While many of the regulations that govern our actions are clear, there are a large number that may seem vague or even leave room for unintended interpretations. For these reasons, it is possible to seek official and binding interpretations from FAAs legal department, either through a direct request or possibly more onerous encounters with the regulations.
FAA legal interpretations clarify critical regulations, highlighting the pilot-in-command's ultimate responsibility for safety and compliance in areas like fuel planning, weather minimums, and communications failure.
For fuel requirements (91.167), pilots must plan for an approach and potential missed approach at the destination, then to an alternate, plus a 45-minute reserve calculated using actual, verifiable consumption data.
Regarding takeoff and landing (91.175), flight visibility from the cockpit is key for descending below minimums, and pilots are solely responsible for meeting weather criteria even when ATC issues clearances; lost communication procedures (91.185) for route and descent largely supersede modern STARs.
While many of the regulations that govern our actions are clear, there are a large number that may seem vague or even leave room for unintended interpretations. For these reasons, it is possible to seek official and binding interpretations from FAA’s legal department, either through a direct request or possibly more onerous encounters with the regulations.
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