Legal Interpretations
Drongosky 2007
Summary
The Question
Does 14 CFR 121.471(g) allow a flight crewmember to exceed flight time limitations only when returning to a hub or base?
Background
An individual believed that because 14 CFR 121.471(g) uses the singular word "destination," it lets a flight crewmember exceed flight time limitations only to get home to a hub or base.
The FAA’s Interpretation
No. The FAA said that reading of 14 CFR 121.471(g) is incorrect and that it knows of no FAA interpretation imposing that restriction on the provision's use.
- Requester
- Drongosky
- Issued
- May 3, 2007
- Subjects
- Air Carrier & Commercial Operations · Flight & Duty Time
Regulations Cited
- 14 CFR 121.47
- 14 CFR 121.471
Page 1
U.S. Deportment
of Transportation
Federal Aviation
Administration
MAY .J3 'lf/J/
Michael J. Drongosky
Dear Mr. Drongosky:
This responds to the question you posed in your letter of March 27, 2007, regarding 14 CFR §121.471. You asked whether your understanding of 14 CFR §121.471(g) is consistent with. . our interpretation of the regulation. Specifically, you believe that under§ 121.471(g), a flight crewmember may exceed the applicable flight time limitations only to get back to a hub/base because the word destination in section 121.471(g) is singular, not plural, as in destinations. This is to advise that your assumption that§ 121.471(g) only allows a flight crewmember to exceed a flight time limitation when trying to " ... get home to a hub or base .. . " is incorrect. We are not aware of any FAA interpretation that has imposed that type of restriction on the use of§ 121.471(g).
This response has been prepared by Cecile O'Connor, Attorney in the Regulations Division of the Office of the Chief Counsel and has been coordinated with the Air Transportation Division of Flight Standards Service. If you have additional questions regarding this matter, please contact us at your earliest convenience at (202) 267-3073.
Sincerely,
e..£~Assistant Chief Counsel,
Regulations Division AGC-200
Regulations Referenced
Snapshot retrieved August 6, 2026.