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Federal Aviation Regulations

This page includes a small collection of useful Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs) under Title 14 and 49 of the United States Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR / 49 CFR). These could be viewed as "useful rules" that every pilot and instructor should be aware of. This is a growing list, so keep checking for the latest additions. There are also policy letters, letters of interpretation, case law, and advisory circulars.

​PART 1

  • 1.1 - General Definitions (e.g., what is a pilot in command)

PART 61

  • 61.3 - Requirements for certifications

  • 61.23 - Medical certificates

  • 61.31 - Endorsements, type ratings and Additional Training

  • 61.47 - PIC during checkrides

  • 61.51 - Logbooks and logging times (including PIC)

  • 61.57 - Recent flight experience to act as PIC

  • 61.65 - Instrument Rating requirements

  • 61.109 - Aeronautical experience requirements for Private pilots

  • 91.111 - Formation flights

  • 61.113 - Private pilot privileges

  • 61.133 - Commercial pilot privileges

  • 61.153 - Requirements for ATP (includes good moral character)

PART 91

  • 91.3 - Responsibility and authority of pilot in command (PIC)

  • 91.13 - Reckless behavior

  • 91.103 - Information required prior to flight (IFR but AIM also includes VFR)

  • 91.109 - Required crew members: Logging Flight Instruction and Simulated IFR 

  • 91.123(c) - Compliance and Deviations from ATC

  • 91.126 - Left traffic patterns in class G airspace

  • 91.127 - Left traffic patterns in class E airspace

  • 91.146 - Charitable flights not subject to air carriers (PIC can be PPL)

  • 91.159 - VFR cruising altitudes

  • 91.205 - Required instruments and equipment (ATOMATOFLAMES)

  • 91.213 - Inoperative Equipment (MEL, KOEL, 91.205)

49 CFR PART 800 (NTSB)

  • 800.1 - The purpose of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)

49 CFR PART 830 (Accident Reporting)

  • 830.1 - Reporting incidents/accidents to the NTSB

  • 830.5 - Immediate reporting items

ADVISORY CIRCULARS

  • AC 60-22 - Aeronautical decision making, stress and risk

  • AC 60-28B - English language evaluation

  • AC 61-65K - Pilot applicants and instructor endorsements

  • AC 61-67C - Stall and spin awareness training

  • AC 61-98E - Flight reviews and instrument proficiency checks

  • AC 61-134 - Controlled flight into terrain (CFIT)

  • AC 61-142 - Common purpose and pro rata share splitting costs

  • AC 90-23G - Wake Turbulence Awareness

  • AC 90-48E - Pilot's duties for collision avoidance (maintain VFR)

  • AC 90-66B - Traffic patterns (non-towered airport ops)

  • AC 90-109A - Transition to unfamiliar aircraft

  • AC 91-37B - What constitutes an air carrier and truth in leasing

  • AC 91-63D - Temporary flight restrictions

  • AC 91-73B - Single pilot taxi operations (runway incursion awareness)

  • AC 120-12A - Common vs. Private Carriage (holding out, etc.)

FAA POLICY LETTERS

  • Murphy (2008) - CFI without medical & Superseding letters (see page 2)

  • Gebhart (2009) - Logging sim IFR and XC with safety pilot

  • Herman (2009) - Logging PIC [part 1]

  • Speranza (2009) - Logging PIC [part 2]

  • Walker (2011) - Logging PIC [part 3]

  • Grossman (2011) - Turning right to join the pattern is "left traffic" (e.g., circling)

  • Krug (2014) - ATC does not have authority in class G airspace (e.g., circling)

  • Kroontje (2014) - Clarification of fractional ownership vs. common/private carriage

  • Murphy (2015) - Circling must always be to the left unless right traffic patterns

  • Ochoa (2015) - Part 141 Instrument Training is Dual, not simulated IFR (see Tizi for hard copy)

  • Letts (2017) - Anticollision light requirements (beacon vs. strobes)

  • Bernard (2024) - Chief Counsel Policy is binding on the FSDOs (see Tizi for hard copy)

CASE LAW

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