Regulation Text
No person may flight test an aircraft except over open water, or sparsely populated areas, having light air traffic.
Research Notes
Section 91.305 — Flight test areas — restricts the location of flight tests for certain experimental aircraft and aircraft undergoing certification testing.
What this covers: Aircraft being flown to test airworthiness, for crew training in the aircraft, or to investigate the aircraft's flight characteristics must be operated in areas designated by the Administrator (typically a 'flight test area' specified in the experimental airworthiness certificate).
Practical scope: Applies to experimental aircraft (homebuilts, experimental amateur-built, ELSA, etc.) during the initial flight test phase, and to certificated aircraft undergoing major alteration test flights. The Phase I flight test area is specified in the airworthiness certificate operating limitations.
Phase I/Phase II for experimental amateur-built: Phase I is the initial test period (typically 25-40 hours depending on the aircraft and propeller combination) restricted to the test area. Phase II permits flight outside the test area following completion of the test program.
Reference: FAA Order 8130.2 on experimental airworthiness certification; AC 90-89B on amateur-built test flying.
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.