Regulation Text
(a) No pilot of a civil aircraft may allow a parachute that is available for emergency use to be carried in that aircraft unless it is an approved type and has been packed by a certificated and appropriately rated parachute rigger—
(1) Within the preceding 180 days, if its canopy, shrouds, and harness are composed exclusively of nylon, rayon, or other similar synthetic fiber or materials that are substantially resistant to damage from mold, mildew, or other fungi and other rotting agents propagated in a moist environment; or
(2) Within the preceding 60 days, if any part of the parachute is composed of silk, pongee, or other natural fiber or materials not specified in paragraph (a)(1) of this section.
(b) Except in an emergency, no pilot in command may allow, and no person may conduct, a parachute operation from an aircraft within the United States except in accordance with part 105 of this chapter.
(c) Unless each occupant of the aircraft is wearing an approved parachute, no pilot of a civil aircraft carrying any person (other than a crewmember) may execute any intentional maneuver that exceeds—
(1) A bank of 60 degrees relative to the horizon; or
(2) A nose-up or nose-down attitude of 30 degrees relative to the horizon.
(d) Paragraph (c) of this section does not apply to—
(1) Flight tests for pilot certification or rating; or
(2) Spins and other flight maneuvers required by the regulations for any certificate or rating when given by—
(i) A certificated flight instructor; or
(ii) An airline transport pilot instructing in accordance with § 61.67 of this chapter.
(e) For the purposes of this section, approved parachute means—
(1) A parachute manufactured under a type certificate or a technical standard order (C-23 series); or
(2) A personnel-carrying military parachute identified by an NAF, AAF, or AN drawing number, an AAF order number, or any other military designation or specification number.
[Docket 18334, 54 FR 34308, Aug. 18, 1989, as amended by Amdt. 91-255, 62 FR 68137, Dec. 30, 1997; Amdt. 91-268, 66 FR 23553, May 9, 2001; Amdt. 91-305, 73 FR 69530, Nov. 19, 2008]
Research Notes
Section 91.307 — Parachutes and parachuting — establishes both the parachute requirements for aerobatic aircraft AND the operational rules for parachute operations.
Parachute requirement for aerobatic flight (paragraph a): No pilot may execute any intentional maneuver that exceeds 60 degrees of bank relative to the horizon or 30 degrees of nose-up or nose-down attitude relative to the horizon UNLESS each occupant of the aircraft is wearing an approved parachute. The exceptions: (1) flights by a CFI giving training in aerobatics, or (2) flights conducted under a Certificate of Waiver/Authorization.
The 60/30 standard: 60 degrees of bank OR 30 degrees of pitch (up or down) — either of those triggers the parachute requirement. Many maneuvers in CFI Performance Maneuvers (Chandelles, Lazy Eights) approach but typically don't exceed 60 degrees of bank, so parachutes aren't strictly required. Pure aerobatic maneuvers (loops, rolls, spins) far exceed these thresholds and parachutes are required.
The CFI exception: A flight instructor giving aerobatic instruction to a student does NOT require parachutes (paragraph a(1)). This is a long-standing exception that enables practical aerobatic instruction.
Parachute approval (paragraph b): The parachute must be approved by the FAA or by a foreign airworthiness authority of a country where the parachute was manufactured. Service life and inspection requirements per the parachute's airworthiness limitations.
Repack interval (paragraph b)(2)): Each parachute MUST have been packed by a certificated and appropriately rated parachute rigger within the preceding 180 days (changes from earlier 90/120 day standards). Both the main and reserve canopies must meet this.
Reference: Part 105 (Parachute Operations) for jumpers and operators; USPA Skydiver's Information Manual for operational reference.
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.