96 

14 CFR Ch. I (1–1–24 Edition) 

§ 121.162 

§ 121.162 ETOPS Type Design Ap-

proval Basis. 

Except for a passenger-carrying air-

plane with more than two engines man-
ufactured prior to February 17, 2015 and 
except for a two-engine airplane that, 
when used in ETOPS, is only used for 
ETOPS of 75 minutes or less, no certifi-
cate holder may conduct ETOPS unless 
the airplane has been type design ap-
proved for ETOPS and each airplane 
used in ETOPS complies with its CMP 
document as follows: 

(a) For a two-engine airplane, that is 

of the same model airplane-engine 
combination that received FAA ap-
proval for ETOPS up to 180 minutes 
prior to February 15, 2007, the CMP 
document for that model airplane-en-
gine combination in effect on February 
14, 2007. 

(b) For a two-engine airplane, that is 

not of the same model airplane-engine 
combination that received FAA ap-
proval for ETOPS up to 180 minutes be-
fore February 15, 2007, the CMP docu-
ment for that new model airplane-en-
gine combination issued in accordance 
with § 25.3(b)(1) of this chapter. 

(c) For a two-engine airplane ap-

proved for ETOPS beyond 180 minutes, 
the CMP document for that model air-
plane-engine combination issued in ac-
cordance with § 25.3(b)(2) of this chap-
ter. 

(d) For an airplane with more than 2 

engines manufactured on or after Feb-
ruary 17, 2015, the CMP document for 
that model airplane-engine combina-
tion issued in accordance with § 25.3(c) 
of this chapter. 

[Doc. No. FAA–2002–6717, 72 FR 1879, Jan. 16, 
2007] 

§ 121.163 Aircraft proving tests. 

(a) 

Initial airplane proving tests. 

No 

person may operate an airplane not be-
fore proven for use in a kind of oper-
ation 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 Admin-
istrator, including a representative 
number of flights into en route air-
ports. The requirement for at least 100 
hours of proving tests may be reduced 
by the Administrator if the Adminis-

trator determines that a satisfactory 
level of proficiency has been dem-
onstrated to justify the reduction. At 
least 10 hours of proving flights must 
be flown at night; these tests are irre-
ducible. 

(b) 

Proving tests for kinds of operations. 

Unless otherwise authorized by the Ad-
ministrator, for each type of airplane, 
a certificate holder must conduct at 
least 50 hours of proving tests accept-
able to the Administrator for each kind 
of operation it intends to conduct, in-
cluding 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 con-
duct 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 prov-
ing 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] 

Subpart I—Airplane Performance 

Operating Limitations 

S

OURCE

: Docket No. 6258, 29 FR 19198, Dec. 

31, 1964; 30 FR 130, Jan. 7, 1965, unless other-
wise noted. 

E

DITORIAL

N

OTE

: Nomenclature changes to 

subpart I of part 121 appear at 60 FR 65928, 
Dec. 20, 1995.