They are indeed Controlled Documents, but this doesn't mean that they are prevented from falling into the hands of the Osama brigade. It means that they are subject to an accountable system of amendments, usually involving 2kg of seek and destroy paperwork each time a new registration is added to the list.
From time to time a new set of manuals is issued on CD and the old one is discarded. If you have a friend flying for
VB that CD could accidentally fall into your hands, but personally I wouldn't be handing it to someone I don't know.