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215 

Federal Aviation Administration, DOT 

§ 121.561 

(b) Other than in accordance with the 

limitations in the operations specifica-
tions. 

[Doc. No. 6258, 29 FR 19219, Dec. 31, 1964, as 
amended by Amdt. 121–253, 61 FR 2614, Jan. 
26, 1996] 

§ 121.557 Emergencies: Domestic and 

flag operations. 

(a) In an emergency situation that 

requires immediate decision and action 
the pilot in command may take any ac-
tion that he considers necessary under 
the circumstances. In such a case he 
may deviate from prescribed oper-
ations procedures and methods, weath-
er minimums, and this chapter, to the 
extent required in the interests of safe-
ty. 

(b) In an emergency situation arising 

during flight that requires immediate 
decision and action by an aircraft dis-
patcher, and that is known to him, the 
aircraft dispatcher shall advise the 
pilot in command of the emergency, 
shall ascertain the decision of the pilot 
in command, and shall have the deci-
sion recorded. If the aircraft dispatcher 
cannot communicate with the pilot, he 
shall declare an emergency and take 
any action that he considers necessary 
under the circumstances. 

(c) Whenever a pilot in command or 

dispatcher exercises emergency author-
ity, he shall keep the appropriate ATC 
facility and dispatch centers fully in-
formed of the progress of the flight. 
The person declaring the emergency 
shall send a written report of any devi-
ation through the certificate holder’s 
operations manager, to the Adminis-
trator. A dispatcher shall send his re-
port within 10 days after the date of 
the emergency, and a pilot in command 
shall send his report within 10 days 
after returning to his home base. 

[Doc. No. 6258, 29 FR 19219, Dec. 31, 1964, as 
amended by Amdt. 121–253, 61 FR 2614, Jan. 
26, 1996] 

§ 121.559 Emergencies: Supplemental 

operations. 

(a) In an emergency situation that 

requires immediate decision and ac-
tion, the pilot in command may take 
any action that he considers necessary 
under the circumstances. In such a 
case, he may deviate from prescribed 
operations, procedures and methods, 

weather minimums, and this chapter, 
to the extent required in the interests 
of safety. 

(b) In an emergency situation arising 

during flight that requires immediate 
decision and action by appropriate 
management personnel in the case of 
operations conducted with a flight fol-
lowing service and which is known to 
them, those personnel shall advise the 
pilot in command of the emergency, 
shall ascertain the decision of the pilot 
in command, and shall have the deci-
sion recorded. If they cannot commu-
nicate with the pilot, they shall de-
clare an emergency and take any ac-
tion that they consider necessary 
under the circumstances. 

(c) Whenever emergency authority is 

exercised, the pilot in command or the 
appropriate management personnel 
shall keep the appropriate communica-
tion facility fully informed of the 
progress of the flight. The person de-
claring the emergency shall send a 
written report of any deviation, 
through the certificate holder’s direc-
tor of operations, to the Administrator 
within 10 days after the flight is com-
pleted or, in the case of operations out-
side the United States, upon return to 
the home base. 

[Doc. No. 6258, 29 FR 19219, Dec. 31, 1964, as 
amended by Amdt. 121–253, 61 FR 2614, Jan. 
26, 1996; Amdt. 121–333, 72 FR 31682, June 7, 
2007] 

§ 121.561 Reporting potentially haz-

ardous meteorological conditions 
and irregularities of ground facili-
ties or navigation aids. 

(a) Whenever he encounters a mete-

orological condition or an irregularity 
in aground facility or navigation aid, 
in flight, the knowledge of which he 
considers essential to the safety of 
other flights, the pilot in command 
shall notify an appropriate ground sta-
tion as soon as practicable. 

(b) The ground radio station that is 

notified under paragraph (a) of this sec-
tion shall report the information to the 
agency directly responsible for oper-
ating the facility. 

[Doc. No. 6258, 29 FR 19219, Dec. 31, 1964, as 
amended by Amdt. 121–333, 72 FR 31682, June 
7, 2007]