Note: Always consult the official Aircraft Flight Manual (AFM) and your operator’s FCOM. "Handling the Big Jets" is a training supplement, not a replacement for regulatory compliance.

When pilots search for a online, they are not looking for a pirated copy of an aircraft flight manual (AFM). They are seeking Davies’ distilled wisdom on the art of flying high-performance jets. The PDF format has become popular because it is searchable, portable on tablets (foreflight, EasyJet), and can be annotated digitally—perfect for today’s cockpit.

Nevertheless, the remain as valid today as in 1970. Many airline training departments still distribute excerpts from the PDF as mandatory reading before simulator sessions.

A light aircraft stops relatively quickly when you cut the power and apply the brakes. A "Big Jet," weighing hundreds of tons, carries an immense amount of kinetic energy. Davies devotes significant portions of the book to managing this inertia, particularly during the landing phase.