Aeronautical Information Manual

Explanation of Changes

Effective: January 22, 2026

a. 3-5-5. PUBLISHED VFR ROUTES

This change adds a link to the VFR Helicopter route website.

b. 4-1-21. AIRPORT RESERVATION OPERATIONS AND SPECIAL TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS

This change adds guidance regarding Prior Permission Required (PPR) when conditions exist that may affect operations at an airport.

c. 4-7-1. INTRODUCTION AND GENERAL POLICIES
4-7-2. ACCOMODATING NON-RNP 10 AIRCRAFT
4-7-5. FLIGHT PLAN REQUIREMENTS

Editorial changes were made to update Flight Information Region/Upper Control Area (FIR/UTA) and Control Area (CTA), to CTA/FIR.

d. 5-1-1. PREFLIGHT PREPARATION
7-1-2. FAA WEATHER SERVICES

This change adds a new contact telephone number for flight service stations in Alaska: 1-833-AK-BRIEF.

e. 5–3-1. ARTCC COMMUNICATIONS

This change adds new uplink and downlink messages sets in Chapter 5 of the AIM.

f. 5-3-1. ARTCC COMMUNICATIONS
APPENDIX 3. ABBREVIATIONS/ACRONYMS

This change updates references to “Initial Services” in the body of the paragraph and updates the message set tables to reflect the currently available CPDLC messages in the domestic operation. TBL 5–3–1 through 5–3–19 was added to and updated to extend to TBL 5–3–23. New abbreviations were added to Appendix 3.

g. 5-4-14. SIMULTANEOUS DEPENDENT APPROACHES
5-4-16. SIMULTANEOUS CLOSE PARALLEL PRM APPROACHES AND SIMULTANEOUS OFFSET INSTRUMENT APPROACHES (SOIA)

This change removes erroneous notes stating KSFO uses SOIA procedures.

h. 5-4-20. APPROACH AND LANDING MINIMUMS

This change clarifies pilot guidance to reinforce compliance with 14 CFR 91.126, consistent with Office of Chief Counsel interpretations.

i. 7-4-9. AIR TRAFFIC WAKE TURBULENCE SEPARATIONS
7-4-10. DEVELOPMENT AND NEW CAPABILITIES

This change aligns the Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM) with the FAA effort to recategorize the existing fleet of aircraft and modify the associated wake turbulence separation minima. All prior references to Wake RECAT are removed due to this effort.

j. 7-7-4. UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECT (UFO) REPORTS

This change retitles 7-7-4 to “Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) Reports,” deletes the reference to non-governmental UFO data collection entities, and adds a link to the AARO website for reporting UAP activity.

k. 11-4-6. AIRSPACE RESTRICTIONS TO FLIGHT

This change updates and clarifies the proper balance between state, local and federal (FAA) jurisdiction to regulate aviation. This change also clarifies information related to Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) and provides updated language regarding “No Drone Zones.”

l. Editorial Changes

Editorial changes include several minor corrections throughout Chapter 7, Section 6; the addition of the word “known” when describing identifying obstacles associated with the Digital Obstacle File (DOF) in paragraph 9-1-4; a universal editorial change to ensure FAA Order JO 7340.2 references are accurate; a universal editorial change to update terms from the National Aeronautical Charting office to FAA's Aeronautical Information Services (AIS) and updating National Flight Data Center (NFDC) for its replacement AIS, the term AeroNav Products is removed for the term AIS; and a correction to verbiage in paragraph 1-1-17.

m. Entire Publication

Additional editorial/format changes were made where necessary. Revision bars were not used because of the insignificant nature of these changes.