New AIM Now Available, Highlights a Simple Way to Improve IFR Proficiency

It’s good practice to follow IFR Procedures Even When Operating VFR.

The FAA has released Change 3 to the Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM), effective July 9, 2026. While this update includes only a handful of revisions, it’s a good reminder to make sure you’re always referencing the latest guidance—and Sporty’s makes that easy.

The updated AIM is now available in the Sporty’s course portal at Sportys.com/MyCourses, where it’s included as part of your Pilot Training account alongside FAA handbooks and other reference materials. Keeping these publications current is one more way Sporty’s helps you stay prepared.

One revision that’s particularly relevant for instrument pilots appears in AIM 5-1-2, “Follow IFR Procedures Even When Operating VFR.” The FAA has added a recommendation to preload your intended GPS waypoints while the aircraft is still on the ground. While many pilots already follow this practice, the new guidance reinforces its value: reducing cockpit workload during critical phases of flight while improving situational awareness.

The updated section also encourages pilots to maintain IFR proficiency during VFR flights by using many of the same habits that lead to safer instrument flying, including obtaining a thorough preflight briefing, filing a flight plan, using current charts, practicing precise navigation, maintaining accurate altitudes, and flying practice approaches.

These are simple habits, but together they help sharpen instrument skills while making every flight more disciplined and efficient.

For a complete list of revisions included in AIM Change 3, see the FAA’s Explanation of Changes document.

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Eric Radtke

It was his first airplane trip at age seven that made Eric decide to become a pilot. "While boarding the airplane, a flight attendant noticed my interest in the flight deck and urged me to go talk to the pilot. I give a lot of credit to that pilot for my career choice." Eric earned a bachelor’s degree in finance and went on to an airline career. He learned to fly at Sporty’s as part of the University of Cincinnati’s Professional Pilot Program, an initiative he later directed.Eric now manages Sporty’s media network including IFRFocus.com. In addition, Eric serves as a Captain in a Cincinnati-based corporate flight department.

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