Disposition of load manifest, flight release, and flight plans: Supplemental operations

This regulation governs how supplemental air carriers handle critical flight documents. The pilot in command must carry originals or signed copies of five documents to the destination: the load manifest, flight release, airworthiness release, pilot route certification, and flight plan.

The carrier must also retain copies at its principal base of operations. When flights originate from the main base, copies stay there. For flights originating elsewhere, the pilot or an authorized person must mail copies to the main base before or immediately after departure. Alternatively, if there's a company representative managing the departure who isn't flying, that person can hold the documents locally for up to 30 days before sending them to the main base.

The carrier must designate in its operations manual who maintains these remote copies and keep all records at the principal base for at least three months. This system ensures the company maintains a complete record of all flight operations for safety oversight and regulatory compliance.

*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.*