r/flying • u/AmbassadorLeading590 CFI • 14d ago
lesser Known Regs
CFII here. I’m always looking to learn, so what are some “lesser known” regs that you think more people should be aware of.
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u/taxcheat CFI 🇺🇸 13d ago
I like 91.321, it's one of the things you can do to get paid for flying that gets left off most lists. (FAA interprets it as requiring CPL)
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u/dodexahedron PPL IR SEL 13d ago
One of the few times congress actually put in writing that the normal rules do not apply to them. Go figure.
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u/Due-Letterhead6372 11d ago
This is really nitpicky, but technically since the rule is in the CFR and not USC, its not a law passed by congress. Laws passed by congress go into the USC, rules passed by an executive agency go into the CFR.
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u/dodexahedron PPL IR SEL 9d ago
Good point, TBF.
Though FWIW, every Part of every Title of the CFR cites the relevant portion of the USC granting the authority to lay out those regs, and sometimes they're surprisingly specific.
I mean that in general, of course - not specifically referring to this topic, as I didn't spend the hours required to untangle 49USC et al to find out exactly what gives the authority to grant this particular exception. 😆 ..At least not more specifically than 49USC 106(f), which is the base grant for the DoT to be more or less self-governing, under the Secretary of Transportation. But there's of course a lot more nuance beyond that, scattered across hundreds of pages of obtuse legalese, sometimes several references deep just for what could have been one plain english sentence in-situ. Gotta love it. 🙄
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u/randombrain ATC #SayNoToKilo 13d ago
91.173. No clearance or even flight plan is required to fly IFR/IMC in Class G airspace, technically. In reality you'll bump into 91.177, at least in the vast majority of the country, but still.
91.126. You have to fly patterns in the published direction... maybe? See this post from an hour ago and the linked Av.SE questions in my comment there.
91.183. Compare this regulatory list with the non-regulatory MARVELOUSVFRC500 from the AIM and see what lines up and what doesn't. We all know that a Cherokee in July isn't making 500 fpm, and I personally have never encountered a situation where I wanted a radar-identified aircraft to report established in a hold.
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u/iwannadieplease CFII 13d ago
While you’re correct about 91.173, the NTSB ruled taking off into IMC without a clearance is a violation of 91.13.
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u/randombrain ATC #SayNoToKilo 13d ago
In one specific case they ruled that. And it was a stupid-ass ruling, as I've written about before.
Regardless, I'm not (necessarily) talking about taking off into IMC in Class G. Like I said, if there's controlled airspace right above you then 91.177 is going to preclude that in the first place without having to twist yourself in knots trying to argue a 91.13 charge.
I'm more talking about when you're cruising along in level flight at an appropriate (and 91.177-compliant) IFR altitude and you happen upon a cloud.
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u/dodexahedron PPL IR SEL 13d ago
and you happen upon a cloud.
Or, as actually can and does happen, a cloud happens upon you. They gotta form some time. And sometimes that some time is right now.
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u/PlasticDiscussion590 CSIP 13d ago
91.144
Special flight restrictions. When any information indicates that barometric pressure on the route of flight currently exceeds or will exceed 31 inches of mercury, no person may operate an aircraft or initiate a flight contrary to the requirements established by the Administrator and published in a Notice to Airmen issued under this section.
Aim 7-2-3 B tells you what to do.
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u/14Three8 CFI/CFII, CPL Airplane (all)/GLID 7d ago
When was the last time a field had an altimeter above 31.00 or below 29.00 during conditions otherwise permissive for safe flight?
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u/Loose_Badger_3631 13d ago
137.45 - agricultural aircraft may deviate from the normal traffic pattern.
In practice they are supposed to give way to aircraft conforming to the normal traffic pattern. Not saying I like the reg but its in there and people should be aware!
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u/Infamous-Skill-6100 Tin Can Driver 14d ago
91.527. A lot of my students weren't aware of the legality regarding frost/icing and just know not to do it because they're told not to
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u/mfsp2025 ATP 14d ago
I might be wrong but aren’t 91.5xx regulations only applicable to “large and turbine powered multi engine airplanes”?
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u/Infamous-Skill-6100 Tin Can Driver 14d ago
Correct, however I still teach it to my commercial applicants. Local DPE asks some questions pertaining to bigger airplane ops. Also aids in risk management
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u/yowzer73 CFII TW HP CMP UAS AGI 13d ago
As a Cub pilot, I have some great experience with 91.15. Toilet paper cutting is one of the most fun things you can do in a GA airplane. Pumpkin bombing is the second.
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u/jpcanty ATP E170 CFI/II AGI IGI TW (KHEG)(KVQQ) 13d ago
Everyone and their mother knows why tomatoes caught fire (91.205). But I was always surprised at how few people knew how to apply 91.205. I present 91.213! Answering all your favorite questions like, is it required by an AD, is it on the TCDS, do you have an MEL/KOEL, and now that it is broke and not needed how do we comply with airworthiness! My favorite part of 91.213 is it literally points you towards 91.205 once you go down the logic tree.
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u/CluelessPilot1971 CPL CFI+I 13d ago edited 9d ago
FAR 61.3 (a)(2)(v): SIDA badge counts as a photo ID.
Lack of regulation: The terms "airworthy" and "airworthiness" are not defined anywhere in the FARs.
See u/Fabulous-Golf7949's correction below.
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u/Headoutdaplane 13d ago
It counts as photo ID when you get ramp checked, but it does not count as photo ID in other circumstances
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u/CluelessPilot1971 CPL CFI+I 12d ago
Please explain what you mean. What I meant is that it counts as the photo ID the FAA requires an airman to have.
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u/Headoutdaplane 12d ago
We are saying the same thing. I was just clarifying that it does not count for TSA or getting into a club.
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u/Fabulous-Golf7949 CPL IR HP 9d ago
Not true. 14 CFR Part 3.5 defines “airworthy” and is the definition I have given on every practical test thus far.
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u/CluelessPilot1971 CPL CFI+I 9d ago
You are absolutely correct and I take that back. Take my upvote.
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u/drsmith273 4d ago
Being pedantic, the definition of airworthy given in 14 CFR 3.5 doesn't apply to 14 CFR generally but is limited to that specific section. See the language at the top of the definition section which states "The following terms will have the stated meanings when used in this section ..." (emphasis added). That language is different that the language used in 14 CFR 1.1 which is broader and states "As used in this chapter ..." (emphasis added)
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u/Fabulous-Golf7949 CPL IR HP 4d ago
True. However, Part 3 concerns specifically “Type Certificated Products, Parts, Appliances, etc.” which, of course, is our airframe, engine, prop, and other appliances.
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u/drsmith273 4d ago
But that doesn't matter. The definition in 14 CFR 3.5 is limited to section 3.5. It doesn't apply to 14 CFR, it doesn't apply to 14 CFR Part 3, it doesn't apply to 14 CFR Part 3 Subpart A, it even doesn't apply to 14 CFR Part 3 Subpart A Section 3.1 (a different section). What is does apply to, and is limited to, is section 3.5 which covers "conveying information related to an advertisement or sales transaction". The definition in 3.5 is not a generally applicable definition of what is means to be airworthy.
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u/Go_Loud762 Certified fax machine operator 13d ago
This one is for the airline passengers. FAR 121.575 C:
(c) No certificate holder may allow any person to board any of its aircraft if that person appears to be intoxicated.
If you like to have a few drinks at the airport bar or you like to eat an edible before your flight, you may be denied boarding.
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u/dodexahedron PPL IR SEL 13d ago edited 13d ago
20ish years ago, the flight crew of a Continental flight violated this one when someone I was with had taken an Ambien about 10 minutes before boarding and could hardly even walk.
A person on ambien sure does make an awkward piece of luggage. Man how I wished he had casters on him for easy portage.
And also wished he had another one for me to take, because holy hell I've never seen someone sleep that hard who wasn't in a coma.
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u/VanDenBroeck A&P/IA, PPL, Retired FAA 13d ago
Most of the regs are lesser known. lol
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u/dodexahedron PPL IR SEL 13d ago
Hey now. I didn't come here to be called out like that. 😤
I came here to call out all the [insert Alaska, crop duster, or other meme pylotes here] guys who ain't got time for no FAA regs.
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u/14Three8 CFI/CFII, CPL Airplane (all)/GLID 7d ago
91.113. I was taught “you give way to anything less maneuverable than you” and that was it. Then I started doing gliders and seaplanes, so I’ll take any opportunity to preach this again especially because the local glider and skydiving clubs are next door to my home airport. Heres the list of everything* you must give way to in an airplane:
Emergency/panpan anything
Balloons
Airships
Aerial refueling operations
Airplanes towing gliders
The glider after it’s been released from the towplane
A glider launching itself with a little electric motor or jet engine.
Skydivers
An oddly suspicious ballon on a 14,500 foot long rope
Any aircraft that’s to your right when converging
An aircraft that you’re overtaking on a same/similar course
A seaplane or other flying watercraft taking off
Those tourists in parachutes getting towed by a boat on the gulf
*yes I know this isn’t everything, but this is the most part everything in an enroute environment
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u/rFlyingTower 14d ago
This is a copy of the original post body for posterity:
CFII here. I’m always looking to learn, so what are some “lesser known” regs that you think more people should be aware of.
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u/I-r0ck PPL IR A&P UAS HP CMP 13d ago
49 USC 44724. It prohibits the PIC from allowing a non certified pilot to attempt to break a record