---
kind: "section"
citation: "14 C.F.R. § 129.115"
title: "14"
number: "129.115"
heading: "Limit of validity."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/14/129.115"
---

# §129.115. Limit of validity.

- (a) **Applicability.** This section applies to foreign air carriers or foreign persons operating any U.S.-registered transport category, turbine-powered airplane with a maximum takeoff gross weight greater than 75,000 pounds and a type certificate issued after January 1, 1958, regardless of whether the maximum takeoff gross weight is a result of an original type certificate or a later design change. This section also applies to foreign air carriers or foreign persons operating any other U.S.-registered transport category, turbine-powered airplane with a type certificate issued after January 1, 1958, regardless of the maximum takeoff gross weight, for which a limit of validity of the engineering data that supports the structural maintenance program (hereafter referred to as LOV) is required in accordance with [§ 25.571](/cfr/14/25.571.md) or [§ 26.21](/cfr/14/26.21.md) of this chapter after January 14, 2011.
- (b) **Limit of validity.** No foreign air carrier or foreign person may operate a U.S.-registered airplane identified in [paragraph (a)](#a) of this section after the applicable date identified in Table 1 of this section, unless an Airworthiness Limitations section (ALS) approved under Appendix H to [part 25](/cfr/14/part25.md) or [§ 26.21](/cfr/14/26.21.md) of this chapter is incorporated into its maintenance program. The ALS must—
  - (1) Include an LOV approved under [§ 25.571](/cfr/14/25.571.md) or [§ 26.21](/cfr/14/26.21.md) of this chapter, as applicable, except as provided in [paragraph (f)](#f) of this section; and
  - (2) **Be clearly distinguishable within its maintenance program.**
- (c) **Operation of airplanes excluded from § 26.21.** No certificate holder may operate an airplane identified in [§ 26.21(g)](/cfr/14/26.21.md?p=g) of this chapter after July 14, 2013, unless an ALS approved under Appendix H to [part 25](/cfr/14/part25.md) or [§ 26.21](/cfr/14/26.21.md) of this chapter is incorporated into its maintenance program. The ALS must—
  - (1) Include an LOV approved under [§ 25.571](/cfr/14/25.571.md) or [§ 26.21](/cfr/14/26.21.md) of this chapter, as applicable, except as provided in [paragraph (f)](#f) of this section; and
  - (2) Be clearly distinguishable within its maintenance program
- (d) **Extended limit of validity.** No foreign air carrier or foreign person may operate an airplane beyond the LOV or extended LOV specified in paragraph [(b)(1)](#b-1), (c), (d), or (f) of this section, as applicable, unless the following conditions are met:
  - (1) An ALS must be incorporated into its maintenance program that—
    - (i) Includes an extended LOV and any widespread fatigue damage airworthiness limitation items (ALIs) approved under [§ 26.23](/cfr/14/26.23.md) of this chapter; and
    - (ii) Is approved under [§ 26.23](/cfr/14/26.23.md) of this chapter;
  - (2) The extended LOV and the airworthiness limitation items pertaining to widespread fatigue damage must be clearly distinguishable within its maintenance program.
- (e) **Principal Maintenance Inspector approval.** Foreign air carriers or foreign persons must submit the maintenance program revisions required by paragraphs [(b)](#b), [(c)](#c), and [(d)](#d) of this section to the Principal Maintenance Inspector or Flight Standards office for review and approval.
- (f) **Exception.** For any airplane for which an LOV has not been approved as of the applicable compliance date specified in [paragraph (c)](#c) or Table 1 of this section, instead of including an approved LOV in the ALS, an operator must include the applicable default LOV specified in Table 1 or Table 2 of this section, as applicable, in the ALS.

## Notes

### Amendments

[Docket FAA-2006-24281, 75 FR 69787, Nov. 15, 2010, as amended by Amdt. 129-51, 77 FR 30878, May 24, 2012; Amdt. 129-51A, 77 FR 55107, Sept. 7, 2012; Docket FAA-2018-0119, Amdt. 129-53, 83 FR 9174, Mar. 5, 2018; Docket FAA-2022-1355, Amdt. 129-54, 87 FR 75847, Dec. 9, 2022.]

### Authority

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 1372, 40113, 40119, 44101, 44701-44702, 44705, 44709-44711, 44713, 44716-44717, 44722, 44901-44904, 44906, 44912, 46105, Pub. L. 107-71 sec. 104.

### Source

Source: Docket 1994, 29 FR 1720, Feb. 5, 1964, unless otherwise noted.

### Amendments

[Docket FAA-2006-24281, 75 FR 69787, Nov. 15, 2010, as amended by Amdt. 129-51, 77 FR 30878, May 24, 2012; Amdt. 129-51A, 77 FR 55107, Sept. 7, 2012; Docket FAA-2018-0119, Amdt. 129-53, 83 FR 9174, Mar. 5, 2018; Docket FAA-2022-1355, Amdt. 129-54, 87 FR 75847, Dec. 9, 2022.]