Stage 2 operations outside of the 48 contiguous United States

This regulation addresses Stage 2 airplanes (older, noisier aircraft) that operate exclusively outside the 48 contiguous United States. If you operate such an aircraft only between points outside the lower 48 states—for example, between Caribbean islands or in Alaska—you must have a specific statement in your operations specifications. This statement declares that the airplane cannot be used for flights to or from any airport within the contiguous United States.

In practical terms, this creates a formal restriction that prevents these noisier aircraft from entering the lower 48 states' airspace system, even if they're normally based elsewhere. The regulation supports the phase-out of Stage 2 aircraft from U.S. domestic operations while still allowing their use in international or non-contiguous operations. If your Stage 2 airplane operates in this manner, you need this limiting statement in your ops specs.

*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.*