Flight following system

This regulation requires Part 121 supplemental operators (typically charter flights) to maintain an approved flight following system that monitors each flight's progress. The system must track departures, arrivals, intermediate stops, diversions, and any maintenance delays. It must also ensure pilots receive all safety-critical information during their flights.

The certificate holder must establish flight following centers at strategic locations to accomplish this monitoring, though the regulation explicitly states that real-time in-flight monitoring isn't required—tracking can occur at key points rather than continuously.

Operators may outsource flight following to third-party providers, but the certificate holder remains ultimately responsible for operational control of each flight. The FAA approves each operator's specific flight following system and center locations, which are documented in the operator's operations specifications. This ensures systematic oversight of flight operations even when aircraft are away from the operator's home base.

*This is a plain-English summary for study only. The official 14 CFR text on this page is controlling — always read the current regulation and consult a CFI.*