[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 14, Volume 1]
[Revised as of January 1, 2004]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 14CFR23.3]

[Page 175-176]
 
                     TITLE 14--AERONAUTICS AND SPACE
 
CHAPTER I--FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
 
PART 23--AIRWORTHINESS STANDARDS: NORMAL, UTILITY, ACROBATIC, AND COMMUTER 
CATEGORY AIRPLANES--Table of Contents
 
                           Subpart A--General
 
Sec. 23.3  Airplane categories.

    (a) The normal category is limited to airplanes that have a seating 
configuration, excluding pilot seats, of nine or less, a maximum 
certificated takeoff weight of 12,500 pounds or less, and intended for 
nonacrobatic operation. Nonacrobatic operation includes:
    (1) Any maneuver incident to normal flying;
    (2) Stalls (except whip stalls); and
    (3) Lazy eights, chandelles, and steep turns, in which the angle of 
bank is not more than 60 degrees.
    (b) The utility category is limited to airplanes that have a seating 
configuration, excluding pilot seats, of nine or less, a maximum 
certificated takeoff weight of 12,500 pounds or less, and intended for 
limited acrobatic operation. Airplanes certificated in the utility 
category may be used in any of the operations covered under paragraph 
(a) of

[[Page 176]]

this section and in limited acrobatic operations. Limited acrobatic 
operation includes:
    (1) Spins (if approved for the particular type of airplane); and
    (2) Lazy eights, chandelles, and steep turns, or similar maneuvers, 
in which the angle of bank is more than 60 degrees but not more than 90 
degrees.
    (c) The acrobatic category is limited to airplanes that have a 
seating configuration, excluding pilot seats, of nine or less, a maximum 
certificated takeoff weight of 12,500 pounds or less, and intended for 
use without restrictions, other than those shown to be necessary as a 
result of required flight tests.
    (d) The commuter category is limited to propeller-driven, 
multiengine airplanes that have a seating configuration, excluding pilot 
seats, of 19 or less, and a maximum certificated takeoff weight of 
19,000 pounds or less. The commuter category operation is limited to any 
maneuver incident to normal flying, stalls (except whip stalls), and 
steep turns, in which the angle of bank is not more than 60 degrees.
    (e) Except for commuter category, airplanes may be type certificated 
in more than one category if the requirements of each requested category 
are met.

[Doc. No. 4080, 29 FR 17955, Dec. 18, 1964, as amended by Amdt. 23-4, 32 
FR 5934, Apr. 14, 1967; Amdt. 23-34, 52 FR 1825, Jan. 15, 1987; 52 FR 
34745, Sept. 14, 1987; Amdt. 23-50, 61 FR 5183, Feb. 9, 1996]