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434 

14 CFR Ch. I (1–1–24 Edition) 

§ 135.95 

which case the altitude is defined by 
reference to the DA(H) or MDA itself. 

(b) 

Takeoff and initial climb. 

No person 

may use an autopilot for takeoff or ini-
tial climb below the higher of 500 feet 
or an altitude that is no lower than 
twice the altitude loss specified in the 
Airplane Flight Manual (AFM), except 
as follows— 

(1) At a minimum engagement alti-

tude specified in the AFM; or 

(2) At an altitude specified by the Ad-

ministrator, whichever is greater. 

(c) 

Enroute. 

No person may use an 

autopilot enroute, including climb and 
descent, below the following— 

(1) 500 feet; 
(2) At an altitude that is no lower 

than twice the altitude loss specified in 
the AFM for an autopilot malfunction 
in cruise conditions; or 

(3) At an altitude specified by the Ad-

ministrator, whichever is greater. 

(d) 

Approach. 

No person may use an 

autopilot at an altitude lower than 50 
feet below the DA(H) or MDA for the 
instrument procedure being flown, ex-
cept as follows— 

(1) For autopilots with an AFM speci-

fied altitude loss for approach oper-
ations— 

(i) An altitude no lower than twice 

the specified altitude loss if higher 
than 50 feet below the MDA or DA(H); 

(ii) An altitude no lower than 50 feet 

higher than the altitude loss specified 
in the AFM, when the following condi-
tions are met— 

(A) Reported weather conditions are 

less than the basic VFR weather condi-
tions in § 91.155 of this chapter; 

(B) Suitable visual references speci-

fied in § 91.175 of this chapter have been 
established on the instrument ap-
proach procedure; and 

(C) The autopilot is coupled and re-

ceiving both lateral and vertical path 
references; 

(iii) An altitude no lower than the 

higher of the altitude loss specified in 
the AFM or 50 feet above the TDZE, 
when the following conditions are 
met— 

(A) Reported weather conditions are 

equal to or better than the basic VFR 
weather conditions in § 91.155 of this 
chapter; and 

(B) The autopilot is coupled and re-

ceiving both lateral and vertical path 
references; or 

(iv) A greater altitude specified by 

the Administrator. 

(2) For autopilots with AFM specified 

approach altitude limitations, the 
greater of— 

(i) The minimum use altitude speci-

fied for the coupled approach mode se-
lected; 

(ii) 50 feet; or 
(iii) An altitude specified by Admin-

istrator. 

(3) For autopilots with an AFM speci-

fied negligible or zero altitude loss for 
an autopilot approach mode malfunc-
tion, the greater of— 

(i) 50 feet; or 
(ii) An altitude specified by Adminis-

trator. 

(4) If executing an autopilot coupled 

go-around or missed approach using a 
certificated and functioning autopilot 
in accordance with paragraph (e) in 
this section. 

(e) 

Go-Around/Missed Approach. 

No 

person may engage an autopilot during 
a go-around or missed approach below 
the minimum engagement altitude 
specified for takeoff and initial climb 
in paragraph (b) in this section. An 
autopilot minimum use altitude does 
not apply to a go-around/missed ap-
proach initiated with an engaged auto-
pilot. Performing a go-around or 
missed approach with an engaged auto-
pilot must not adversely affect safe ob-
stacle clearance. 

(f) 

Landing. 

Notwithstanding para-

graph (d) of this section, autopilot min-
imum use altitudes do not apply to 
autopilot operations when an approved 
automatic landing system mode is 
being used for landing. Automatic 
landing systems must be authorized in 
an operations specification issued to 
the operator. 

(g) This section does not apply to op-

erations conducted in rotorcraft. 

[Doc. No. FAA–2012–1059, 79 FR 6088, Feb. 3, 
2014] 

§ 135.95 Airmen: Limitations on use of 

services. 

(a) No certificate holder may use the 

services of any person as an airman un-
less the person performing those serv-
ices— 

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435 

Federal Aviation Administration, DOT 

§ 135.99 

(1) Holds an appropriate and current 

airman certificate; and 

(2) Is qualified, under this chapter, 

for the operation for which the person 
is to be used. 

(b) A certificate holder may obtain 

approval to provide a temporary docu-
ment verifying a flightcrew member’s 
airman certificate and medical certifi-
cate privileges under an approved cer-
tificate verification plan set forth in 
the certificate holder’s operations 
specifications. A document provided by 
the certificate holder may be carried as 
an airman certificate or medical cer-
tificate on flights within the United 
States for up to 72 hours. 

[Amdt. No. 135–140, 83 FR 30282, June 27, 2018] 

§ 135.97 Aircraft and facilities for re-

cent flight experience. 

Each certificate holder shall provide 

aircraft and facilities to enable each of 
its pilots to maintain and demonstrate 
the pilot’s ability to conduct all oper-
ations for which the pilot is author-
ized. 

§ 135.98 Operations in the North Polar 

Area. 

After August 13, 2008, no certificate 

holder may operate an aircraft in the 
region north of 78

° 

N latitude (‘‘North 

Polar Area’’), other than intrastate op-
erations wholly within the state of 
Alaska, unless authorized by the FAA. 
The certificate holder’s operation spec-
ifications must include the following: 

(a) The designation of airports that 

may be used for en-route diversions 
and the requirements the airports must 
meet at the time of diversion. 

(b) Except for all-cargo operations, a 

recovery plan for passengers at des-
ignated diversion airports. 

(c) A fuel-freeze strategy and proce-

dures for monitoring fuel freezing for 
operations in the North Polar Area. 

(d) A plan to ensure communication 

capability for operations in the North 
Polar Area. 

(e) An MEL for operations in the 

North Polar Area. 

(f) A training plan for operations in 

the North Polar Area. 

(g) A plan for mitigating crew expo-

sure to radiation during solar flare ac-
tivity. 

(h) A plan for providing at least two 

cold weather anti-exposure suits in the 
aircraft, to protect crewmembers dur-
ing outside activity at a diversion air-
port with extreme climatic conditions. 
The FAA may relieve the certificate 
holder from this requirement if the 
season of the year makes the equip-
ment unnecessary. 

[Doc. No. FAA–2002–6717, 72 FR 1885, Jan. 16, 
2007, as amended by Amdt. 135–112, 73 FR 
8798, Feb. 15, 2008] 

§ 135.99 Composition of flight crew. 

(a) No certificate holder may operate 

an aircraft with less than the min-
imum flight crew specified in the air-
craft operating limitations or the Air-
craft Flight Manual for that aircraft 
and required by this part for the kind 
of operation being conducted. 

(b) No certificate holder may operate 

an aircraft without a second in com-
mand if that aircraft has a passenger 
seating configuration, excluding any 
pilot seat, of ten seats or more. 

(c) Except as provided in paragraph 

(d) of this section, a certificate holder 
authorized to conduct operations under 
instrument flight rules may receive au-
thorization from the Administrator 
through its operations specifications to 
establish a second-in-command profes-
sional development program. As part of 
that program, a pilot employed by the 
certificate holder may log time as sec-
ond in command in operations con-
ducted under this part and part 91 of 
this chapter that do not require a sec-
ond pilot by type certification of the 
aircraft or the regulation under which 
the flight is being conducted, provided 
the flight operation is conducted in ac-
cordance with the certificate holder’s 
operations specifications for second-in- 
command professional development 
program; and— 

(1) The certificate holder: 
(i) Maintains records for each as-

signed second in command consistent 
with the requirements in § 135.63; 

(ii) Provides a copy of the records re-

quired by § 135.63(a)(4)(vi) and (x) to the 
assigned second in command upon re-
quest and within a reasonable time; 
and 

(iii) Establishes and maintains a data 

collection and analysis process that 
will enable the certificate holder and