Airman's/Aeronautical Information Manual

[Johnny_L.A]

From another thread:

@Richard_Pearse

One of the means for the Authority to authorize various things and to expand on the regs is the AIP which is a manual for pilots that provides a mixture of mandatory practices based on the rules, recommended practices, and general information of use to pilots.

I didn’t ask, but that sounds similar to the AIM we have here. That led me to this question: What does AIM stand for?

When I started flying, I’m sure it was Airman’s Information Manual. Some time ago I saw it being called the Aeronautical Information Manual. Is my memory incorrect, and the AIM has always been Aeronautical Information Manual? Or did it change at some point? ‘Airman’ has a long tradition of use in the aviation community. I can see that women might object to the term, and the meaning of AIM may have changed to become more inclusive.

[LSLGuy]

You nailed it. The term “airman” was determined to be sexist & has been largely expunged from the regs & other pubs. IIRC it was about the late 1980s when Airman’s Information Manual became Aeronautical Information Manual.

[hibernicus]

However, we still have NOTAMs, which is short for “NOtices To AirMen”, preserving the sexist usage.

[Johnny_L.A]

It’s good to see that my memory is intact. And it will stay that way, knock on…

Come in!

[Hyperelastic]

@hibernicus

However, we still have NOTAMs, which is short for “NOtices To AirMen”, preserving the sexist usage.

They’ll probably start saying it means “NOtices To Aeronautical community Members”

There’s a gravel garden at the gate of a NASA center I frequent. It used to say “FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL MANKIND” but someone took a rake to it and now it says “FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL *******”