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:

Many common myths about FAA Part 91 non-commercial operations, such as mandatory D-cell flashlights for night flight or life rafts for overwater operations, actually stem from regulations applicable to larger aircraft or commercial operations.
The definition of "night" for pilots varies significantly across different FAR sections, impacting requirements for aircraft lights, logging flight time, and recent flight experience for carrying passengers.
Rules for IFR alternate airports are often misunderstood, with the "1-2-3 rule" having specific nuances regarding when an alternate is required and the weather conditions it must meet.
Other misconceptions debunked include the "eight hours bottle to throttle" rule (which also includes a 0.04% BAC limit) and the legality of dropping objects from an aircraft (which is permissible if reasonable precautions are taken to avoid hazards).

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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.