[Code of Federal Regulations]

[Title 14, Volume 2]

[Revised as of January 1, 2006]

From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access

[CITE: 14CFR121.163]



[Page 436]

 

                     TITLE 14--AERONAUTICS AND SPACE

 

CHAPTER I--FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

                               (CONTINUED)

 

PART 121_OPERATING REQUIREMENTS: DOMESTIC, FLAG, AND SUPPLEMENTAL 

OPERATIONS--Table of Contents

 

                     Subpart H_Aircraft Requirements

 

Sec. 121.163  Aircraft proving tests.



    (a) Initial airplane proving tests. No person may operate an 

airplane not before proven for use in a kind of operation under this 

part or part 135 of this chapter unless an airplane of that type has 

had, in addition to the airplane certification tests, at least 100 hours 

of proving tests acceptable to the Administrator, including a 

representative number of flights into en route airports. The requirement 

for at least 100 hours of proving tests may be reduced by the 

Administrator if the Administrator determines that a satisfactory level 

of proficiency has been demonstrated to justify the reduction. At least 

10 hours of proving flights must be flown at night; these tests are 

irreducible.

    (b) Proving tests for kinds of operations. Unless otherwise 

authorized by the Administrator, for each type of airplane, a 

certificate holder must conduct at least 50 hours of proving tests 

acceptable to the Administrator for each kind of operation it intends to 

conduct, including a representative number of flights into en route 

airports.

    (c) Proving tests for materially altered airplanes. Unless otherwise 

authorized by the Administrator, for each type of airplane that is 

materially altered in design, a certificate holder must conduct at least 

50 hours of proving tests acceptable to the Administrator for each kind 

of operation it intends to conduct with that airplane, including a 

representative number of flights into en route airports.

    (d) Definition of materially altered. For the purposes of paragraph 

(c) of this section, a type of airplane is considered to be materially 

altered in design if the alteration includes--

    (1) The installation of powerplants other than those of a type 

similar to those with which it is certificated; or

    (2) Alterations to the aircraft or its components that materially 

affect flight characteristics.

    (e) No certificate holder may carry passengers in an aircraft during 

proving tests, except for those needed to make the test and those 

designated by the Administrator. However, it may carry mail, express, or 

other cargo, when approved.



[Doc. No. 6258, 29 FR 19197, Dec. 31, 1964, as amended by Amdt. 121-42, 

33 FR 10330, July 19, 1968; 34 FR 13468, Aug. 21, 1969; Amdt. 121-162, 

45 FR 46739, July 10, 1980; Amdt. 121-251, 60 FR 65927, Dec. 20, 1995]