General Aviation in the United States has grown tremendously in recent years. The aircraft industry has designed aircraft to satisfy the requirements of business firms, professional people, crop dusters, flight training schools, and others. Our aviation community is thus expanding to include an ever-broadening spectrum of the American public.
 The Federal Aviation Administration is vitally concerned that this huge air travel potential be exploited in a safe and orderly manner. To this end, development of sound training programs and materials receive high priority among the many activities of the FAA. Since a wide variety of general aviation aircraft possess instrument flight capability - a key factor in achieving greater aircraft utilization - more and more pilots are therefore preparing themselves to "fly the weather."
 The Instrument Flying Handbook has been developed in response to this increased flight activity and to the continuing requests from individuals and training organizations for an FAA handbook which is oriented to civilian instrument flying. Together with other flight training materials, the handbook emphasizes the concept that an informed pilot is a safe pilot. In this respect, the handbook supports the primary objective of the Federal Aviation Administration - safety in flight.
 This handbook, along with the Airman's Information Manual, Aviation Weather, AC 00-6A, and Aviation Weather Services, AC 00-45B (or other equivalent handbooks on meteorology), will provide the flight student with the basic information needed to acquire an FAA instrument rating. Like any basic text, this one should be supplemented by technical periodicals, textbooks, and training aids, depending upon individual training needs, interests, and objectives. The book is designed for the reader who holds at least a private pilot's certificate and who is knowledgeable in all of the areas discussed in the Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (AC 61-23B).

 In this edition, the repetition of material already published in the Airman's Information Manual is held to a minimum. Instead, AIM references are cited throughout the text wherever they are applicable.

 The reader must be aware that regulations, air traffic control procedures, charts, and certain other materials referred to in this handbook are subject to change and amendment. Any question regarding currency of these items should be resolved by checking pertinent source materials or the appropriate FAA office.

 The Instrument Flying Handbook, issued as Advisory Circular 61-27C, was prepared by the Flight Standards Service of the Federal Aviation Administration and supersedes AC 61-27B. Many valuable contributions were provided, by other organizations in FAA. Acknowledgement is made to the numerous firms whose equipment or products are illustrated in this publication. The inclusion of such illustrations does not, however, constitute an endorsement by the FAA.
 Comments regarding this publication should be directed to the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration, Flight Standards National Field Office, P.O. Box 25082, Oklahoma City, Okla. 73125.