Regulation Text
(a) Foreign civil aircraft may be operated without airworthiness certificates required under § 91.203 if a special flight authorization for that operation is issued under this section. Application for a special flight authorization must be made to the appropriate Flight Standards Division Manager, or Aircraft Certification Service Division Director. However, in the case of an aircraft to be operated in the U.S. for the purpose of demonstration at an airshow, the application may be made to the appropriate Flight Standards Division Manager or Aircraft Certification Service Division Director responsible for the airshow location.
(b) The Administrator may issue a special flight authorization for a foreign civil aircraft subject to any conditions and limitations that the Administrator considers necessary for safe operation in the U.S. airspace.
(c) No person may operate a foreign civil aircraft under a special flight authorization unless that operation also complies with part 375 of the Special Regulations of the Department of Transportation (14 CFR part 375).
(Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control number 2120-0005)[Docket 18334, 54 FR 34320, Aug. 18, 1989, as amended by Amdt. 91-212, 54 FR 39293, Sept. 25, 1989; Docket FAA-2018-0119, Amdt. 91-350, 83 FR 9171, Mar. 5, 2018]
Research Notes
Section 91.715 — Special flight authorizations for foreign civil aircraft — provides FAA authority to issue special flight authorizations for foreign civil aircraft not meeting standard requirements.
Use cases: Foreign-registered experimental aircraft, prototype aircraft, demonstration aircraft, certain warbirds, and other special-purpose aircraft may require an FAA Special Flight Authorization to operate in U.S. airspace.
The authorization process: The operator applies via the FAA's Aircraft Registration Branch with details on the aircraft, intended operations, qualifications, and safety mitigations.
Reference: FAA Aircraft Registration Branch; FAA Order 8130.
Amendment History
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