214 

14 CFR Ch. I (1–1–19 Edition) 

§ 121.590 

(4) In accordance with any other 

method approved by the Adminis-
trator. 

[Doc. No. 24996, 52 FR 21476, June 5, 1987, as 
amended by Amdt. 121–251, 60 FR 65935, Dec. 
20, 1995] 

§ 121.590

Use of certificated land air-

ports in the United States. 

(a) Except as provided in paragraphs 

(b) or (c) of this section, or unless au-
thorized by the Administrator under 49 
U.S.C. 44706(c), no air carrier and no 
pilot being used by an air carrier may 
operate, in the conduct of a domestic 
type operation, flag type operation, or 
supplemental type operation, an air-
plane at a land airport in any State of 
the United States, the District of Co-
lumbia, or any territory or possession 
of the United States unless that air-
port is certificated under part 139 of 
this chapter. Further, after June 9, 2005 
for Class I airports and after December 
9, 2005 for Class II, III, and IV airports, 
when an air carrier and a pilot being 
used by the air carrier are required to 
operate at an airport certificated under 
part 139 of this chapter, the air carrier 
and the pilot may only operate at that 
airport if the airport is classified under 
part 139 to serve the type airplane to be 
operated and the type of operation to 
be conducted. 

(b)(1) An air carrier and a pilot being 

used by the air carrier in the conduct 
of a domestic type operation, flag type 
operation, or supplemental type oper-
ation may designate and use as a re-
quired alternate airport for departure 
or destination an airport that is not 
certificated under part 139 of this chap-
ter. 

(2) Until December 9, 2005, an air car-

rier and a pilot being used by the air 
carrier in the conduct of domestic type 
operations and flag type operations, 
may operate an airplane designed for 
more than 9 but less than 31 passenger 
seats, at a land airport, in any State of 
the United States, the District of Co-
lumbia, or any territory or possession 
of the United States, that does not 
hold an airport operating certificate 
issued under part 139 of this chapter, 
and that serves small air carrier air-
craft (as defined under ‘‘Air carrier air-
craft’’ and ‘‘Class III airport’’ in § 139.5 
of this Chapter). 

(c) An air carrier and a pilot used by 

the air carrier in conducting a domes-
tic type operation, flag type operation, 
or supplemental type operation may 
operate an airplane at an airport oper-
ated by the U.S. Government that is 
not certificated under part 139 of this 
chapter, only if that airport meets the 
equivalent— 

(1) Safety standards for airports cer-

tificated under part 139 of this chapter; 
and 

(2) Airport classification require-

ments under part 139 to serve the type 
airplane to be operated and the type of 
operation to be conducted. 

(d) An air carrier, a commercial oper-

ator, and a pilot being used by the air 
carrier or the commercial operator— 
when conducting a passenger-carrying 
airplane operation under this part that 
is not a domestic type operation, a flag 
type operation, or a supplemental type 
operation—may operate at a land air-
port not certificated under part 139 of 
this chapter only when the following 
conditions are met: 

(1) The airport is adequate for the 

proposed operation, considering such 
items as size, surface, obstructions, 
and lighting. 

(2) For an airplane carrying pas-

sengers at night, the pilot may not 
take off from, or land at, an airport un-
less— 

(i) The pilot has determined the wind 

direction from an illuminated wind di-
rection indicator or local ground com-
munications or, in the case of takeoff, 
that pilot’s personal observations; and 

(ii) The limits of the area to be used 

for landing or takeoff are clearly 
shown by boundary or runway marker 
lights. If the area to be used for takeoff 
or landing is marked by flare pots or 
lanterns, their use must be authorized 
by the Administrator. 

(e) A commercial operator and a pilot 

used by the commercial operator in 
conducting a domestic type operation, 
flag type operation, or supplemental 
type operation may operate an airplane 
at an airport operated by the U.S. Gov-
ernment that is not certificated under 
part 139 of this chapter only if that air-
port meets the equivalent— 

(1) Safety standards for airports cer-

tificated under part 139 of this chapter; 
and 

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