1.1General definitions.#
As used in this chapter, unless the context requires otherwise: Administrator means the Federal Aviation Administrator or any person to whom he has delegated his authority in the matter concerned. Aerodynamic coefficients means non-dimensional coefficients for aerodynamic forces and moments. Air carrier means a person who undertakes directly by lease, or other arrangement, to engage in air transportation. Air commerce means interstate, overseas, or foreign air commerce or the transportation of mail by aircraft or any operation or navigation of aircraft within the limits of any Federal airway or any operation or navigation of aircraft which directly affects, or which may endanger safety in, interstate, overseas, or foreign air commerce. Aircraft means a device that is used or intended to be used for flight in the air. Aircraft engine means an engine that is used or intended to be used for propelling aircraft. It includes turbosuperchargers, appurtenances, and accessories necessary for its functioning, but does not include propellers. Airframe means the fuselage, booms, nacelles, cowlings, fairings, airfoil surfaces (including rotors but excluding propellers and rotating airfoils of engines), and landing gear of an aircraft and their accessories and controls. Airplane means an engine-driven fixed-wing aircraft heavier than air, that is supported in flight by the dynamic reaction of the air against its wings. Airport means an area of land or water that is used or intended to be used for the landing and takeoff of aircraft, and includes its buildings and facilities, if any. Airship means an engine-driven lighter-than-air aircraft that can be steered. Air traffic means aircraft operating in the air or on an airport surface, exclusive of loading ramps and parking areas. Air traffic clearance means an authorization by air traffic control, for the purpose of preventing collision between known aircraft, for an aircraft to proceed under specified traffic conditions within controlled airspace. Air traffic control means a service operated by appropriate authority to promote the safe, orderly, and expeditious flow of air traffic. Air Traffic Service (ATS) route is a specified route designated for channeling the flow of traffic as necessary for the provision of air traffic services. The term “ATS route” refers to a variety of airways, including jet routes, area navigation (RNAV) routes, and arrival and departure routes. An ATS route is defined by route specifications, which may include:
(1)An ATS route designator;
(2)The path to or from significant points;
(3)Distance between significant points;
(4)Reporting requirements; and
(5)The lowest safe altitude determined by the appropriate authority. Air transportation means interstate, overseas, or foreign air transportation or the transportation of mail by aircraft. Alert Area. An alert area is established to inform pilots of a specific area wherein a high volume of pilot training or an unusual type of aeronautical activity is conducted. Alternate airport means an airport at which an aircraft may land if a landing at the intended airport becomes inadvisable. Altitude engine means a reciprocating aircraft engine having a rated takeoff power that is producible from sea level to an established higher altitude. Amateur rocket means an unmanned rocket that:
(1)As used with respect to the certification, ratings, privileges, and limitations of airmen, means a specific make and basic model of aircraft, including modifications thereto that do not change its handling or flight characteristics. Examples include: DC-7, 1049, and F-27; and
(i)For the sole purpose of determining public aircraft status, commercial purposes means the transportation of persons or property for compensation or hire, but does not include the operation of an aircraft by the armed forces for reimbursement when that reimbursement is required by any Federal statute, regulation, or directive, in effect on November 1, 1999, or by one government on behalf of another government under a cost reimbursement agreement if the government on whose behalf the operation is conducted certifies to the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration that the operation is necessary to respond to a significant and imminent threat to life or property (including natural resources) and that no service by a private operator is reasonably available to meet the threat.
(ii)For the sole purpose of determining public aircraft status, governmental function means an activity undertaken by a government, such as national defense, intelligence missions, firefighting, search and rescue, law enforcement (including transport of prisoners, detainees, and illegal aliens), aeronautical research, biological or geological resource management (including data collection on civil aviation systems undergoing research, development, test, or evaluation at a test range (as such term is defined in 49 U.S.C. 44801)), infrastructure inspections, or any other activity undertaken by a governmental entity that the Administrator determines is inherently governmental.
(iii)For the sole purpose of determining public aircraft status, qualified non-crewmember means an individual, other than a member of the crew, aboard an aircraft operated by the armed forces or an intelligence agency of the United States Government, or whose presence is required to perform, or is associated with the performance of, a governmental function.
(iv)Is essential for prolonged operation of an airplane at engine inoperative altitudes.
(2)As used with respect to the certification of aircraft, means those aircraft which are similar in design. Examples include: DC-7 and DC-7C; 1049G and 1049H; and F-27 and F-27F.
(i)The aircraft is operated in accordance with title 10 of the United States Code;
(ii)The aircraft is operated in the performance of a governmental function under title 14, 31, 32, or 50 of the United States Code and the aircraft is not used for commercial purposes; or
(iii)The aircraft is chartered to provide transportation to the armed forces and the Secretary of Defense (or the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating) designates the operation of the aircraft as being required in the national interest.
(3)As used with respect to the certification of aircraft engines means those engines which are similar in design. For example, JT8D and JT8D-7 are engines of the same type, and JT9D-3A and JT9D-7 are engines of the same type. United States, in a geographical sense, means (1) the States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the possessions, including the territorial waters, and (2) the airspace of those areas. United States air carrier means a citizen of the United States who undertakes directly by lease, or other arrangement, to engage in air transportation. Unmanned aircraft means an aircraft operated without the possibility of direct human intervention from within or on the aircraft. Unmanned aircraft system means an unmanned aircraft and its associated elements (including communication links and the components that control the unmanned aircraft) that are required for the safe and efficient operation of the unmanned aircraft in the airspace of the United States. VFR over-the-top, with respect to the operation of aircraft, means the operation of an aircraft over-the-top under VFR when it is not being operated on an IFR flight plan. Warning area. A warning area is airspace of defined dimensions, extending from 3 nautical miles outward from the coast of the United States, that contains activity that may be hazardous to nonparticipating aircraft. The purpose of such warning areas is to warn nonparticipating pilots of the potential danger. A warning area may be located over domestic or international waters or both. Weight-shift-control aircraft means a powered aircraft with a framed pivoting wing and a fuselage controllable only in pitch and roll by the pilot's ability to change the aircraft's center of gravity with respect to the wing. Flight control of the aircraft depends on the wing's ability to flexibly deform rather than the use of control surfaces. Winglet or tip fin means an out-of-plane surface extending from a lifting surface. The surface may or may not have control surfaces. Editorial Note:For Federal Register citations affecting § 1.1, see the List of CFR Sections Affected, which appears in the Finding Aids section of the printed volume and at www.govinfo.gov.
(4)Class D rotorcraft-load combination means one in which the external-load is other than a Class A, B, or C and has been specifically approved by the Administrator for that operation. Route segment is a portion of a route bounded on each end by a fix or navigation aid (NAVAID). Sea level engine means a reciprocating aircraft engine having a rated takeoff power that is producible only at sea level. Second in command means a pilot who is designated to be second in command of an aircraft during flight time. Show, unless the context otherwise requires, means to show to the satisfaction of the Administrator. Small aircraft means aircraft of 12,500 pounds or less, maximum certificated takeoff weight. Small unmanned aircraft means an unmanned aircraft weighing less than 55 pounds on takeoff, including everything that is on board or otherwise attached to the aircraft. Small unmanned aircraft system (small UAS) means a small unmanned aircraft and its associated elements (including communication links and the components that control the small unmanned aircraft) that are required for the safe and efficient operation of the small unmanned aircraft in the national airspace system. Space support vehicle means an aircraft that is a launch vehicle, reentry vehicle, or a component of a launch or reentry vehicle. Space support vehicle flight means a flight in the air that is not a launch or reentry, but is conducted by a space support vehicle. Special VFR conditions mean meteorological conditions that are less than those required for basic VFR flight in controlled airspace and in which some aircraft are permitted flight under visual flight rules. Special VFR operations means aircraft operating in accordance with clearances within controlled airspace in meteorological conditions less than the basic VFR weather minima. Such operations must be requested by the pilot and approved by ATC. Standard atmosphere means the atmosphere defined in U.S. Standard Atmosphere, 1962 (Geopotential altitude tables). Stopway means an area beyond the takeoff runway, no less wide than the runway and centered upon the extended centerline of the runway, able to support the airplane during an aborted takeoff, without causing structural damage to the airplane, and designated by the airport authorities for use in decelerating the airplane during an aborted takeoff. Suitable RNAV system is an RNAV system that meets the required performance established for a type of operation, e.g. IFR; and is suitable for operation over the route to be flown in terms of any performance criteria (including accuracy) established by the air navigation service provider for certain routes (e.g. oceanic, ATS routes, and IAPs). An RNAV system's suitability is dependent upon the availability of ground and/or satellite navigation aids that are needed to meet any route performance criteria that may be prescribed in route specifications to navigate the aircraft along the route to be flown. Information on suitable RNAV systems is published in FAA guidance material. Supplemental restraint system means any device that is not installed on the aircraft pursuant to an FAA approval, used to secure an individual inside an aircraft when that person is not properly secured by an FAA-approved safety belt and, if installed, shoulder harness, or an approved child restraint system. It consists of a harness secured around the torso of the individual using the supplemental restraint system and a lanyard that connects the harness to an FAA-approved airframe attachment point inside the aircraft. Synthetic vision means a computer-generated image of the external scene topography from the perspective of the flight deck that is derived from aircraft attitude, high-precision navigation solution, and database of terrain, obstacles and relevant cultural features. Synthetic vision system means an electronic means to display a synthetic vision image of the external scene topography to the flight crew. Takeoff power:
1.2Abbreviations and symbols.#
In this chapter: AFM means airplane flight manual. AGL means above ground level. ALS means approach light system. APU means auxiliary power unit. ASR means airport surveillance radar. ATC means air traffic control. ATS means Air Traffic Service. CAMP means continuous airworthiness maintenance program. CAS means calibrated airspeed. CAT II means Category II. CMP means configuration, maintenance, and procedures. DH means decision height. DME means distance measuring equipment compatible with TACAN. EAS means equivalent airspeed. EFVS means enhanced flight vision system. Equi-Time Point means a point on the route of flight where the flight time, considering wind, to each of two selected airports is equal. ETOPS means extended operations. EWIS, as defined by § 25.1701 of this chapter, means electrical wiring interconnection system. FAA means Federal Aviation Administration. FFS means full flight simulator. FM means fan marker. FSTD means flight simulation training device. FTD means flight training device. GS means glide slope. HIRL means high-intensity runway light system. IAS means indicated airspeed. ICAO means International Civil Aviation Organization. IFR means instrument flight rules. IFSD means in-flight shutdown. ILS means instrument landing system. IM means ILS inner marker. INT means intersection. LDA means localizer-type directional aid. LFR means low-frequency radio range. LMM means compass locator at middle marker. LOC means ILS localizer. LOM means compass locator at outer marker. M means mach number. MAA means maximum authorized IFR altitude. MALS means medium intensity approach light system. MALSR means medium intensity approach light system with runway alignment indicator lights. MCA means minimum crossing altitude. MDA means minimum descent altitude. MEA means minimum en route IFR altitude. MEL means minimum equipment list. MM means ILS middle marker. MOCA means minimum obstruction clearance altitude. MRA means minimum reception altitude. MSL means mean sea level. NDB (ADF) means nondirectional beacon (automatic direction finder). NM means nautical mile. NOPAC means North Pacific area of operation. NOPT means no procedure turn required. OEI means one engine inoperative. OM means ILS outer marker. OPSPECS means operations specifications. PACOTS means Pacific Organized Track System. PAR means precision approach radar. PMA means parts manufacturer approval. POC means portable oxygen concentrator. PTRS means Performance Tracking and Reporting System. RAIL means runway alignment indicator light system. RBN means radio beacon. RCLM means runway centerline marking. RCLS means runway centerline light system. REIL means runway end identification lights. RFFS means rescue and firefighting services. RNAV means area navigation. RR means low or medium frequency radio range station. RVR means runway visual range as measured in the touchdown zone area. SALS means short approach light system. SATCOM means satellite communications. SSALS means simplified short approach light system. SSALSR means simplified short approach light system with runway alignment indicator lights. TACAN means ultra-high frequency tactical air navigational aid. TAS means true airspeed. TCAS means a traffic alert and collision avoidance system. TDZL means touchdown zone lights. TSO means technical standard order. TVOR means very high frequency terminal omnirange station. VA means design maneuvering speed. VB means design speed for maximum gust intensity. VC means design cruising speed. VD means design diving speed. VDF/MDF means demonstrated flight diving speed. VEF means the speed at which the critical engine is assumed to fail during takeoff. VF means design flap speed. VFC/MFC means maximum speed for stability characteristics. VFE means maximum flap extended speed. VFTO means final takeoff speed. VH means maximum speed in level flight with maximum continuous power. VLE means maximum landing gear extended speed. VLO means maximum landing gear operating speed. VLOF means lift-off speed. VMC means minimum control speed with the critical engine inoperative. VMO/MMO means maximum operating limit speed. VMU means minimum unstick speed. VNE means never-exceed speed. VNO means maximum structural cruising speed. VR means rotation speed. VREF means reference landing speed. VS means the stalling speed or the minimum steady flight speed at which the airplane is controllable. VS0 means the stalling speed or the minimum steady flight speed in the landing configuration. VS1 means the stalling speed or the minimum steady flight speed obtained in a specific configuration. VSR means reference stall speed. VSRO means reference stall speed in the landing configuration. VSR1 means reference stall speed in a specific configuration. VSW means speed at which onset of natural or artificial stall warning occurs. VTOSS means takeoff safety speed for Category A rotorcraft. VX means speed for best angle of climb. VY means speed for best rate of climb. V1 means the maximum speed in the takeoff at which the pilot must take the first action (e.g., apply brakes, reduce thrust, deploy speed brakes) to stop the airplane within the accelerate-stop distance. V1 also means the minimum speed in the takeoff, following a failure of the critical engine at VEF, at which the pilot can continue the takeoff and achieve the required height above the takeoff surface within the takeoff distance. V2 means takeoff safety speed. V2min means minimum takeoff safety speed. VFR means visual flight rules. VGSI means visual glide slope indicator. VHF means very high frequency. VOR means very high frequency omnirange station. VORTAC means collocated VOR and TACAN. Editorial Note:For Federal Register citations affecting § 1.2, see the List of CFR Sections Affected, which appears in the Finding Aids section of the printed volume and at www.govinfo.gov.
1.3Rules of construction.#
(a)In this chapter, unless the context requires otherwise:
(1)Words importing the singular include the plural;
(2)Words importing the plural include the singular; and
(3)Words importing the masculine gender include the feminine.
(b)In this chapter, the word:
(1)Shall is used in an imperative sense;
(2)May is used in a permissive sense to state authority or permission to do the act prescribed, and the words “no person may * * *” or “a person may not * * *” mean that no person is required, authorized, or permitted to do the act prescribed; and
(3)Includes means “includes but is not limited to”.
United States Government work; public domain under 17 U.S.C. § 105.