title-14-part-91-sec91-119

692

14 CFR Ch. I (1–1–24 Edition)

§ 91.115

(e)

Approaching head-on. When air-

craft are approaching each other head-
on, or nearly so, each pilot of each air-
craft shall alter course to the right.

(f)

Overtaking. Each aircraft that is

being overtaken has the right-of-way
and each pilot of an overtaking aircraft
shall alter course to the right to pass
well clear.

(g)

Landing. Aircraft, while on final

approach to land or while landing, have
the right-of-way over other aircraft in
flight or operating on the surface, ex-
cept that they shall not take advan-
tage of this rule to force an aircraft off
the runway surface which has already
landed and is attempting to make way
for an aircraft on final approach. When
two or more aircraft are approaching
an airport for the purpose of landing,
the aircraft at the lower altitude has
the right-of-way, but it shall not take
advantage of this rule to cut in front of
another which is on final approach to
land or to overtake that aircraft.

[Doc. No. 18334, 54 FR 34294, Aug. 18, 1989, as
amended by Amdt. 91–282, 69 FR 44880, July
27, 2004]

§ 91.115

Right-of-way rules: Water op-

erations.

(a)

General. Each person operating an

aircraft on the water shall, insofar as
possible, keep clear of all vessels and
avoid impeding their navigation, and
shall give way to any vessel or other
aircraft that is given the right-of-way
by any rule of this section.

(b)

Crossing. When aircraft, or an air-

craft and a vessel, are on crossing
courses, the aircraft or vessel to the
other’s right has the right-of-way.

(c)

Approaching head-on. When air-

craft, or an aircraft and a vessel, are
approaching head-on, or nearly so, each
shall alter its course to the right to
keep well clear.

(d)

Overtaking. Each aircraft or vessel

that is being overtaken has the right-
of-way, and the one overtaking shall
alter course to keep well clear.

(e)

Special circumstances. When air-

craft, or an aircraft and a vessel, ap-
proach so as to involve risk of colli-
sion, each aircraft or vessel shall pro-
ceed with careful regard to existing
circumstances, including the limita-
tions of the respective craft.

§ 91.117

Aircraft speed.

(a) Unless otherwise authorized by

the Administrator, no person may op-
erate an aircraft below 10,000 feet MSL
at an indicated airspeed of more than
250 knots (288 m.p.h.).

(b) Unless otherwise authorized or re-

quired by ATC, no person may operate
an aircraft at or below 2,500 feet above
the surface within 4 nautical miles of
the primary airport of a Class C or
Class D airspace area at an indicated
airspeed of more than 200 knots (230
mph.). This paragraph (b) does not
apply to any operations within a Class
B airspace area. Such operations shall
comply with paragraph (a) of this sec-
tion.

in the airspace underlying a Class B
airspace area designated for an airport
or in a VFR corridor designated
through such a Class B airspace area,
at an indicated airspeed of more than
200 knots (230 mph).

(d) If the minimum safe airspeed for

any particular operation is greater
than the maximum speed prescribed in
this section, the aircraft may be oper-
ated at that minimum speed.

[Doc. No. 18334, 54 FR 34292, Aug. 18, 1989, as
amended by Amdt. 91–219, 55 FR 34708, Aug.
24, 1990; Amdt. 91–227, 56 FR 65657, Dec. 17,
1991; Amdt. 91–233, 58 FR 43554, Aug. 17, 1993]

§ 91.119

Minimum safe altitudes: Gen-

eral.

Except when necessary for takeoff or

landing, no person may operate an air-
craft below the following altitudes:

(a)

Anywhere. An altitude allowing, if

a power unit fails, an emergency land-
ing without undue hazard to persons or
property on the surface.

(b)

Over congested areas. Over any

congested area of a city, town, or set-
tlement, or over any open air assembly
of persons, an altitude of 1,000 feet
above the highest obstacle within a
horizontal radius of 2,000 feet of the
aircraft.

(c)

Over other than congested areas. An

altitude of 500 feet above the surface,
except over open water or sparsely pop-
ulated areas. In those cases, the air-
craft may not be operated closer than
500 feet to any person, vessel, vehicle,
or structure.

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Federal Aviation Administration, DOT

§ 91.123

(d)

Helicopters, powered parachutes,

and weight-shift-control aircraft. If the
operation is conducted without hazard
to persons or property on the surface—

(1) A helicopter may be operated at

less than the minimums prescribed in
paragraph (b) or (c) of this section, pro-
vided each person operating the heli-
copter complies with any routes or al-
titudes specifically prescribed for heli-
copters by the FAA; and

(2) A powered parachute or weight-

shift-control aircraft may be operated
at less than the minimums prescribed
in paragraph (c) of this section.

[Doc. No. 18334, 54 FR 34294, Aug. 18, 1989, as
amended by Amdt. 91–311, 75 FR 5223, Feb. 1,
2010]

§ 91.121

Altimeter settings.

(a) Each person operating an aircraft

shall maintain the cruising altitude or
flight level of that aircraft, as the case
may be, by reference to an altimeter
that is set, when operating—

(1) Below 18,000 feet MSL, to—
(i) The current reported altimeter

setting of a station along the route and
within 100 nautical miles of the air-
craft;

(ii) If there is no station within the

area prescribed in paragraph (a)(1)(i) of
this section, the current reported al-
timeter setting of an appropriate avail-
able station; or

(iii) In the case of an aircraft not

equipped with a radio, the elevation of
the departure airport or an appropriate
altimeter setting available before de-
parture; or

(2) At or above 18,000 feet MSL, to

29.92

″

Hg.

(b) The lowest usable flight level is

determined by the atmospheric pres-
sure in the area of operation as shown
in the following table:

Current altimeter setting

Lowest

usable

flight
level

29.92 (or higher) ......................................................

180

29.91 through 29.42 ................................................

185

29.41 through 28.92 ................................................

190

28.91 through 28.42 ................................................

195

28.41 through 27.92 ................................................

200

27.91 through 27.42 ................................................

205

27.41 through 26.92 ................................................

210

scribed under §§ 91.119 and 91.177 to the

minimum flight level, the pilot shall
take the flight level equivalent of the
minimum altitude in feet and add the
appropriate number of feet specified
below, according to the current re-
ported altimeter setting:

Current altimeter setting

Adjust-

ment

factor

29.92 (or higher) ......................................................

None

29.91 through 29.42 ................................................

500

29.41 through 28.92 ................................................

1,000

28.91 through 28.42 ................................................

1,500

28.41 through 27.92 ................................................

2,000

27.91 through 27.42 ................................................

2,500

27.41 through 26.92 ................................................

3,000

§ 91.123

Compliance with ATC clear-

ances and instructions.

(a) When an ATC clearance has been

obtained, no pilot in command may de-
viate from that clearance unless an
amended clearance is obtained, an
emergency exists, or the deviation is in
response to a traffic alert and collision
avoidance system resolution advisory.
However, except in Class A airspace, a
pilot may cancel an IFR flight plan if
the operation is being conducted in
VFR weather conditions. When a pilot
is uncertain of an ATC clearance, that
pilot shall immediately request clari-
fication from ATC.

(b) Except in an emergency, no per-

son may operate an aircraft contrary
to an ATC instruction in an area in
which air traffic control is exercised.

emergency, or in response to a traffic
alert and collision avoidance system
resolution advisory, deviates from an
ATC clearance or instruction shall no-
tify ATC of that deviation as soon as
possible.

(d) Each pilot in command who

(though not deviating from a rule of
this subpart) is given priority by ATC
in an emergency, shall submit a de-
tailed report of that emergency within
48 hours to the manager of that ATC
facility, if requested by ATC.

(e) Unless otherwise authorized by

ATC, no person operating an aircraft
may operate that aircraft according to
any clearance or instruction that has