Flight manuals are supplied to individual aircraft by the aircraft manufacture. The manuals are unique to the individual aircraft were it remains with that aircraft and can not be swapped with another aircraft of the same type.
Flight manuals are approved by the governing authority and have an amendment status for particular sections, while other sections remain non-approved. A general list of information that may be obtained from a flight manual is provided below.
General
Section 1
- Introduction
- Helicopter type
- Descriptive data
- Performance definitions
- Weight and balance definitions
- Conversion tables
Limitations
Section 2
- Instrument markings
- Air speed limitations and marking
- Rotor through speed limits and marking
- Engine tachometer marking
- Power-plant limitations and marking
- Weight limits
- Centre of gravity limits
- Flight and manoeuvre limitation
- Operational limitations
- Fuel limitations
- Placards
Emergency Procedures
Section 3
- Definitions
- Power failure
- general
- above 500 feet AGL
- between 8 feet and 500 feet AGL
- the low 8 feet AGL
- Maximum glide distance configurations
- Air restart procedures
- Ditching
- power off
- power on
- Loss of tail rotor trust
- during forward flight
- during Hover
- Engine fire during start
- Fire in flight
- Electrical fire in flight
- Tachometer failure
- Governor failure
- Red warning light
- Amber caution lights
- Warning Horan and caution light (low rotor rpm)
Normal Procedures
Section 4
- Airspeed for safe operation
- Daily or preflight checks
- Before starting engine
- Starting engine
- Takeoff procedure
- Cruise
- Practise autorotation
- power recovery
- with ground contact
- Use of carburettor heat
- Approach and landing
- Shutdown procedures
- Noise abatement
Performance
Section 5
- Demonstrated operating temperature
- Air speed calibration
- Density the altitude chart
- IGE hover a ceiling versus gross weight
- OGE hover a ceiling versus gross weight
- Height velocity diagram
Weight and Balance
Section 6
- Helicopter weighing procedures
- Weight and balance record
- Lateral centre of gravity position
- Loading instructions
- Equipment list
Systems Description
Section 7
- Air frame
- Rotor system
- Drive system
- Engine
- Flight controls
- Removable flight controls
- Control Trim and friction
- Engine controls
- Clutch actuator
- Fuel system
- Electrical system
- Lighting system
- Instrument panel
- Pitot static vent
- Tachometer
- Warning light
- Heating and ventilation
- Seats, belts and baggage
- Landing gear
- Operational engine primer a system
- Rotor or break
- RPM Governor
Handling, Servicing and Maintenance
Section 8
- Required documents
- Required inspections
- Preventive maintenance by pilot
- Alterations to aircraft
- Ground handling
- Packing and tie down
- Engine oil
- Fuel
- Battery service
- Jump starting engine
- Tail rotor gearbox oil
- Cleaning helicopter
- engine
- exterior surface
- windshield and window
- upholstery and seats
- carpets
Supplements
Section 9
The section would contain information regarding supplement configuration for the various helicopter uses.
- flight trainer
- firefighting
- police
- marine