Regulation Text
(a) No person may take off an airplane for a flight over water more than 50 nautical miles from the nearest shore unless that airplane is equipped with a life preserver or an approved flotation means for each occupant of the airplane.
(b) Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section, no person may take off an airplane for flight over water more than 30 minutes flying time or 100 nautical miles from the nearest shore, whichever is less, unless it has on board the following survival equipment:
(1) A life preserver, equipped with an approved survivor locator light, for each occupant of the airplane.
(2) Enough liferafts (each equipped with an approved survival locator light) of a rated capacity and buoyancy to accommodate the occupants of the airplane.
(3) At least one pyrotechnic signaling device for each liferaft.
(4) One self-buoyant, water-resistant, portable emergency radio signaling device that is capable of transmission on the appropriate emergency frequency or frequencies and not dependent upon the airplane power supply.
(5) A lifeline stored in accordance with § 25.1411(g) of this chapter.
(c) A fractional ownership program manager under subpart K of this part may apply for a deviation from paragraphs (b)(2) through (5) of this section for a particular over water operation or the Administrator may amend the management specifications to require the carriage of all or any specific items of the equipment listed in paragraphs (b)(2) through (5) of this section.
(d) The required life rafts, life preservers, and signaling devices must be installed in conspicuously marked locations and easily accessible in the event of a ditching without appreciable time for preparatory procedures.
(e) A survival kit, appropriately equipped for the route to be flown, must be attached to each required life raft.
(f) As used in this section, the term shore means that area of the land adjacent to the water that is above the high water mark and excludes land areas that are intermittently under water.
[Docket 18334, 54 FR 34314, Aug. 18, 1989, as amended by Amdt. 91-280, 68 FR 54561, Sept. 17, 2003]
Research Notes
Section 91.509 — Survival equipment for overwater operations — requires specific survival equipment for large and turbine multiengine airplanes operating extended distances over water.
The over-water thresholds:
- 30 NM or less from shore: Each occupant must have an approved life preserver readily accessible.
- More than 30 NM but within power-off gliding distance: Life preserver plus life rafts adequate for all occupants.
- Beyond power-off gliding distance from shore: Additional survival equipment — survival kit, ELT, radio, signal devices.
Paragraph (b) — Life rafts: Where required, life rafts must be approved, capable of accommodating all occupants, easily reached, and equipped with survival gear (water, food, signals).
Practical compliance: Most operators flying extended over-water (Bahamas, Caribbean, transoceanic) carry survival kits exceeding the regulatory minimum. Personal locator beacons (PLBs) and EPIRBs are standard for serious over-water operations.
Reference: AC 20-94 on overwater operations equipment; FAA Order 8900.1.
Amendment History
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