AIM ¶ 5-6-5 — Civil Aircraft US Airspace Entry
AIM 5-6-5 explains requirements for civil aircraft operating to or from U.S. territorial airspace: flight plans, transponders, ATC comms, ADIZ, and CBP APIS.
In Plain English
AIM 5-6-5 outlines what civil aircraft must do to legally cross into or out of U.S. territorial airspace. This is a national security and customs issue — not just an ATC matter.
General requirements:
- File and fly on an active flight plan (IFR, VFR, or DVFR).
- Have an operational transponder with altitude reporting and squawk the ATC-assigned code continuously.
- Maintain two-way radio comms with ATC.
- Comply with ADIZ rules (AIM 5-6-4) and other national security requirements (AIM 5-6-2).
- Comply with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) rules, including APIS (Advance Passenger Information System) per 19 CFR part 122.
- Aircraft registered in a State Department special interest country (or using that country's ICAO 3LD) need an FAA routing authorization, and VFR/DVFR is prohibited for those flights.
Alaska exception: Light civil aircraft (≤100,309 lbs / 45,500 kg) registered in the U.S., Canada, or Mexico may enter/exit over Alaska north of the 54th parallel without a transponder or radio if they depart/land in the U.S. or Canada, file a flight plan, meet ADIZ/security/CBP requirements, and squawk 1200 if VFR with a transponder.
AIM Source Text
FAA AIM ¶ 5-6-55-6-5. 5-6-5. Civil Aircraft Operations To or From U.S. Territorial Airspace
Civil aircraft, except as described in subparagraph 5-6-5 b below, are authorized to operate to or from U.S. territorial airspace if in compliance with all of the following conditions: File and are on an active flight plan (IFR, VFR, or DVFR); Are equipped with an operational transponder with altitude reporting capability, and continuously squawk an ATC assigned transponder code; Maintain two-way radio communications with ATC; Comply with all other applicable ADIZ requirements described in paragraph 5-6-4 and any other national security requirements in paragraph 5-6-2 ; Comply with all applicable U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) requirements, including Advance Passenger Information System (APIS) requirements (see subparagraph 5-6-5 c below for CBP APIS information), in accordance with 19 CFR part 122, Air Commerce Regulations ; and Are in receipt of, and are operating in accordance with, an FAA routing authorization if the aircraft is registered in a U.S. State Department-designated special interest country or is operating with the ICAO three letter designator (3LD) of a company in a country listed as a U.S. State Department-designated special interest country, unless the operator holds valid FAA part 129 operations specifications. VFR and DVFR flight operations are prohibited for any aircraft requiring an FAA routing authorization. (See paragraph 5-6-11 for FAA routing authorization information). Civil aircraft registered in the U.S., Canada, or Mexico with a maximum certificated takeoff gross weight of 100,309 pounds (45,500 kgs) or less that are operating without an operational transponder, and/or the ability to maintain two-way radio communications with ATC, are authorized to operate to or from U.S. territorial airspace over Alaska if in compliance with all of the following conditions: Depart and land at an airport within the U.S. or Canada; Enter or exit U.S. territorial airspace over Alaska north of the fifty-fourth parallel; File and are on an active flight plan; Comply with all other applicable ADIZ requirements described in paragraph 5-6-4 and any other national security requirements in paragraph 5-6-2 ; Squawk 1200 if VFR and equipped with a transponder; and Comply with all applicable U.S. CBP requirements, including Advance Passenger Information System (APIS) requirements (see subparagraph 5-6-5c below for CBP APIS information), in accordance with 19 CFR part 122, Air Commerce Regulations . CBP APIS Information. Information about U.S. CBP APIS requirements is available at http://www.cbp.gov.
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Oral Exam Questions a DPE Might Ask
Q1What are the basic requirements for a civil aircraft to operate to or from U.S. territorial airspace?
Per AIM 5-6-5, the aircraft must be on an active IFR, VFR, or DVFR flight plan; have an operational altitude-reporting transponder squawking the ATC-assigned code; maintain two-way radio comms with ATC; comply with ADIZ and national security requirements (AIM 5-6-4 and 5-6-2); and meet CBP/APIS requirements under 19 CFR part 122.
Q2Are there any exceptions for aircraft without a transponder or radio entering U.S. airspace?
Yes. Per AIM 5-6-5, civil aircraft registered in the U.S., Canada, or Mexico weighing 100,309 lbs (45,500 kg) or less may operate to/from U.S. airspace over Alaska without a transponder or radio, provided they depart/land in the U.S. or Canada, enter/exit north of the 54th parallel, are on an active flight plan, meet ADIZ/security/CBP requirements, and squawk 1200 if VFR with a transponder.
Q3What special requirement applies to aircraft from State Department special interest countries?
Per AIM 5-6-5, such aircraft (or those using the ICAO 3LD of a company in a special interest country) must have and operate per an FAA routing authorization, unless the operator holds valid FAA part 129 operations specifications. VFR and DVFR operations are prohibited for any aircraft requiring an FAA routing authorization.
Related Paragraphs in AIM Chapter 5
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