Legal Interpretations
Burrell 2006
Summary
The Question
Do FAA regulations restrict recently released former prisoners from traveling on commercial airlines?
Background
A federal prison inmate nearing release planned to travel by air to Las Vegas, Nevada and asked about air travel restrictions on persons recently released from prison.
The FAA’s Interpretation
No. The FAA has no regulation prohibiting or otherwise limiting recently released former prisoners from using commercial air transportation, and the Transportation Security Administration, the agency responsible for aviation security, said it was not aware of any such prohibition.
- Requester
- Burrell
- Issued
- September 7, 2006
- Subject
- General
Page 1
U.S. Department
of Transportation
Federal Aviation
Administration
Dear Mr. BmTell:
In a letter dated September 7, 2006, you stated that you are cmTently incarcerated at a federal prison and that you will complete your sentence in the near future. You fmi her indicated that you plan to travel by air to Las Vegas, Nevada upon the completion of your sentence and inquired about restrictions on air trnvel imposed on persons recently released from prison.
The Federal Aviation Administration does not have any regulation prohibiting, or otherwise limiting, recently released former prisoners from using commercial air transportation services. Fmther, we contacted the Transportation Security Administration, the agency responsible for aviation security, and they indicated that they were not aware of any such prohibition. We tmst this answers your question.
Sincerely,
Rebecca B. MacPherson
Assistant Chief Counsel
for Regulations, AGC-200
Snapshot retrieved August 6, 2026.