[Code of Federal Regulations]

[Title 14, Volume 1]

[Revised as of January 1, 2006]

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

[CITE: 14CFR23.3]



[Page 181-182]

 

                     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 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),



[[Page 182]]



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]