The Aeronautical Engineering Handboock [Luftfahrttechnisches Handbuch (LTH)] was jointly initiated in 1969 by public authorities, the aviation industry and aviation research. These institutions are still the main target groups for its use. They are involved in the activities of the LTH working groups.
The LTH is a tool for engineers in industry, authorities and research institutions for the specification, development, qualification (verification) and type testing of aeronautical equipment. In order to provide effective support for these activities, contributions are compiled within various working groups, prepared for use in the manual and thus made usable. Existing articles are updated. The various volumes are updated with new articles.

The Aeronautical Engineering Handbook serves to standardise and rationalise engineering work in all phases of the development and use of flying equipment. It helps to fulfil the quality guidelines of companies and public clients and to support the competitiveness of German industry in international joint projects. The LTH volumes are designed to help engineers working in the field to solve specific problems and are also aimed at young aviation engineers.

Thanks to the long-standing compilation of LTH articles as basic knowledge, application-orientated procedures, reference data and other aids, the Luftfahrttechnische Handbuch is a comprehensive and up-to-date reference work for aviation engineers. The practical preparation of the information enables young engineers to familiarise themselves efficiently and quickly with current problems.
The integration of research institutions means that current procedures are taken into account. Conversely, practical issues can be addressed as research topics.
Coordinated and quality-assured procedures can be referenced with reference to the LTH.
Through the networking of aviation engineers in the working groups, there is the potential to harmonise an optimised approach to similar issues. Employees also receive up-to-date information on aeronautical engineering projects.

Thanks to the long-standing compilation of LTH articles as basic knowledge, application-orientated procedures, reference data and other aids, the “Luftfahrttechnisches Handbuch” is a comprehensive and up-to-date reference work for aviation engineers. The practical preparation of the information enables young engineers to familiarise themselves efficiently and quickly with current problems.
The “Luftfahrttechnisches Handbuch” is financed by the industries, research institutions and authorities involved in the LTH in the form of participation in the individual LTH working groups, for example for the preparation of LTH articles.
In addition, the contracting authority (BAAINBw) provides financial resources to support the preparation of selected LTH contributions ("LTH funds for external services") and for the activities of the LTH coordination centre.

Relevant current topics are discussed in the individual working groups, resulting in suggestions for new contributions. A decision is made on the inclusion of the topic in the respective volume as part of an expert discussion. In the case of cross-thematic areas of responsibility, the working groups ensure that there is professional coordination with other working groups where necessary. Each individual contribution undergoes an extensive quality assurance process before it is approved for inclusion in the LTH.
Seven of the eight working groups publish their contributions as volumes of the “Luftfahrttechnisches Handbuch” (LTH). The contributions of the IASB working group are included in its own "Handbook for Structural Analysis" (HSB).
The member companies and institutions have free access to the LTH. They participate by sending employees to the working groups. In doing so, the working groups ensure a balanced long-term return by participating in the working group meetings and collaborating, for example, in the form of writing technical papers, participating in review processes or giving technical presentations.
When external interested parties enquire about purchasing the handbook volumes, the working groups decide on a case-by-case basis. The LTH cannot be obtained from bookshops.

The LTH has its origins in a constituent meeting of (initially only) industry representatives for the creation of standardised structural calculation documents on 25 November 1968.

The first constituent meeting of the LTH Coordination Committee took place on 28 January 1971 at IABG in Ottobrunn. The meeting was chaired by RBDir Otto from the MBL (Bundeswehr type testing centre for aviation equipment), a predecessor organisation of today's LufABw (Bundeswehr Aviation Office), who also invited to this inaugural meeting. The purpose and structure of the "Luftfahrttechnische Handbücher" (as the LTH was called at the time) and the tasks of the "Coordination Committee" were defined in a letter from BMVg, Head of Department T dated 18 September 1970 and BMVg T II 5 dated 1 October 1970 (see links below).
All LTH coordination tasks were carried out by IABG from the very beginning. Since then, the company has also been commissioned by the client (Bundeswehr) to do so.
The LTH was founded to create and maintain standardised documentation on methods and procedures for all users. Based on these standardised principles, development, design, construction, qualification and approval as well as the long-term use of flying equipment should be made possible with a high degree of efficiency.
The LTH has been available in digital form since 2002.

Further details on the history can be found in:

• Grußwort zum Geburtstag 50 Jahre Industrieausschuss für Strukturberechnungsunterlagen (Cuntze, 2018)
• Geschichtliches über den IASB und über das HSB (Schwarmann, 2018)
• Chronik zur 100. Sitzung des Arbeitskreises Gewichte/Masseanalyse (Grieser, 2005)

Correspondence on the foundation:

• Protokoll der LTH-Sitzung vom 25.11.1968
• Schreiben ML Bw GL vom 28.07.1970
• Schreiben BMVg AL T vom 10.09.1970
• Ergebnisvermerk ML Bw-BMVg TII 5 vom 11.09.1970
• Schreiben BMVg T II 5 vom 01.10.1970
• Schreiben LTH-KoA vom 22.02.1971
• Schreiben ML Bw GL vom 26.02.1971