---
kind: "section"
citation: "14 C.F.R. § 137.53"
title: "14"
number: "137.53"
heading: "Operation over congested areas: Pilots and aircraft."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/14/137.53"
---

# §137.53. Operation over congested areas: Pilots and aircraft.

- (a) **General.** No person may operate an aircraft over a congested area except in accordance with the pilot and aircraft rules of this section.
- (b) **Pilots.** Each pilot in command must have at least—
  - (1) 25 hours of pilot-in-command flight time in the make and basic model of the aircraft, at least 10 hours of which must have been acquired within the preceding 12 calendar months; and
  - (2) 100 hours of flight experience as pilot in command in dispensing agricultural materials or chemicals.
- (c) **Aircraft.**
  - (1) **Each aircraft must—**
    - (i) If it is an aircraft not specified in [paragraph (c)(1)(ii)](#c-1-ii) of this section, have had within the preceding 100 hours of time in service a 100-hour or annual inspection by a person authorized by part [65](/cfr/14/part65.md) or [145](/cfr/14/part145.md) of this chapter, or have been inspected under a progressive inspection system; and
    - (ii) If it is a large or turbine-powered multiengine civil airplane of U.S. registry, have been inspected in accordance with the applicable inspection program requirements of [§ 91.409](/cfr/14/91.409.md) of this chapter.
  - (2) If other than a helicopter, it must be equipped with a device capable of jettisoning at least one-half of the aircraft's maximum authorized load of agricultural material within 45 seconds. If the aircraft is equipped with a device for releasing the tank or hopper as a unit, there must be a means to prevent inadvertent release by the pilot or other crewmember.

## Notes

### Amendments

[Docket 1464, 30 FR 8106, June 24, 1965, as amended by Amdt. 137-5, 41 FR 16796, Apr. 22, 1976; Amdt. 137-12, 54 FR 34332, Aug. 18, 1989]

### Authority

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40103, 40113, 44701-44702.

### Source

Source: Docket 1464, 30 FR 8106, June 24, 1965, unless otherwise noted.

### Amendments

[Docket 1464, 30 FR 8106, June 24, 1965, as amended by Amdt. 137-5, 41 FR 16796, Apr. 22, 1976; Amdt. 137-12, 54 FR 34332, Aug. 18, 1989]