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85 

Federal Aviation Administration, DOT 

§ 121.99 

(3)

Displaced thresholds. 

(i)

Location. 

(ii)

Dimensions. 

(iii)

Takeoff or landing or both. 

(4)

Obstacles. 

(i)

Those affecting takeoff and land-

ing performance computations in ac-
cordance with Subpart I of this part. 

(ii)

Controlling obstacles. 

(5)

Instrument flight procedures. 

(i)

Departure procedure. 

(ii)

Approach procedure. 

(iii)

Missed approach procedure. 

(6)

Special information. 

(i)

Runway visual range measure-

ment equipment. 

(ii)

Prevailing winds under low visi-

bility conditions. 

(c) If the responsible Flight Stand-

ards office charged with the overall in-
spection of the certificate holder’s op-
erations finds that revisions are nec-
essary for the continued adequacy of 
the certificate holder’s system for col-
lection, dissemination, and usage of 
aeronautical data that has been grant-
ed approval, the certificate holder 
shall, after notification by the respon-
sible Flight Standards office, make 
those revisions in the system. Within 
30 days after the certificate holder re-
ceives such notice, the certificate hold-
er may file a petition to reconsider the 
notice with the Executive Director, 
Flight Standards Service. This filing of 
a petition to reconsider stays the no-
tice pending a decision by the Execu-
tive Director, Flight Standards Serv-
ice. However, if the responsible Flight 
Standards office finds that there is an 
emergency that requires immediate ac-
tion in the interest of safety in air 
transportation, the Executive Director, 
Flight Standards Service may, upon 
statement of the reasons, require a 
change effective without stay. 

[Doc. No. 6258, 29 FR 19194, Dec. 31, 1964, as 
amended by Amdt. 121–162, 45 FR 46738, July 
10, 1980; Amdt. 121–207, 54 FR 39293, Sept. 25, 
1989; Amdt. 121–253, 61 FR 2610, Jan. 26, 1996; 
Amdt. 121–329, 72 FR 1878, Jan. 16, 2007; Dock-
et FAA–2018–0119, Amdt. 121–380, 83 FR 9172, 
9173, Mar. 5, 2018] 

§ 121.99 Communications facilities— 

domestic and flag operations. 

(a) Each certificate holder con-

ducting domestic or flag operations 
must show that a two-way communica-
tion system, or other means of commu-

nication approved by the responsible 
Flight Standards office, is available 
over the entire route. The communica-
tions may be direct links or via an ap-
proved communication link that will 
provide reliable and rapid communica-
tions under normal operating condi-
tions between each airplane and the ap-
propriate dispatch office, and between 
each airplane and the appropriate air 
traffic control unit. 

(b) Except in an emergency, for all 

flag and domestic kinds of operations, 
the communications systems between 
each airplane and the dispatch office 
must be independent of any system op-
erated by the United States. 

(c) Each certificate holder con-

ducting flag operations must provide 
voice communications for ETOPS 
where voice communication facilities 
are available. In determining whether 
facilities are available, the certificate 
holder must consider potential routes 
and altitudes needed for diversion to 
ETOPS Alternate Airports. Where fa-
cilities are not available or are of such 
poor quality that voice communication 
is not possible, another communication 
system must be substituted. 

(d) Except as provided in paragraph 

(e) of this section, after February 15, 
2008 for ETOPS beyond 180 minutes, 
each certificate holder conducting flag 
operations must have a second commu-
nication system in addition to that re-
quired by paragraph (c) of this section. 
That system must be able to provide 
immediate satellite-based voice com-
munications of landline-telephone fi-
delity. The system must be able to 
communicate between the flight crew 
and air traffic services, and the flight 
crew and the certificate holder. In de-
termining whether such communica-
tions are available, the certificate 
holder must consider potential routes 
and altitudes needed for diversion to 
ETOPS Alternate Airports. Where im-
mediate, satellite-based voice commu-
nications are not available, or are of 
such poor quality that voice commu-
nication is not possible, another com-
munication system must be sub-
stituted. 

(e) Operators of two-engine turbine- 

powered airplanes with 207 minute 
ETOPS approval in the North Pacific 
Area of Operation must comply with 

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86 

14 CFR Ch. I (1–1–24 Edition) 

§ 121.101 

the requirements of paragraph (d) of 
this section as of February 15, 2007. 

[Doc. No. 28154, 62 FR 13256, Mar. 19, 1997, as 
amended by Amdt. 121–329, 72 FR 1878, Jan. 
16, 2007; Amdt. 121–333, 72 FR 31680, June 7, 
2007; Docket FAA–2018–0119, Amdt. 121–380, 83 
FR 9173, Mar. 5, 2018] 

§ 121.101 Weather reporting facilities. 

(a) Each certificate holder con-

ducting domestic or flag operations 
must show that enough weather report-
ing services are available along each 
route to ensure weather reports and 
forecasts necessary for the operation. 

(b) Except as provided in paragraph 

(d) of this section, no certificate holder 
conducting domestic or flag operations 
may use any weather report to control 
flight unless— 

(1) For operations within the 48 con-

tiguous States and the District of Co-
lumbia, it was prepared by the U.S. Na-
tional Weather Service or a source ap-
proved by the U.S. National Weather 
Service; or 

(2) For operations conducted outside 

the 48 contiguous States and the Dis-
trict of Columbia, it was prepared by a 
source approved by the Administrator. 

(c) Each certificate holder con-

ducting domestic or flag operations 
that uses forecasts to control flight 
movements shall use forecasts prepared 
from weather reports specified in para-
graph (b) of this section and from any 
source approved under its system 
adopted pursuant to paragraph (d) of 
this section. 

(d) Each certificate holder con-

ducting domestic or flag operations 
shall adopt and put into use an ap-
proved system for obtaining forecasts 
and reports of adverse weather phe-
nomena, such as clear air turbulence, 
thunderstorms, and low altitude wind 
shear, that may affect safety of flight 
on each route to be flown and at each 
airport to be used. 

[Doc. No. 6258, 29 FR 19194, Dec. 31, 1964, as 
amended by Amdt. 121–27, 36 FR 13911, July 
28, 1971; Amdt. 121–134, 42 FR 27573, May 31, 
1977; Amdt. 121–253, 61 FR 2610, Jan. 26, 1996] 

§ 121.103 En route navigation facili-

ties. 

(a) Except as provided in paragraph 

(b) of this section, each certificate 
holder conducting domestic or flag op-

erations must show, for each proposed 
route (including to any regular, provi-
sional, refueling or alternate airports), 
that suitable navigation aids are avail-
able to navigate the airplane along the 
route within the degree of accuracy re-
quired for ATC. Navigation aids re-
quired for approval of routes outside of 
controlled airspace are listed in the 
certificate holder’s operations speci-
fications except for those aids required 
for routes to alternate airports. 

(b) Navigation aids are not required 

for any of the following operations— 

(1) Day VFR operations that the cer-

tificate holder shows can be conducted 
safely by pilotage because of the char-
acteristics of the terrain; 

(2) Night VFR operations on routes 

that the certificate holder shows have 
reliably lighted landmarks adequate 
for safe operation; and 

(3) Other operations approved by the 

responsible Flight Standards office. 

[Doc. No. FAA–2002–14002, 72 FR 31681, June 7, 
2007, as amended by Docket FAA–2018–0119, 
Amdt. 121–380, 83 FR 9173, Mar. 5, 2018] 

§ 121.105 Servicing and maintenance 

facilities. 

Each certificate holder conducting 

domestic or flag operations must show 
that competent personnel and adequate 
facilities and equipment (including 
spare parts, supplies, and materials) 
are available at such points along the 
certificate holder’s route as are nec-
essary for the proper servicing, mainte-
nance, and preventive maintenance of 
airplanes and auxiliary equipment. 

[Doc. No. 28154, 61 FR 2610, Jan. 26, 1996] 

§ 121.106 ETOPS Alternate Airport: 

Rescue and fire fighting service. 

(a) Except as provided in paragraph 

(b) of this section, the following rescue 
and fire fighting service (RFFS) must 
be available at each airport listed as an 
ETOPS Alternate Airport in a dispatch 
or flight release. 

(1) For ETOPS up to 180 minutes, 

each designated ETOPS Alternate Air-
port must have RFFS equivalent to 
that specified by ICAO as Category 4, 
or higher. 

(2) For ETOPS beyond 180 minutes, 

each designated ETOPS Alternate Air-
port must have RFFS equivalent to 
that specified by ICAO Category 4, or