Aircraft record: Domestic and flag operations

If you operate a Part 121 airline conducting domestic or flag operations, you must keep an up-to-date list of every aircraft you use in scheduled air transportation. Whenever this list changes—whether you add or remove aircraft—you must send the updated information to your assigned Flight Standards office.

This requirement helps the FAA track which aircraft are being used in commercial service and by whom. It's part of the agency's oversight system, ensuring they know exactly what equipment each carrier is operating at any given time.

There's a practical shortcut: if you're operating another carrier's airplanes under an interchange agreement, you don't need to list every detail about those aircraft. Instead, you can simply reference the other carrier's records. This avoids duplicate recordkeeping when two carriers share aircraft under formal agreements.

*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.*