Where's It Say That?

Where’s It Say That?

Editorial Staff

Thursday, March 19, 2020 at 01:38 PM ET

Verified

December

Key Takeaways:

FAA regulations (FARs) for non-commercial Part 91 operations are often misunderstood, with rules intended for commercial or larger aircraft frequently misapplied, leading to persistent myths.
Common misconceptions for Part 91 pilots include a specific D-cell flashlight requirement for night flight, the belief that "eight hours bottle to throttle" is the only alcohol restriction, and mandatory life rafts/PFDs for overwater flights.
The definition of "night" varies across different FARs (e.g., for logging time vs. carrying passengers), and while some items aren't legally required for Part 91, pilots should prioritize safety practices that often exceed minimum regulatory standards.

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Just as with any other complex endeavor that’s developed over time, aviation has many myths. That’s especially true when it comes to FAA regulations—the FARs. To be fair, there are a lot of regulations, and many of them are written for attorneys, not pilots. Especially for newer pilots or those who fly different aircraft in different operations, some of it can seem overwhelming and confusing. In other words, bad interpretations or outright falsehoods—either of which we’ll label as myths—can be created and persist.

One of our all-time favorite myths was that the FAA was going to postpone the January 1, 2020, date for ADS-B compliance. That one persisted even when one FAA suit after another went on the record to state the exact opposite. With that as preamble, here are some of our favorite myths about the FARs when operating as a non-commercial flight under Part 91.