Regulation Text
No person may operate an aircraft in aerobatic flight—
(a) Over any congested area of a city, town, or settlement;
(b) Over an open air assembly of persons;
(c) Within the lateral boundaries of the surface areas of Class B, Class C, Class D, or Class E airspace designated for an airport;
(d) Within 4 nautical miles of the center line of any Federal airway;
(e) Below an altitude of 1,500 feet above the surface; or
(f) When flight visibility is less than 3 statute miles.
For the purposes of this section, aerobatic flight means an intentional maneuver involving an abrupt change in an aircraft's attitude, an abnormal attitude, or abnormal acceleration, not necessary for normal flight.[Docket 18834, 54 FR 34308, Aug. 18, 1989, as amended by Amdt. 91-227, 56 FR 65661, Dec. 17, 1991]
Research Notes
Section 91.303 — Aerobatic flight — defines aerobatic flight and prohibits it in specific airspace and altitudes.
Definition (paragraph e): Aerobatic flight means an intentional maneuver involving an abrupt change in an aircraft's attitude, an abnormal attitude, OR abnormal acceleration not necessary for normal flight. The 'intentional' qualifier is key — unintentional unusual attitudes (e.g., a recovery from a stall) are not aerobatic flight.
Where aerobatic flight is prohibited:
- (a) Over any congested area of a city, town, or settlement
- (b) Over an open air assembly of persons
- (c) Within Class B, C, or D airspace
- (d) Within the lateral boundaries of the surface areas of Class E airspace designated for an airport
- (e) Below an altitude of 1,500 feet above the surface
- (f) When flight visibility is less than 3 statute miles
Practical scope: Recreational aerobatics is conducted over open country (not over towns), above 1,500 AGL, in good visibility. Most GA aerobatic boxes are over rural areas with the operator possessing a Certificate of Waiver (under § 91.193) for lower altitudes and air-show contexts.
Required equipment: § 91.307 requires aerobatic aircraft to be equipped with a parachute (with specific exceptions for non-passenger-carrying flights and certain pilot-only operations).
Reference: FAA-H-8083-9 Chapter on aerobatic training; International Aerobatic Club training standards.
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.