14 CFR 91.203 — Civil Aircraft: Certifications Required
Requires aircraft to have an airworthiness certificate, registration certificate, and operating limitations aboard.
Regulation Text
No person may operate a civil aircraft unless it has within it the following: an appropriate and current airworthiness certificate; an effective U.S. registration certificate; and an approved flight manual, or for older aircraft, any placard or marking required for that aircraft type.
Note: This is an excerpt. Refer to the full regulation in eCFR for the complete text.
Plain-English Explanation
Every aircraft must carry certain documents, remembered by the acronym ARROW: Airworthiness certificate, Registration certificate, Radio station license (for international flights), Operating limitations (POH/AFM), and Weight and balance data. The airworthiness certificate never expires as long as the aircraft is maintained properly. The registration certificate expires every 7 years. Missing any of these documents means the aircraft is not legal to fly.
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Related Regulations
14 CFR 91.207 — Emergency Locator Transmitters
Requires ELTs on most aircraft, with exceptions for training flights within 50 nm of the departure airport and other specific operations.
§91.21314 CFR 91.213 — Inoperative Instruments and Equipment
Defines when an aircraft with inoperative instruments or equipment may still be operated, using either an MEL or the regulatory determination process.
§91.40314 CFR 91.403 — General Maintenance Requirements
The owner or operator is primarily responsible for maintaining the aircraft in an airworthy condition, including compliance with ADs.
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