Manual contents

This regulation specifies what must be included in the manuals required by § 121.133 for Part 121 air carriers. All manuals must clearly display their last revision date and contain instructions allowing personnel to perform their duties safely. The content must be easy to revise and cannot conflict with federal regulations, foreign regulations (for international operations), or the carrier's operating certificate.

The manual can be divided into multiple parts, but together must cover extensive operational information including:

• Crew duties, flight procedures, and emergency equipment
• Route and airport specifications with authorized aircraft types and operations
• Weight and balance procedures, maintenance instructions, and inspection standards
• Training curricula and qualification procedures
• ETOPS performance data and passenger recovery plans
• Hazardous materials handling procedures, including how to identify, accept, reject, and report hazmat packages

This ensures all personnel—from pilots to ground crew—have standardized, current guidance for safe operations and regulatory compliance.

*This is a plain-English summary for study only. The official 14 CFR text on this page is controlling — always read the current regulation and consult a CFI.*