Aviation Regulations
57 key aviation regulations explained in plain English. Each regulation includes the official text, a clear explanation, related rules, and which FAA exams test it. Your go-to reference for 14 CFR / FAR study.
14 CFR Part 1
Definitions and Abbreviations
14 CFR 1.1 — General Definitions
Contains all official definitions used throughout the Federal Aviation Regulations, including aircraft categories, classes, and types.
14 CFR 1.2 — Abbreviations and Symbols
Official abbreviations used in the Federal Aviation Regulations, including AGL, MSL, VFR, IFR, and others.
14 CFR Part 43
Maintenance, Preventive Maintenance, Rebuilding, and Alteration
14 CFR Part 61
Certification: Pilots, Flight Instructors, and Ground Instructors
14 CFR 61.3 — Requirement for Certificates, Ratings, and Authorizations
Requires pilots to carry a valid pilot certificate and photo ID, and a valid medical certificate while acting as PIC or required flight crewmember.
14 CFR 61.23 — Medical Certificates: Requirement and Duration
Specifies which class of medical certificate is required for each type of operation and how long each class remains valid.
14 CFR 61.51 — Pilot Logbooks
Specifies what flight time must be logged and how to log it, including PIC, SIC, instrument, night, and cross-country time.
14 CFR 61.56 — Flight Review
Requires a flight review every 24 calendar months to act as PIC. Must include a minimum of 1 hour ground and 1 hour flight training.
14 CFR 61.57 — Recent Experience: Pilot in Command
Requires 3 takeoffs and landings within 90 days to carry passengers. Night currency requires 3 full-stop landings at night. IFR currency requires 6 approaches, holding, and intercepting/tracking within 6 calendar months.
14 CFR 61.89 — General Limitations: Student Pilots
Student pilots may not carry passengers, fly for compensation or hire, or fly in conditions requiring an instrument rating. Requires instructor endorsements for specific flights.
14 CFR 61.109 — Aeronautical Experience: Private Pilot
Specifies the minimum flight experience required for a private pilot certificate: 40 hours total, including 20 dual and 10 solo.
14 CFR 61.113 — Private Pilot Privileges and Limitations
Private pilots may not fly for compensation or hire, with limited exceptions including sharing expenses with passengers and certain charitable operations.
14 CFR 61.129 — Aeronautical Experience: Commercial Pilot
Requires 250 hours total time for commercial certificate, including 100 hours PIC, 50 hours cross-country, and specific training requirements.
14 CFR 61.195 — Flight Instructor Limitations and Qualifications
Limits flight instructors to 8 hours of instruction per day and sets qualification requirements for various training activities.
14 CFR Part 91
General Operating and Flight Rules
14 CFR 91.3 — Responsibility and Authority of the Pilot in Command
The PIC is directly responsible for and is the final authority as to the operation of the aircraft. In an emergency, the PIC may deviate from any rule to the extent required.
14 CFR 91.13 — Careless or Reckless Operation
Prohibits operating an aircraft in a careless or reckless manner so as to endanger the life or property of another.
14 CFR 91.17 — Alcohol or Drugs
8-hour bottle-to-throttle rule, 0.04% BAC limit, and prohibition on flying under the influence of any drug that affects safety.
14 CFR 91.103 — Preflight Action
PIC must familiarize themselves with all available information concerning the flight, including weather, fuel requirements, alternatives, runway lengths, and performance data.
14 CFR 91.111 — Operating Near Other Aircraft
Prohibits operating so close to another aircraft as to create a collision hazard. Formation flight requires prior arrangement.
14 CFR 91.113 — Right-of-Way Rules
Establishes right-of-way hierarchy: aircraft in distress has priority, then balloons, gliders, airships, aircraft towing, with converging and head-on rules.
14 CFR 91.117 — Aircraft Speed
250 knots below 10,000 ft MSL, 200 knots below Class B, 200 knots in Class C/D surface areas and within 4 NM of Class C/D primary airports.
14 CFR 91.119 — Minimum Safe Altitudes
1,000 feet above obstacles in congested areas (within 2,000 ft horizontal), 500 feet AGL over uncongested areas, and safe altitude over open water or sparsely populated areas.
14 CFR 91.123 — Compliance with ATC Clearances and Instructions
Pilots must comply with ATC clearances and instructions when operating in controlled airspace, unless an emergency requires deviation.
14 CFR 91.126 — Operating on or in the Vicinity of an Airport in Class G Airspace
All turns in the traffic pattern at a Class G airport must be to the left unless the airport displays approved right-traffic visual indicators.
14 CFR 91.129 — Operations in Class D Airspace
Requires two-way radio communication with the control tower and compliance with ATC instructions when operating in Class D airspace.
14 CFR 91.130 — Operations in Class C Airspace
Requires two-way radio communication, operative transponder with Mode C, and ATC communication before entering Class C airspace.
14 CFR 91.131 — Operations in Class B Airspace
Requires an explicit ATC clearance to enter Class B airspace, operative transponder with Mode C, and specific pilot certificate requirements.
14 CFR 91.135 — Operations in Class A Airspace
All operations in Class A airspace (18,000 MSL to FL600) must be conducted under IFR with an ATC clearance.
14 CFR 91.151 — Fuel Requirements for Flight in VFR Conditions
VFR day: fuel to destination plus 30-minute reserve. VFR night: fuel to destination plus 45-minute reserve.
14 CFR 91.155 — Basic VFR Weather Minimums
Specifies minimum flight visibility and cloud clearance requirements for VFR flight in each class of airspace.
14 CFR 91.157 — Special VFR Weather Minimums
Allows VFR operations in controlled airspace with less than standard VFR weather when cleared by ATC. Requires 1 SM visibility and clear of clouds.
14 CFR 91.159 — VFR Cruising Altitude or Flight Level
VFR cruising altitudes based on magnetic course: eastbound (0-179) = odd thousands +500; westbound (180-359) = even thousands +500.
14 CFR 91.167 — Fuel Requirements for Flight in IFR Conditions
IFR fuel: enough to fly to destination, then to alternate (if required), then 45-minute reserve at normal cruising speed.
14 CFR 91.169 — IFR Flight Plan: Information Required
Specifies IFR flight plan requirements and the conditions under which an alternate airport must be listed.
14 CFR 91.175 — Takeoff and Landing Under IFR
Rules for when a pilot may descend below MDA/DA on an instrument approach, including required flight visibility and visual references.
14 CFR 91.203 — Civil Aircraft: Certifications Required
Requires aircraft to have an airworthiness certificate, registration certificate, and operating limitations aboard.
14 CFR 91.205 — Powered Civil Aircraft with Standard Category Airworthiness Certificates: Instrument and Equipment Requirements
Lists required instruments and equipment for VFR day, VFR night, and IFR flight. Memorized via ATOMATOFLAMES, FLAPS, and GRABCARD.
14 CFR 91.207 — Emergency Locator Transmitters
Requires ELTs on most aircraft, with exceptions for training flights within 50 nm of the departure airport and other specific operations.
14 CFR 91.209 — Aircraft Lights
Position lights are required from sunset to sunrise. Anti-collision lights are required for all operations unless the PIC determines they constitute a safety hazard.
14 CFR 91.211 — Supplemental Oxygen
Crew must use supplemental oxygen above 12,500 ft for over 30 minutes, above 14,000 ft at all times. Passengers must be provided oxygen above 15,000 ft.
14 CFR 91.213 — Inoperative Instruments and Equipment
Defines when an aircraft with inoperative instruments or equipment may still be operated, using either an MEL or the regulatory determination process.
14 CFR 91.215 — ATC Transponder and Altitude Reporting Equipment and Use
Transponder with Mode C required in Class A, B, and C airspace, above Class B and C, and above 10,000 MSL (with exceptions).
14 CFR 91.303 — Aerobatic Flight
Prohibits aerobatic flight over congested areas, below 1,500 AGL, with less than 3 SM visibility, near airways, near airports, and when carrying passengers unless they agree.
14 CFR 91.307 — Parachutes and Parachuting
Parachutes required for all occupants when pitch exceeds 30 degrees nose up/down or bank exceeds 60 degrees, with exceptions for flight training maneuvers.
14 CFR 91.403 — General Maintenance Requirements
The owner or operator is primarily responsible for maintaining the aircraft in an airworthy condition, including compliance with ADs.
14 CFR 91.407 — Operation After Maintenance, Preventive Maintenance, Rebuilding, or Alteration
Aircraft may not be operated after maintenance unless approved for return to service and a maintenance record entry is made.
14 CFR 91.409 — Inspections
Requires annual inspections within the preceding 12 calendar months and 100-hour inspections for aircraft used for hire or flight instruction.
14 CFR 91.417 — Maintenance Records
Requires maintenance records be kept for each aircraft, engine, and propeller, including total time, current status of inspections, ADs, and major alterations.
14 CFR Part 107
Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems
14 CFR 107.12 — Requirement for a Remote Pilot Certificate with a Small UAS Rating
Requires a remote pilot certificate to operate small UAS for commercial purposes. Must pass knowledge test or hold Part 61 pilot certificate with current flight review.
14 CFR 107.29 — Daylight Operation
Small UAS may only be operated during daylight or civil twilight with anti-collision lighting visible for 3 statute miles.
14 CFR 107.31 — Visual Line of Sight Aircraft Operation
The remote PIC or visual observer must maintain visual line of sight with the drone at all times during flight.
14 CFR 107.51 — Operating Limitations for Small Unmanned Aircraft
Maximum altitude 400 feet AGL, maximum speed 100 mph (87 knots), maximum weight 55 pounds, minimum visibility 3 statute miles.
14 CFR Part 117
Flight and Duty Limitations and Rest Requirements
14 CFR 117.11 — Flight Time Limitations
Limits Part 121 flight crew to maximum flight time based on time of start and number of flight segments. Absolute maximum of 100 hours in 672 consecutive hours.
14 CFR 117.25 — Rest Period
Requires a minimum 10-hour rest period with opportunity for 8 hours uninterrupted sleep between duty periods.
14 CFR Part 121
Operating Requirements: Domestic, Flag, and Supplemental Operations
14 CFR 121.135 — Manual Contents
Requires each airline to maintain a manual that includes procedures, policies, and instructions for operations personnel.
14 CFR 121.377 — Maintenance and Preventive Maintenance Training Program
Requires airlines to establish and maintain an FAA-approved training program for all maintenance and preventive maintenance personnel.
14 CFR Part 135
Commuter and On Demand Operations
14 CFR Part 141
Pilot Schools
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