---
kind: "section"
citation: "14 C.F.R. § 121.305"
title: "14"
number: "121.305"
heading: "Flight and navigational equipment."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/14/121.305"
---

# §121.305. Flight and navigational equipment.


No person may operate an airplane unless it is equipped with the following flight and navigational instruments and equipment:

- (a) An airspeed indicating system with heated pitot tube or equivalent means for preventing malfunctioning due to icing.
- (b) **A sensitive altimeter.**
- (c) **A sweep-second hand clock (or approved equivalent).**
- (d) **A free-air temperature indicator.**
- (e) **A gyroscopic bank and pitch indicator (artificial horizon).**
- (f) A gyroscopic rate-of-turn indicator combined with an integral slip-skid indicator (turn-and-bank indicator) except that only a slip-skid indicator is required when a third attitude instrument system usable through flight attitudes of 360° of pitch and roll is installed in accordance with [paragraph (k)](#k) of this section.
- (g) **A gyroscopic direction indicator (directional gyro or equivalent).**
- (h) **A magnetic compass.**
- (i) **A vertical speed indicator (rate-of-climb indicator).**
- (j) On the airplane described in this paragraph, in addition to two gyroscopic bank and pitch indicators (artificial horizons) for use at the pilot stations, a third such instrument is installed in accordance with [paragraph (k)](#k) of this section:
  - (1) **On each turbojet powered airplane.**
  - (2) On each turbopropeller powered airplane having a passenger-seat configuration of more than 30 seats, excluding each crewmember seat, or a payload capacity of more than 7,500 pounds.
  - (3) On each turbopropeller powered airplane having a passenger-seat configuration of 30 seats or fewer, excluding each crewmember seat, and a payload capacity of 7,500 pounds or less that is manufactured on or after March 20, 1997.
  - (4) After December 20, 2010, on each turbopropeller powered airplane having a passenger seat configuration of 10-30 seats and a payload capacity of 7,500 pounds or less that was manufactured before March 20, 1997.
- (k) When required by [paragraph (j)](#j) of this section, a third gyroscopic bank-and-pitch indicator (artificial horizon) that:
  - (1) Is powered from a source independent of the electrical generating system;
  - (2) Continues reliable operation for a minimum of 30 minutes after total failure of the electrical generating system;
  - (3) Operates independently of any other attitude indicating system;
  - (4) Is operative without selection after total failure of the electrical generating system;
  - (5) Is located on the instrument panel in a position acceptable to the Administrator that will make it plainly visible to and usable by each pilot at his or her station; and
  - (6) **Is appropriately lighted during all phases of operation.**

## Notes

### Amendments

[Docket 6258, 29 FR 19205, Dec. 31, 1964, as amended by Amdt. 121-57, 35 FR 304, Jan. 8, 1970; Amdt. 121-60, 35 FR 7108, May 6, 1970; Amdt. 121-81, 36 FR 23050, Dec. 3, 1971; Amdt. 121-130, 41 FR 47229, Oct. 28, 1976; Amdt. 121-230, 58 FR 12158, Mar. 3, 1993; Amdt. 121-251, 60 FR 65929, Dec. 20, 1995; Amdt. 121-262, 62 FR 13256, Mar. 19, 1997]

### Source

Source: Docket 6258, 29 FR 19205, 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 19205, Dec. 31, 1964, as amended by Amdt. 121-57, 35 FR 304, Jan. 8, 1970; Amdt. 121-60, 35 FR 7108, May 6, 1970; Amdt. 121-81, 36 FR 23050, Dec. 3, 1971; Amdt. 121-130, 41 FR 47229, Oct. 28, 1976; Amdt. 121-230, 58 FR 12158, Mar. 3, 1993; Amdt. 121-251, 60 FR 65929, Dec. 20, 1995; Amdt. 121-262, 62 FR 13256, Mar. 19, 1997]