Airplane equipment

This regulation establishes that aircraft operating under Part 121 (scheduled air carrier operations) must meet two fundamental requirements before dispatch or release: the airplane must be airworthy and properly equipped according to § 121.303.

In practice, this means no airline flight can legally begin unless the aircraft is in a condition for safe operation and has all required equipment installed and functioning as specified elsewhere in the regulations. The reference to § 121.303 points to detailed equipment requirements that vary based on the type of operation and routes flown.

This is a foundational safety rule that places responsibility on the person authorizing the flight—typically a dispatcher or flight release officer—to verify these conditions are met. It ensures a systematic check occurs before every flight, preventing aircraft from departing with airworthiness issues or missing required equipment. Violations can result in the flight being grounded until deficiencies are corrected.

*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.*