---
kind: "section"
citation: "14 C.F.R. § 121.153"
title: "14"
number: "121.153"
heading: "Aircraft requirements: General."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/14/121.153"
---

# §121.153. Aircraft requirements: General.

- (a) Except as provided in [paragraph (c)](#c) of this section, no certificate holder may operate an aircraft unless that aircraft—
  - (1) Is registered as a civil aircraft of the United States and carries an appropriate current airworthiness certificate issued under this chapter; and
  - (2) Is in an airworthy condition and meets the applicable airworthiness requirements of this chapter, including those relating to identification and equipment.
- (b) A certificate holder may use an approved weight and balance control system based on average, assumed, or estimated weight to comply with applicable airworthiness requirements and operating limitations.
- (c) A certificate holder may operate in common carriage, and for the carriage of mail, a civil aircraft which is leased or chartered to it without crew and is registered in a country which is a party to the Convention on International Civil Aviation if—
  - (1) The aircraft carries an appropriate airworthiness certificate issued by the country of registration and meets the registration and identification requirements of that country;
  - (2) The aircraft is of a type design which is approved under a U.S. type certificate and complies with all of the requirements of this chapter ([14 CFR Chapter 1](/cfr/14/ch1.md)) that would be applicable to that aircraft were it registered in the United States, including the requirements which must be met for issuance of a U.S. standard airworthiness certificate (including type design conformity, condition for safe operation, and the noise, fuel venting, and engine emission requirements of this chapter), except that a U.S. registration certificate and a U.S. standard airworthiness certificate will not be issued for the aircraft;
  - (3) The aircraft is operated by U.S.-certificated airmen employed by the certificate holder; and
  - (4) The certificate holder files a copy of the aircraft lease or charter agreement with the FAA Aircraft Registry, Department of Transportation, 6400 South MacArthur Boulevard, Oklahoma City, OK (Mailing address: P.O. Box 25504, Oklahoma City, OK 73125).

## Notes

### Amendments

[Docket 6258, 29 FR 19197, Dec. 31, 1964, as amended by Amdt. 121-165, 45 FR 68649, Oct. 16, 1980]

### Source

Source: Docket 6258, 29 FR 19197, Dec. 31, 1964, unless otherwise noted.

### Authority

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(f), 40103, 40113, 40119, 41706, 42301 preceding note added by Pub. L. 112-95, sec. 412, 126 Stat. 89, 44101, 44701-44702, 44705, 44709-44711, 44713, 44716-44717, 44722, 44729, 44732; 46105; Pub. L. 111-216, 124 Stat. 2348 (49 U.S.C. 44701 note); Pub. L. 112-95, 126 Stat. 62 (49 U.S.C. 44732 note); Pub. L. 115-254, 132 Stat. 3186 (49 U.S.C. 44701 note).

### Amendments

[Docket 6258, 29 FR 19197, Dec. 31, 1964, as amended by Amdt. 121-165, 45 FR 68649, Oct. 16, 1980]