establishes the upwind leg as an extension of the departure leg, not a separate or parallel visitors sample entry. This alteration helps resolve confusion and improves coordination between pilots and controllers.
The up to date Determine 4-3-1 and revised language in 4-3-2c now mirror this widespread utilization, and all the sequence of visitors sample parts has been reordered for better readability—beginning logically with departure.
Upwind leg.A flight path that begins after departure and continues straight forward alongside the prolonged runway centerline.Upwind leg is an extension of departure and is used when issuing management directions for separation, spacing, or sequencing.
Change 1 additionally contains a wide range of different updates starting from vacation spot indicators to EFVS approaches and aviation climate merchandise. Learn the reason of modifications right here.
Entry the entire AIM right here.
Buy your 2026 FAR/AIM onerous copy right here.
It was his first airplane journey at age seven that made Eric resolve to turn into a pilot. “Whereas boarding the airplane, a flight attendant seen my curiosity within the flight deck and urged me to go speak to the pilot. I give lots of credit score to that pilot for my profession alternative.” Eric earned a bachelor’s diploma in finance and went on to an airline profession. He realized to fly at Sporty’s as a part of the College of Cincinnati’s Skilled Pilot Program, an initiative he later directed.Eric now manages Sporty’s media community together with FlightTrainingCentral.com. As well as, Eric serves as a Captain in a Cincinnati-based company flight division.
