234 

14 CFR Ch. I (1–1–24 Edition) 

§ 121.627 

holder’s operations specifications for 
that airport when the flight arrives. 

[Doc. No. FAA–2002–6717, 72 FR 1881, Jan. 16, 
2007] 

§ 121.627 Continuing flight in unsafe 

conditions. 

(a) No pilot in command may allow a 

flight to continue toward any airport 
to which it has been dispatched or re-
leased if, in the opinion of the pilot in 
command or dispatcher (domestic and 
flag operations only), the flight cannot 
be completed safely; unless, in the 
opinion of the pilot in command, there 
is no safer procedure. In that event, 
continuation toward that airport is an 
emergency situation as set forth in 
§ 121.557. 

(b) If any instrument or item of 

equipment required under this chapter 
for the particular operation becomes 
inoperative en route, the pilot in com-
mand shall comply with the approved 
procedures for such an occurrence as 
specified in the certificate holder’s 
manual. 

[Doc. No. 6258, 29 FR 1922, Dec. 31, 1964, as 
amended by Amdt. 121–222, 56 FR 12310, Mar. 
22, 1991; Amdt. 121–253, 61 FR 2615, Jan. 26, 
1996] 

§ 121.628 Inoperable instruments and 

equipment. 

(a) No person may take off an air-

plane with inoperable instruments or 
equipment installed unless the fol-
lowing conditions are met: 

(1) An approved Minimum Equipment 

List exists for that airplane. 

(2) The responsible Flight Standards 

office has issued the certificate holder 
operations specifications authorizing 
operations in accordance with an ap-
proved Minimum Equipment List. The 
flight crew shall have direct access at 
all times prior to flight to all of the in-
formation contained in the approved 
Minimum Equipment List through 
printed or other means approved by the 
Administrator in the certificate hold-
ers operations specifications. An ap-
proved Minimum Equipment List, as 
authorized by the operations specifica-
tions, constitutes an approved change 
to the type design without requiring 
recertification. 

(3) The approved Minimum Equip-

ment List must: 

(i) Be prepared in accordance with 

the limitations specified in paragraph 
(b) of this section. 

(ii) Provide for the operation of the 

airplane with certain instruments and 
equipment in an inoperable condition. 

(4) Records identifying the inoperable 

instruments and equipment and the in-
formation required by paragraph 
(a)(3)(ii) of this section must be avail-
able to the pilot. 

(5) The airplane is operated under all 

applicable conditions and limitations 
contained in the Minimum Equipment 
List and the operations specifications 
authorizing use of the Minimum Equip-
ment List. 

(b) The following instruments and 

equipment may not be included in the 
Minimum Equipment List: 

(1) Instruments and equipment that 

are either specifically or otherwise re-
quired by the airworthiness require-
ments under which the airplane is type 
certificated and which are essential for 
safe operations under all operating 
conditions. 

(2) Instruments and equipment re-

quired by an airworthiness directive to 
be in operable condition unless the air-
worthiness directive provides other-
wise. 

(3) Instruments and equipment re-

quired for specific operations by this 
part. 

(c) Notwithstanding paragraphs (b)(1) 

and (b)(3) of this section, an airplane 
with inoperable instruments or equip-
ment may be operated under a special 
flight permit under §§ 21.197 and 21.199 
of this chapter. 

[Doc. No. 25780, 56 FR 12310, Mar. 22, 1991; 
Amdt. 121–222, 56 FR 14290, Apr. 8, 1991; Amdt. 
121–253, 61 FR 2615, Jan. 26, 1996; Docket 
FAA–2018–0119, Amdt. 121–380, 83 FR 9172, 
Mar. 5, 2018] 

§ 121.629 Operation in icing condi-

tions. 

(a) No person may dispatch or release 

an aircraft, continue to operate an air-
craft en route, or land an aircraft when 
in the opinion of the pilot in command 
or aircraft dispatcher (domestic and 
flag operations only), icing conditions 
are expected or met that might ad-
versely affect the safety of the flight.