Special flight authorizations for non-revenue Stage 2 operations

This regulation allows limited non-revenue flights of large Stage 2 airplanes (over 75,000 pounds) in the contiguous U.S. after December 31, 1999, when such operations would otherwise be prohibited under noise regulations.

You can operate these aircraft only for specific purposes:

• Selling, leasing, or scrapping the airplane
• Getting modifications to meet quieter noise standards (Stage 3, 4, or 5)
• Obtaining heavy maintenance or major modifications
• Delivering to or returning from a lessee/lessor
• Parking or storing the aircraft
• Preparing for any of the above activities

You must obtain a special flight authorization from the FAA's Office of Environment and Energy before conducting these flights. Applications must be submitted at least 30 days in advance and include enough information for the FAA to verify your flight qualifies under these limited purposes. This essentially provides an exception to noise restrictions for necessary operational and business purposes.

*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.*