PART 1—DEFINITIONS AND ABBREVIATIONS Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(f), 40113, 44701. § 1.1 General definitions. As used in this chapter, unless the context requires otherwise: Administrator Aerodynamic coefficients Air carrier Air commerce Aircraft Aircraft engine Airframe Airplane Airport Airship Air traffic Air traffic clearance Air traffic control Air Traffic Service (ATS) route (1) An ATS route designator; (2) The path to or from significant points; (3) Distance between significant points; (4) Reporting requirements; and (5) The lowest safe altitude determined by the appropriate authority. Air transportation Alert Area. Alternate airport Altitude engine Amateur rocket (1) Is propelled by a motor or motors having a combined total impulse of 889,600 Newton-seconds (200,000 pound-seconds) or less; and (2) Cannot reach an altitude greater than 150 kilometers (93.2 statute miles) above the earth's surface. Appliance Approved Area navigation (RNAV) Area navigation (RNAV) route Armed Forces Autorotation Auxiliary rotor Balloon Brake horsepower Calibrated airspeed Canard Canard configuration Category: (1) As used with respect to the certification, ratings, privileges, and limitations of airmen, means a broad classification of aircraft. Examples include: airplane; rotorcraft; glider; and lighter-than-air; and (2) As used with respect to the certification of aircraft, means a grouping of aircraft based upon intended use or operating limitations. Examples include: transport, normal, utility, acrobatic, limited, restricted, and provisional. Category A, Category B, Category II operations, Category III operations, Ceiling Civil aircraft Class: (1) As used with respect to the certification, ratings, privileges, and limitations of airmen, means a classification of aircraft within a category having similar operating characteristics. Examples include: single engine; multiengine; land; water; gyroplane; helicopter; airship; and free balloon; and (2) As used with respect to the certification of aircraft, means a broad grouping of aircraft having similar characteristics of propulsion, flight, or landing. Examples include: airplane; rotorcraft; glider; balloon; landplane; and seaplane. Clearway (1) For turbine engine powered airplanes certificated after August 29, 1959, an area beyond the runway, not less than 500 feet wide, centrally located about the extended centerline of the runway, and under the control of the airport authorities. The clearway is expressed in terms of a clearway plane, extending from the end of the runway with an upward slope not exceeding 1.25 percent, above which no object nor any terrain protrudes. However, threshold lights may protrude above the plane if their height above the end of the runway is 26 inches or less and if they are located to each side of the runway. (2) For turbine engine powered airplanes certificated after September 30, 1958, but before August 30, 1959, an area beyond the takeoff runway extending no less than 300 feet on either side of the extended centerline of the runway, at an elevation no higher than the elevation of the end of the runway, clear of all fixed obstacles, and under the control of the airport authorities. Climbout speed, Commercial operator Configuration, Maintenance, and Procedures (CMP) document Controlled airspace Note: Controlled airspace is a generic term that covers Class A, Class B, Class C, Class D, and Class E airspace. Controlled Firing Area. Crewmember Critical altitude (1) The maximum continuous power, in the case of engines for which this power rating is the same at sea level and at the rated altitude. (2) The maximum continuous rated manifold pressure, in the case of engines, the maximum continuous power of which is governed by a constant manifold pressure. Critical engine Decision altitude (DA) Decision height (DH) Early ETOPS EFVS operation Enhanced flight visibility (EFV) Enhanced flight vision system (EFVS) Equivalent airspeed ETOPS Significant System (1) An ETOPS group 1 Significant System— (i) Has fail-safe characteristics directly linked to the degree of redundancy provided by the number of engines on the airplane. (ii) Is a system, the failure or malfunction of which could result in an IFSD, loss of thrust control, or other power loss. (iii) Contributes significantly to the safety of an ETOPS diversion by providing additional redundancy for any system power source lost as a result of an inoperative engine. (iv) Is essential for prolonged operation of an airplane at engine inoperative altitudes. (2) An ETOPS group 2 significant system is an ETOPS significant system that is not an ETOPS group 1 significant system. Extended Operations (ETOPS) Extended over-water operation (1) With respect to aircraft other than helicopters, an operation over water at a horizontal distance of more than 50 nautical miles from the nearest shoreline; and (2) With respect to helicopters, an operation over water at a horizontal distance of more than 50 nautical miles from the nearest shoreline and more than 50 nautical miles from an off-shore heliport structure. External load External-load attaching means Final approach fix (FAF) Final takeoff speed Fireproof (1) With respect to materials and parts used to confine fire in a designated fire zone, means the capacity to withstand at least as well as steel in dimensions appropriate for the purpose for which they are used, the heat produced when there is a severe fire of extended duration in that zone; and (2) With respect to other materials and parts, means the capacity to withstand the heat associated with fire at least as well as steel in dimensions appropriate for the purpose for which they are used. Fire resistant (1) With respect to sheet or structural members means the capacity to withstand the heat associated with fire at least as well as aluminum alloy in dimensions appropriate for the purpose for which they are used; and (2) With respect to fluid-carrying lines, fluid system parts, wiring, air ducts, fittings, and powerplant controls, means the capacity to perform the intended functions under the heat and other conditions likely to occur when there is a fire at the place concerned. Flame resistant Flammable, Flap extended speed Flash resistant Flightcrew member Flight level Flight plan Flight simulation training device (FSTD) Flight time (1) Pilot time that commences when an aircraft moves under its own power for the purpose of flight and ends when the aircraft comes to rest after landing; or (2) For a glider without self-launch capability, pilot time that commences when the glider is towed for the purpose of flight and ends when the glider comes to rest after landing. Flight training device (FTD) Flight visibility Foreign air carrier Foreign air commerce Foreign air transportation Forward wing Full flight simulator (FFS) Glider Ground visibility Go-around power or thrust setting Gyrodyne Gyroplane Helicopter Heliport Idle thrust IFR conditions IFR over-the-top, Indicated airspeed In-flight shutdown (IFSD) Instrument Instrument approach procedure (IAP) (1) From which a landing can be completed; or (2) If a landing is not completed, to a position at which holding or en route obstacle clearance criteria apply. Interstate air commerce Interstate air transportation (1) Between a place in a State or the District of Columbia and another place in another State or the District of Columbia; (2) Between places in the same State through the airspace over any place outside that State; or (3) Between places in the same possession of the United States; Whether that commerce moves wholly by aircraft of partly by aircraft and partly by other forms of transportation. Intrastate air transportation Kite Landing gear extended speed Landing gear operating speed Large aircraft Lighter-than-air aircraft Load factor Long-range communication system (LRCS). Long-range navigation system (LRNS). Mach number Main rotor Maintenance Major alteration (1) That might appreciably affect weight, balance, structural strength, performance, powerplant operation, flight characteristics, or other qualities affecting airworthiness; or (2) That is not done according to accepted practices or cannot be done by elementary operations. Major repair (1) That, if improperly done, might appreciably affect weight, balance, structural strength, performance, powerplant operation, flight characteristics, or other qualities affecting airworthiness; or (2) That is not done according to accepted practices or cannot be done by elementary operations. Manifold pressure Maximum engine overtorque Maximum speed for stability characteristics, V FC FC MO MO DF DF FC Medical certificate Military operations area. Minimum descent altitude (MDA) Minor alteration Minor repair National defense airspace Navigable airspace Night Nonprecision approach procedure Operate, Operational control, Overseas air commerce Overseas air transportation (1) Between a place in a State or the District of Columbia and a place in a possession of the United States; or (2) Between a place in a possession of the United States and a place in another possession of the United States; whether that commerce moves wholly by aircraft or partly by aircraft and partly by other forms of transportation. Over-the-top Parachute Person Pilotage Pilot in command (1) Has final authority and responsibility for the operation and safety of the flight; (2) Has been designated as pilot in command before or during the flight; and (3) Holds the appropriate category, class, and type rating, if appropriate, for the conduct of the flight. Pitch setting Portable oxygen concentrator Positive control Powered parachute Powered-lift Precision approach procedure Preventive maintenance Prohibited area. Propeller Public aircraft (1) An aircraft used only for the United States Government; an aircraft owned by the Government and operated by any person for purposes related to crew training, equipment development, or demonstration; an aircraft owned and operated by the government of a State, the District of Columbia, or a territory or possession of the United States or a political subdivision of one of these governments; or an aircraft exclusively leased for at least 90 continuous days by the government of a State, the District of Columbia, or a territory or possession of the United States or a political subdivision of one of these governments. (i) For the sole purpose of determining public aircraft status, commercial purposes (ii) For the sole purpose of determining public aircraft status, governmental function (iii) For the sole purpose of determining public aircraft status, qualified non-crewmember (2) An aircraft owned or operated by the armed forces or chartered to provide transportation to the armed forces if— (i) The aircraft is operated in accordance with title 10 of the United States Code; (ii) The aircraft is operated in the performance of a governmental function under title 14, 31, 32, or 50 of the United States Code and the aircraft is not used for commercial purposes; or (iii) The aircraft is chartered to provide transportation to the armed forces and the Secretary of Defense (or the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating) designates the operation of the aircraft as being required in the national interest. (3) An aircraft owned or operated by the National Guard of a State, the District of Columbia, or any territory or possession of the United States, and that meets the criteria of paragraph (2) of this definition, qualifies as a public aircraft only to the extent that it is operated under the direct control of the Department of Defense. Rated 30-second OEI Power Rated 2-minute OEI Power Rated continuous OEI power Rated maximum continuous augmented thrust, Rated maximum continuous power, Rated maximum continuous thrust, Rated takeoff augmented thrust, Rated takeoff power, Rated takeoff thrust, Rated 30-minute OEI power Rated 2 1/2 1/2 Rating Reference landing speed Reporting point Restricted area. Rocket Rotorcraft Rotorcraft-load combination (1) Class A rotorcraft-load combination (2) Class B rotorcraft-load combination (3) Class C rotorcraft-load combination (4) Class D rotorcraft-load combination Route segment Sea level engine Second in command Show, Small aircraft Small unmanned aircraft Small unmanned aircraft system (small UAS) Space support vehicle Space support vehicle flight Special VFR conditions Special VFR operations Standard atmosphere Stopway Suitable RNAV system Supplemental restraint system Synthetic vision Synthetic vision Takeoff power: (1) With respect to reciprocating engines, means the brake horsepower that is developed under standard sea level conditions, and under the maximum conditions of crankshaft rotational speed and engine manifold pressure approved for the normal takeoff, and limited in continuous use to the period of time shown in the approved engine specification; and (2) With respect to turbine engines, means the brake horsepower that is developed under static conditions at a specified altitude and atmospheric temperature, and under the maximum conditions of rotor shaft rotational speed and gas temperature approved for the normal takeoff, and limited in continuous use to the period of time shown in the approved engine specification. Takeoff safety speed Takeoff thrust, Tandem wing configuration TCAS I TCAS II TCAS III Time in service, Traffic pattern True airspeed 1/2 Type: (1) As used with respect to the certification, ratings, privileges, and limitations of airmen, means a specific make and basic model of aircraft, including modifications thereto that do not change its handling or flight characteristics. Examples include: DC-7, 1049, and F-27; and (2) As used with respect to the certification of aircraft, means those aircraft which are similar in design. Examples include: DC-7 and DC-7C; 1049G and 1049H; and F-27 and F-27F. (3) As used with respect to the certification of aircraft engines means those engines which are similar in design. For example, JT8D and JT8D-7 are engines of the same type, and JT9D-3A and JT9D-7 are engines of the same type. United States, United States air carrier Unmanned aircraft Unmanned aircraft system VFR over-the-top, Warning area. Weight-shift-control aircraft Winglet or tip fin [Doc. No. 1150, 27 FR 4588, May 15, 1962] Editorial Note: For Federal Register www.govinfo.gov. § 1.2 Abbreviations and symbols. In this chapter: AFM AGL ALS APU ASR ATC ATS CAMP CAS CAT II CMP DH DME EAS EFVS Equi-Time Point ETOPS EWIS FAA FFS FM FSTD FTD GS HIRL IAS ICAO IFR IFSD ILS IM INT LDA LFR LMM LOC LOM M MAA MALS MALSR MCA MDA MEA MEL MM MOCA MRA MSL NDB (ADF) NM NOPAC NOPT OEI OM OPSPECS PACOTS PAR PMA POC PTRS RAIL RBN RCLM RCLS REIL RFFS RNAV RR RVR SALS SATCOM SSALS SSALSR TACAN TAS TCAS TDZL TSO TVOR V A V B V C V D V DF M DF V EF V F V FC M FC V FE V FTO V H V LE V LO V LOF V MC V MO M MO V MU V NE V NO V R V REF V S V S 0 V S 1 V SR V SR O V SR 1 V SW V TOSS V X V Y V 1 1 EF V 2 V 2min VFR VGSI VHF VOR VORTAC [Doc. No. 1150, 27 FR 4590, May 15, 1962] Editorial Note: For Federal Register www.govinfo.gov. § 1.3 Rules of construction. (a) In this chapter, unless the context requires otherwise: (1) Words importing the singular include the plural; (2) Words importing the plural include the singular; and (3) Words importing the masculine gender include the feminine. (b) In this chapter, the word: (1) Shall (2) May (3) Includes [Doc. No. 1150, 27 FR 4590, May 15, 1962, as amended by Amdt. 1-10, 31 FR 5055, Mar. 29, 1966; FAA-2023-1275, Amdt. No. 1-78, 89 FR 92483, Nov. 21, 2024]