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  4. Part 91
  5. § 91.203
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14 CFR · Part 91

14 CFR § 91.203

Civil aircraft: Certifications required.

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Read in Subpart C
Part 91 Contents
  • Special Federal Aviation Regulation No. 50-2: Special Flight Rules in the Vicinity of the Grand Canyon National Park, AZ
  • Special Federal Aviation Regulation No. 60: Air Traffic Control System Emergency Operation
  • Special Federal Aviation Regulation No. 97: Special Operating Rules for the Conduct of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) Area Navigation (RNAV) Operations using Global Positioning Systems (GPS) in Alaska
  • Special Federal Aviation Regulation No. 104: Prohibition Against Certain Flights by Syrian Air Carriers to the United States
  • Subpart A: General
  • Subpart B: Flight Rules
  • Subpart C: Equipment, Instrument, and Certificate Requirements
  • Subpart D: Special Flight Operations
  • Subpart E: Maintenance, Preventive Maintenance, and Alterations
  • Subpart F: Large and Turbine-Powered Multiengine Airplanes and Fractional Ownership Program Aircraft
  • Subpart G: Additional Equipment and Operating Requirements for Large and Transport Category Aircraft
  • Subpart H: Foreign Aircraft Operations and Operations of U.S.-Registered Civil Aircraft Outside of the United States; and Rules Governing Persons on Board Such Aircraft
  • Subpart I: Operating Noise Limits
  • Subpart J: Waivers
  • Subpart K: Fractional Ownership Operations
  • Subpart L: Continued Airworthiness and Safety Improvements
  • Subpart M: Special Federal Aviation Regulations
  • Subpart N: Mitsubishi MU-2B Series Special Training, Experience, and Operating Requirements
  • Appendix A to Part 91: Category II Operations: Manual, Instruments, Equipment, and Maintenance
  • Appendix D to Part 91: Airports/Locations: Special Operating Restrictions
  • Appendix E to Part 91: Airplane Flight Recorder Specifications
  • Appendix F to Part 91: Helicopter Flight Recorder Specifications
  • Appendix G to Part 91: Operations in Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum (RVSM) Airspace
(a)

Except as provided in § 91.715, no person may operate a civil aircraft unless it has within it the following:

(1)

An appropriate and current airworthiness certificate. Each U.S. airworthiness certificate used to comply with this subparagraph (except a special flight permit, a copy of the applicable operations specifications issued under § 21.197(c) of this chapter, appropriate sections of the air carrier manual required by parts 121 and 135 of this chapter containing that portion of the operations specifications issued under § 21.197(c), or an authorization under § 91.611) must have on it the registration number assigned to the aircraft under part 47 or 48 of this chapter. However, the airworthiness certificate need not have on it an assigned special identification number before 10 days after that number is first affixed to the aircraft. A revised airworthiness certificate having on it an assigned special identification number, that has been affixed to an aircraft, may only be obtained upon application to the responsible Flight Standards office.

(2)

An effective U.S. registration certificate issued to its owner or, for operation within the United States, the second copy of the Aircraft registration Application as provided for in § 47.31(c), a Certificate of Aircraft registration as provided in part 48, or a registration certification issued under the laws of a foreign country.

(b)

No person may operate a civil aircraft unless the airworthiness certificate required by paragraph (a) of this section or a special flight authorization issued under § 91.715 is displayed at the cabin or cockpit entrance so that it is legible to passengers or crew.

(c)

No person may operate an aircraft with a fuel tank installed within the passenger compartment or a baggage compartment unless the installation was accomplished pursuant to part 43 of this chapter, and a copy of FAA Form 337 authorizing that installation is on board the aircraft.

(d)

No person may operate a civil airplane (domestic or foreign) into or out of an airport in the United States unless it complies with the fuel venting and exhaust emissions requirements of part 34 of this chapter.

Referenced By

Interpretations of This Section (5)

  • Keller, 2015
  • Duncan (AFS), 2014
  • Mertens (DuncanAviation), 2012
  • Busch, 2008
  • Willkie (Department of Commerce), 1990

Advisory Circulars (1)

  • AC 61-98E

Documents that cite this section, found in their catalog metadata or text. Listed by date, not by significance.

Regulations Referenced

14 CFR 91.71514 CFR 21.19714 CFR Part 12114 CFR 91.61114 CFR Part 4714 CFR 47.3114 CFR Part 4814 CFR Part 43

Reflects the eCFR edition current as of July 6, 2026. Retrieved from ecfr.gov on July 17, 2026.

Primary Source

  • Official Source (14 CFR · Part 91)