Provisionally certificated airplanes: Operating limitations

This regulation sets special rules for Part 121 air carriers operating airplanes with provisional certificates (aircraft still being tested or evaluated before full certification). Beyond the general restrictions in § 91.317, these airplanes face two key limitations:

Passenger restrictions: The airline can only carry crewmembers, specific personnel listed in § 121.547(c) (typically company employees necessary for the flight), or people specifically authorized by both the airline and the FAA. Regular paying passengers are not permitted.

Enhanced recordkeeping: The airline must maintain detailed logs of every flight and complete records of all inspections and maintenance performed on the aircraft. These records must be made available to both the aircraft manufacturer and the FAA upon request.

These rules exist because provisionally certificated airplanes haven't completed the full certification process, so the FAA limits who can fly on them and requires careful documentation to monitor their performance and safety.

*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.*