Federal Aviation Regulations
The Federal Aviation Regulations are a listing of the rules and laws distributed by the Federal Aviation Administration.
Introduction to Federal Aviation Regulations
- The Title 14 (Aerospace & Space) CFR (Code of Federal Regulations) Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs) are a listing of the rules and laws distributed by the Federal Aviation Administration
- Can be found digitally on the FAA's website at https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/faa_regulations/.
- Additionally, you can purchase a paperback copy of the 2027 Federal Aviation Regulations/Aeronautical Information Manual (FAR/AIM) [Amazon].
- Find the key regulations for instrument flight, private pilots, sUAS, and sport pilots below.
- Reinforce your understanding of Federal Aviation Regulations by completing the knowledge quiz and interactive scenario, comparing your performance with the applicable Airman Certification Standards, and reviewing the topic summary before moving on.
Federal Aviation Regulations Key Highlights
- Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs) establish the legal operating rules and certification requirements governing aviation activities in the United States.
- FARs are published within Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) and administered primarily by the FAA.
- Federal Aviation Regulations cover pilot certification, aircraft operations, maintenance, airworthiness, airspace, and aviation safety standards.
- Pilots are responsible for understanding and complying with applicable regulations before and during flight operations.
- Commonly referenced FAR parts include Part 61, Part 91, Part 67, Part 43, and Part 141.
- Regulatory compliance supports safe, standardized, and legally compliant aviation operations within the National Airspace System.
- FAA enforcement actions may result from violations involving operational procedures, airspace restrictions, maintenance, or certification requirements.
- FARs are periodically updated to reflect evolving aviation technology, operational practices, and safety initiatives.
- Pilots often use FAA publications such as the AIM and Advisory Circulars to supplement FAR interpretation and operational guidance.
- Understanding Federal Aviation Regulations improves regulatory knowledge, aeronautical decision-making, and overall flight safety.
Federal Aviation Regulations
- The Federal Aviation Regulations is separated into parts. []
Issuance and Validity
- Issued annually
- A black bar on the sides indicate changes as do bold topics in the contents
- Usually published with the Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM) attached in the same publication
Part 91
- Except as provided in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section and 91.701 and 91.703, this part prescribes rules governing the operation of aircraft (other than moored balloons, kites, unmanned rockets, and unmanned free balloons, which are governed by part 101, and ultralight vehicles operated in accordance with part 103 of this chapter) within the United States, including the waters within 3 NM (nautical miles) of the U.S. coast
- Each person operating an aircraft in the airspace overlying the waters between 3 and 12 nautical miles from the coast of the United States must comply with 91.1 through 91.21; 91.101 through 91.143; 91.151 through 91.159; 91.167 through 91.193; 91.203; 91.205; 91.209 through 91.217; 91.221, 91.225; 91.303 through 91.319; 91.323 through 91.327; 91.605; 91.609; 91.703 through 91.715; and 91.903
- This part applies to each person on board an aircraft being operated under this part, unless otherwise specified
- This part also establishes requirements for operators to take actions to support the continued airworthiness of each airplane
FARs for Instrument Flight
- Instrument flight rules (IFR) add requirements to the general operating rules; holding an instrument rating does not replace the underlying pilot-certificate, medical, or aircraft requirements.
- These are key regulatory starting points, not an exhaustive list of every rule that may apply to the aircraft, pilot, airspace, or operation.
- Pilot qualification and currency: § 61.3, § 61.65 cover the required rating and how to qualify for it.
- Planning, fuel, and alternates: § 91.103, § 91.167, § 91.169 govern preflight preparation, IFR fuel, flight-plan information, and alternate requirements.
- Clearances and en route operations: § 91.123, § 91.173, § 91.177, § 91.179, § 91.181, § 91.183 address compliance with clearances, the clearance and flight-plan requirement in controlled airspace, minimum altitudes, cruising levels, courses, and communications.
- Approaches and abnormal situations: § 91.175, § 91.185, § 91.187 cover instrument takeoff/landing rules, two-way radio failure, and reports of equipment malfunctions.
- Aircraft equipment and checks: § 91.171, § 91.205, § 91.213, § 91.411, § 91.413 cover navigation-equipment checks, required instruments, inoperative equipment, and applicable inspection requirements.
FARs for Private Pilots
- Private pilots must satisfy both Part 61 qualification rules and applicable Part 91 operating rules.
- These are key regulatory starting points, not an exhaustive list of every rule that may apply to the aircraft, pilot, airspace, or operation.
- Obtaining the certificate: § 61.103, § 61.105, § 61.107, § 61.109 cover eligibility, knowledge, flight proficiency, and aeronautical experience.
- Training before certification: § 61.83, § 61.87, § 61.89, § 61.93, § 61.95 address student eligibility, solo authorization, student limitations, solo cross-country flight, and applicable Class B training and endorsements.
- Privileges and continuing qualification: § 61.113, § 61.31, § 61.56, § 61.57 cover private-pilot privileges and compensation restrictions, ratings and endorsements, flight reviews, and passenger currency.
- Medical qualification and medical deficiencies are addressed by § 61.23, § 61.53; BasicMed operations also require the conditions of § 61.113(i) and Part 68.
- Everyday flight operations: § 91.3, § 91.7, § 91.9, § 91.103, § 91.113, § 91.119, § 91.123 cover pilot responsibility, airworthiness, operating limitations, preparation, right-of-way, minimum safe altitudes, and clearances.
- Aircraft documents, equipment, and inspections: § 91.203, § 91.205, § 91.209, § 91.213, § 91.409, § 91.417 cover required documents, instruments, lighting, inoperative equipment, inspections, and maintenance records.
- A private pilot conducting IFR must also satisfy the instrument-flight requirements.
FARs for Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS)
- Small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) generally operate under Part 107, unless another lawful operating framework applies.
- Qualifying recreational operations follow the separate statutory exception in 49 U.S.C. § 44809; see the FAA recreational-flyer requirements.
- These are key regulatory starting points, not an exhaustive list of every rule that may apply to the aircraft, pilot, airspace, or operation.
- Remote-pilot qualification: § 107.12, § 107.61, § 107.63, § 107.65 cover certification, eligibility, application, and aeronautical knowledge recency.
- Part 61 private- or sport-pilot privileges do not by themselves authorize acting as remote pilot in command under Part 107.
- Aircraft condition and pilot responsibility: § 107.15, § 107.17, § 107.19, § 107.21, § 107.23, § 107.49 cover safe condition, fitness, responsibility, emergencies, hazardous operation, and preflight preparation.
- Operating limits: § 107.29, § 107.31, § 107.33, § 107.35, § 107.37, § 107.51 address night operations, visual line of sight, visual observers, multiple aircraft, right-of-way, and speed/altitude/weather limits.
- Airspace, people, and moving vehicles: § 107.39, § 107.41, § 107.43, § 107.45, § 107.47, § 107.145 address operations over people, airspace authorization, airport interference, restricted airspace, flight restrictions, and operations over moving vehicles.
- Registration, Remote ID, and accident reporting: § 107.13, § 107.9 address registration and reportable accidents.
- Registration is governed by Part 47 or Part 48, as applicable; Part 89 governs remote identification (Remote ID), including its exceptions.
- Part 91 does not apply wholesale to Part 107 operations; § 91.1(f) identifies the specified exceptions.
FARs for Sport Pilots
- Sport-pilot privileges are governed by Part 61 Subpart J together with applicable Part 91 operating rules.
- These are key regulatory starting points, not an exhaustive list of every rule that may apply to the aircraft, pilot, airspace, or operation.
- Certificate and training: § 61.305, § 61.307, § 61.309, § 61.311, § 61.313 cover eligibility, testing, knowledge, proficiency, and aeronautical experience.
- Apply the requirements for the aircraft category and class; student solo operations also require the applicable Part 61 Subpart C authorizations.
- Permitted aircraft and operating limits: § 61.315, § 61.316 specify sport-pilot privileges, limitations, and aircraft performance/design requirements.
- Check the current rules rather than assuming every eligible aircraft must have a light-sport airworthiness certificate.
- A pilot exercising sport privileges must comply with the applicable visibility, surface-reference, altitude, passenger, and compensation limitations.
- Medical eligibility and higher-certificate holders: § 61.23, § 61.53, § 61.303 address medical or driver-license eligibility, medical deficiencies, and exercising sport privileges with another pilot certificate.
- Additional endorsements: § 61.321, § 61.325, § 61.327, § 61.331 address added category/class privileges, specified controlled-airspace and towered-airport operations, speed-related privileges, and retractable-gear or controllable-pitch-propeller privileges.
- Night operations are conditional, not automatically prohibited: § 61.329 requires the specified night training, instructor endorsement, and medical certificate or qualifying BasicMed eligibility.
- A driver license alone does not satisfy the night-operation medical requirement.
- Ongoing qualification and flight rules: § 61.56, § 61.57 cover flight reviews and applicable passenger currency.
- Part 91 preparation, airworthiness, airspace, weather, equipment, and fuel rules still apply; sport-pilot limitations may be more restrictive than a general VFR minimum.
Special Federal Aviation Regulations
- Special Federal Aviation Regulations (SFARS) are published when immediate release of regulation or supplemental guidance to existing regulations is warranted
- SFARs can be found online at: https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/us_restrictions/.
Federal Aviation Regulations Knowledge Check
Choose the knowledge check that matches your current training for Federal Aviation Regulations.
PPL knowledge check
Core Knowledge Review
Review foundational knowledge, key concepts, and practical considerations. Topic: Federal Aviation Regulations.
- Immediate feedback
- Answer explanations
- Account progress tracking
Why Take a Quiz?
Quizzes reinforce key concepts, identify knowledge gaps, and build confidence for real-world decisions. Quiz material is representative of the information provided here and is not based on or sourced from the Federal Aviation Administration test bank.
Federal Aviation Regulations Interactive Scenario
The Flight That Was Legal Under the Wrong Paragraph
Work through a proposed passenger flight where definitions, applicability, exceptions, and operational judgment all matter. Abbreviations used in this scenario: Air Traffic Control (ATC); Pilot in Command (PIC).
Decision 1
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Scenario Complete
Federal Aviation Regulations Conclusion
- The FAA publishes the Code of Federal Regulations (CFRs) to make readily available to the aviation community the regulatory requirements placed upon them.
- These regulations are sold as individual parts by the Superintendent of Documents.
- The more frequently amended parts are sold on subscription service with subscribers receiving changes automatically as issued.
- Less active parts are sold on a single-seat basis.
- Changes to single-seat parts will be sold separately as issued.
- Information concerning these changes will be furnished by the FAA through its Status of Federal Aviation Regulations, AC 00-44.
- The FAR is law, and thereby regulatory unless granted an FAA exemption.
Federal Aviation Regulations References
- Electronic Code of Federal Regulations: 14 CFR Part 61 — Pilot Certification.
- Electronic Code of Federal Regulations: 14 CFR Part 91 — General Operating and Flight Rules.
- Electronic Code of Federal Regulations: 14 CFR Part 107 — Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems.
- Electronic Code of Federal Regulations: 14 CFR Part 68 — BasicMed.
- Electronic Code of Federal Regulations: 14 CFR Part 48 — Small Unmanned Aircraft Registration.
- Electronic Code of Federal Regulations: 14 CFR Part 89 — Remote Identification.
- Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) - Pilot/Controller Glossary.
- Aeronautical Information Manual - Preface.
- CFI Notebook.net - Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM).
- Federal Aviation Regulations (91.1) Applicability.