---
kind: "section"
citation: "49 U.S.C. § 44724"
title: "49"
title_heading: "Transportation"
number: "44724"
heading: "Manipulation of flight controls"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/49/44724"
units:
  - "Subtitle VII — Aviation Programs"
  - "Part A — Air Commerce and Safety"
  - "Subpart iii — safety"
  - "Chapter 447 — Safety Regulation"
---

# §44724. Manipulation of flight controls

- (a) **Prohibition.—** No pilot in command of an [aircraft](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-6) may allow an individual who does not hold—
  - (1) a valid private pilots certificate issued by the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration under part 61 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations; and
  - (2) the appropriate medical certificate issued by the Administrator under part 67 of such title,

  to manipulate the controls of an [aircraft](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-6) if the pilot knows or should have known that the individual is attempting to set a record or engage in an aeronautical competition or aeronautical feat, as defined by the Administrator.

- (b) **Revocation of Airmen Certificates.—** The Administrator shall issue an order revoking a certificate issued to an [airman](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-8) under [section 44703 of this title](/usc/49/44703.md) if the Administrator finds that while acting as a pilot in command of an [aircraft](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-6), the [airman](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-8) has permitted another individual to manipulate the controls of the [aircraft](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-6) in violation of [subsection (a)](#a).
- (c) **Pilot in Command Defined.—** In this section, the term “pilot in command” has the meaning given such term by section 1.1 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 104–264, title VI, § 602(a)(1), Oct. 9, 1996, 110 Stat. 3263.)

## Notes

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Except as otherwise specifically provided, section applicable only to fiscal years beginning after Sept. 30, 1996, and not to be construed as affecting funds made available for a fiscal year ending before Oct. 1, 1996, see section 3 of Pub. L. 104–264, set out as an Effective Date of 1996 Amendment note under section 106 of this title.