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The Pilots Desk
US-FAA14 CFR 121.905

Confidential commercial information

Read the official rule

This regulation tells airlines how to protect proprietary business information when submitting Advanced Qualification Program (AQP) materials to the FAA. If a certificate holder believes certain information constitutes confidential commercial information under federal law and should be kept from public disclosure, they must formally request confidentiality with each submission.

The request must follow specific formatting rules:

  • Electronic submissions: Embed the confidentiality claim directly in the file so protected portions are immediately obvious
  • Paper submissions: Mark "CONFIDENTIAL" at the top of each page containing protected information
  • All submissions: Provide legal justification explaining why the information qualifies for confidential treatment under federal law

This matters because AQP materials often contain proprietary training methods, evaluation criteria, or operational details that airlines consider competitive advantages. Without proper marking and justification, the FAA may release this information in response to public records requests.

*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.*

This is an original plain-English explanation for training and reference, not legal advice and not for navigation. Always rely on the current official rule linked above. Last reviewed June 20, 2026.