---
kind: "section"
citation: "14 C.F.R. § 187.3"
title: "14"
number: "187.3"
heading: "Definitions."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/14/187.3"
---

# §187.3. Definitions.


For the purpose of this part:

Great circle distance means the shortest distance between two points on the surface of the Earth.

Overflight means a flight through U.S.-controlled airspace that does not include a landing in or takeoff from the United States.

Overflight through Enroute airspace means an overflight through U.S.-controlled airspace where primarily radar-based air traffic services are provided.

Overflight through Oceanic airspace means an overflight through U.S.-controlled airspace where primarily procedural air traffic services are provided.

U.S.-controlled airspace means all airspace over the territory of the United States, extending 12 nautical miles from the coastline of U.S. territory; any airspace delegated to the United States for U.S. control by other countries or under a regional air navigation agreement; or any international airspace, or airspace of undetermined sovereignty, for which the United States has accepted responsibility for providing air traffic control services.


## Notes

### Amendments

[Docket FAA-2015-3597, Amdt. 187-36, 81 FR 85853, Nov. 29, 2016]

### Authority

Authority: 31 U.S.C. 9701; 49 U.S.C. 106(f), 106(g), 106(l)(6), 40104-40105, 40109, 40113-40114, 44702, 45301.

### Source

Source: Docket 8347, 32 FR 12051, Aug. 22, 1967, unless otherwise noted.

### Amendments

[Docket FAA-2015-3597, Amdt. 187-36, 81 FR 85853, Nov. 29, 2016]