Nontransport category airplanes: Landing limitations: Destination airport

This regulation sets landing weight limits for Part 121 airlines operating nontransport category airplanes. Before takeoff, you must ensure that your airplane's anticipated landing weight (accounting for fuel burn) allows you to make a full-stop landing within 60% of the most suitable runway at your destination.

You must calculate this for two scenarios and use whichever is more restrictive: the longest runway in calm winds, or the runway required by forecast winds (counting only 50% of headwinds but 150% of tailwinds—a conservative approach since tailwinds hurt performance more than headwinds help).

The regulation assumes a stabilized approach crossing the runway threshold at 50 feet and 1.3 times stall speed, standard atmospheric conditions, and normal pilot technique. This 60% requirement provides a significant safety margin beyond the airplane's demonstrated landing distance, accounting for real-world variables and ensuring safe operations even if conditions aren't perfect.

*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.*