Regulation Text
(a) General. Unless otherwise authorized or required, each person operating an aircraft on or in the vicinity of an airport in a Class G airspace area must comply with the requirements of this section.
(b) Direction of turns. When approaching to land at an airport without an operating control tower in Class G airspace—
(1) Each pilot of a powered fixed-wing aircraft must make all turns to the left unless the airport displays approved light signals or visual markings indicating that turns should be made to the right, in which case the pilot must make all turns to the right; and
(2) Each pilot of any other powered aircraft must avoid the flow of the aircraft specified in paragraph (b)(1) of this section.
(c) Flap settings. Except when necessary for training or certification, the pilot in command of a civil turbojet-powered aircraft must use, as a final flap setting, the minimum certificated landing flap setting set forth in the approved performance information in the Airplane Flight Manual for the applicable conditions. However, each pilot in command has the final authority and responsibility for the safe operation of the pilot's airplane, and may use a different flap setting for that airplane if the pilot determines that it is necessary in the interest of safety.
(d) Communications with control towers. Unless otherwise authorized or required by ATC, no person may operate an aircraft to, from, through, or on an airport having an operational control tower unless two-way radio communications are maintained between that aircraft and the control tower. Communications must be established prior to 4 nautical miles from the airport, up to and including 2,500 feet AGL. However, if the aircraft radio fails in flight, the pilot in command may operate that aircraft and land if weather conditions are at or above basic VFR weather minimums, visual contact with the tower is maintained, and a clearance to land is received. If the aircraft radio fails while in flight under IFR, the pilot must comply with § 91.185.
[Docket 24458, 56 FR 65658, Dec. 17, 1991, as amended by Amdt. 91-239, 59 FR 11693, Mar. 11, 1994; Amdt. 91-282, 69 FR 44880, July 27, 2004; Docket FAA-2023-1377, Amdt. 91-381, 90 FR 35220, July 24, 2025]
Research Notes
Section 91.126 governs operations in Class G (uncontrolled) airspace at airports. While the airspace itself is uncontrolled, the OPERATION at an airport in Class G is still subject to specific rules.
Paragraph (a) — General: Each person operating an aircraft to, from, or in the vicinity of an airport in Class G airspace must comply with this section and § 91.127. The reach is broad — it captures non-towered Class G airports and Class G environments at uncontrolled fields.
Paragraph (b) — Direction of turns when departing: Each pilot of an airplane must make all turns to the LEFT, unless the airport displays approved light signals or visual markings indicating that turns should be made to the right (the published right traffic pattern).
Paragraph (c) — Helicopter operations: Helicopters must avoid the flow of fixed-wing aircraft. Helicopters operate in their own pattern (typically opposite side of the airport from fixed-wing) or below the fixed-wing pattern. The 'avoid the flow' standard is operational, not a specific distance.
Paragraph (d) — Powered parachutes and weight-shift-control: These specific aircraft categories must avoid the flow of fixed-wing aircraft as well.
What's NOT in this section: Class G has no ATC, no two-way radio requirement (in most cases), no airspeed limit specific to Class G, and no weather minimums beyond § 91.155 basic VFR. The reg is narrow — it covers traffic flow direction, not airspace clearance to enter.
Reference: AIM 3-3 on Class G airspace; AIM 4-1 on non-towered airport operations.
Amendment History
Amendment History Coming Soon
Every time this regulation changes, we'll record it here — the date, what was amended, and a plain-English summary of what shifted.