Learn what a QRH in aviation contains, when pilots use it, and the correct order for handling abnormal and emergency procedures.
A QRH (Quick Reference Handbook) is an aircraft- and operator-specific collection of concise checklists and reference data used mainly for abnormal and emergency situations. Pilots use it after controlling the aircraft and completing any required memory actions, then follow the applicable procedure methodically while cross-checking aircraft indications and consequences.
What does QRH stand for in aviation?
QRH stands for Quick Reference Handbook. It is kept within immediate reach on the flight deck, either as a paper handbook or an approved electronic document. Its compact procedures are designed for use under pressure, unlike a full technical manual that explains systems in depth.
Depending on the aircraft and operator, a QRH may contain:
- Emergency and abnormal checklists
- Smoke, fire, engine and pressurisation procedures
- Electrical, hydraulic and flight-control failures
- Unreliable airspeed and other instrument problems
- In-flight performance and landing-distance data
- Supplementary procedures, definitions and an index
There is no universal QRH that applies to every aircraft. Its procedures, wording and organisation must match the aircraft variant, installed equipment and operator procedures.
How is a QRH used during an emergency?
Pilots use a QRH in a disciplined sequence governed by their aircraft procedures and standard operating procedures.
- Fly the aircraft. The crew establishes a safe flight path, controls the aeroplane and uses suitable automation if it reduces workload. The handbook does not take priority over aircraft control.
- Recognise and confirm the problem. Pilots check warnings, indications and symptoms rather than choosing a checklist solely because it resembles the failure they expected.
- Complete published memory actions. Only actions specifically designated for immediate recall are performed from memory. A common error is trying to memorise and rush through an entire QRH procedure.
- Select the exact procedure. The crew uses the warning title, checklist index or symptom-based guidance, then confirms any conditions at the top of the procedure. Similar failures can lead to different checklists.
- Divide the work. In a multi-crew cockpit, the pilot flying normally maintains the flight path while the pilot monitoring reads and performs or directs the checklist. Exact roles depend on the operator and aircraft.
- Follow the specified checklist method. Many non-normal procedures use a read-and-do method, while other checklists verify actions already completed. Irreversible actions, such as shutting down an engine, receive the confirmation required by the operator's procedures.
- Complete every applicable branch. Crews check conditional steps, limitations, deferred actions and any instruction to monitor the system, divert or alter the landing configuration.
Checklist wording is deliberate. Terms such as land as soon as possible and land as soon as practicable are not interchangeable, although their precise definitions must come from the applicable manufacturer or operator manual.
Is a QRH the same as a normal checklist or ECAM?
No: a QRH is a collection of reference procedures, while a checklist is an individual procedure and ECAM or EICAS is an aircraft system that presents warnings and system information.
| Resource | Main purpose | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| QRH | Concise abnormal, emergency and reference procedures | Used when a failure or unusual condition requires a structured response |
| Normal checklist | Verifies that routine cockpit actions have been completed | Used during normal phases such as start, take-off and landing |
| ECAM, EICAS or electronic checklist | Displays detected faults, status information and, on equipped aircraft, checklist actions | Used as part of the aircraft-specific failure-management sequence |
| FCOM, AFM and operator manuals | Provide detailed systems information, limitations and operational policy | Used for training, planning and deeper reference rather than rapid checklist execution |
On an Airbus A320, ECAM commonly presents immediate abnormal actions before the crew consults a separate QRH procedure or performance section. Our explanation of how the A320 displays and ECAM fit together covers that cockpit relationship. By contrast, the normal A320 flow-and-checklist method verifies routine configuration rather than diagnosing a failure.
Some aircraft integrate electronic checklists closely enough that they replace much of the paper workflow. Others provide only an alert, leaving the crew to find the corresponding paper or electronic QRH procedure. Pilots therefore follow the sequence specified for that aircraft rather than mixing techniques from another type.
What happens after the QRH checklist is complete?
Completing the checklist does not necessarily resolve the operational problem. The crew reassesses the aircraft, checks remaining status messages or limitations, and decides whether to continue, hold, divert or land promptly.
Follow-up work may include calculating landing distance, changing the approach or flap configuration, briefing degraded systems, informing air traffic control and cabin crew, and arranging emergency services. A failure can also affect thrust reversers, braking, nose-wheel steering, pressurisation or go-around capability even after the original warning has disappeared.
What QRH mistakes cause problems?
Most QRH errors come from using the wrong procedure, rushing its conditions or failing to account for what changes after the immediate fault is handled.
- Using the wrong revision or aircraft variant: the handbook must match the aeroplane's configuration and approved operator documentation.
- Starting before the aircraft is stabilised: reading with the aeroplane uncontrolled creates a second emergency.
- Skipping conditional text: instructions applying only with an engine running, on the ground or above a stated altitude can change the correct action.
- Losing the place after an interruption: crews should positively identify the last completed item before continuing.
- Stopping at the immediate actions: performance penalties, system limitations and landing considerations may appear later in the procedure.
- Treating the QRH as a diagnostic textbook: it gives concise actions; the fuller system explanation belongs in the aircraft manuals and training material.
How should a QRH be used in a flight simulator?
In a flight simulator, use the QRH supplied for the specific aircraft or add-on because failure modelling and cockpit controls vary widely. A real aircraft handbook may reference switches, system logic or performance calculations that the simulated model does not reproduce.
We recommend learning one failure at a time: stabilise the aircraft, identify the indication, perform genuine memory actions, then work through the checklist without skipping consequences. The A320 unreliable-airspeed scenario and its checklist priorities provide a practical example of combining memory actions, ECAM indications and QRH use.
Solo sim pilots should use the autopilot when appropriate or pause while first learning the document; pretending to be both pilots while hand-flying in poor conditions teaches rushed checklist habits. For older Microsoft simulators, an FSX package for practising in-flight emergencies offers a structured way to rehearse failure recognition and decision-making.
For real-world flying, only the approved and up-to-date documentation for that aircraft and operator is valid. A generic QRH, simulator manual or online article must never be substituted for it.