FAR DECODED — TITLE 14 CFR

Limited Category Civil Aircraft: Operating Limitations

Regulation Text

Except as provided in § 91.326, no person may operate a limited category civil aircraft carrying persons or property for compensation or hire in operations that:

(a) Require an air carrier or commercial operator certificate issued under part 119 of this chapter;

(b) Are listed in § 119.1(e) of this chapter;

(c) Require management specifications for a fractional ownership program issued in accordance with subpart K of this part; or

(d) Are conducted under part 129, 133, or 137 of this chapter.

[Docket FAA-2023-1351, Amdt. 91-378, 89 FR 80340, Oct. 2, 2024]

Research Notes

Section 91.315 — Limited category civil aircraft: Operating limitations — covers aircraft certificated in the Limited category (a historical category mainly used for surplus military aircraft).

Limited category background: Established after WWII to enable civilian operation of surplus military aircraft (P-51, B-25, AT-6, etc.) that couldn't meet standard certification. Many warbirds today still operate under Limited category certificates.

Operational restrictions: Limited category aircraft may not be used to carry passengers OR property for hire. They are intended for owner-operator use, demonstration, airshow, and similar non-commercial purposes.

Reference: FAA Order 8130.2 on Limited category certification; Warbirds of America operational guidance.

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.