FAR 21.185 — Restricted Category Certification
FAR 21.185 explains how the FAA issues airworthiness certificates for restricted category aircraft, including ex-military, imports, and noise rules.
In Plain English
FAR 21.185 lays out how the FAA issues an airworthiness certificate in the restricted category — the category used for aircraft built for special purpose operations like agricultural spraying, firefighting, or aerial surveying.
Why it matters: restricted category aircraft can't be used like normal-category airplanes. Knowing how they're certificated helps you understand the limits on who can operate them and how.
Key points from the rule:
- If the aircraft was type certificated in the restricted category from new (never certificated in another category), the applicant must meet the standard new- or used-aircraft requirements of § 21.183(a) or (b), and used aircraft must conform to type certificate and be in a condition for safe operation.
- An applicant gets a restricted category certificate when the aircraft (1) is type certificated for a special purpose, (2) was either built for and accepted by the U.S. Armed Forces with an acceptable service history, or previously type certificated in another category, and (3) has been inspected by the FAA and found in good repair and safe to fly.
- For imported restricted category aircraft, the aircraft must be type certificated under § 21.25 or § 21.29, the State of Manufacture must certify conformity and safe condition, and the FAA must agree.
- Propeller-driven small airplanes (other than ag or firefighting aircraft) must also meet Part 36 noise requirements before an original restricted certificate is issued.
Regulation Text
14 CFR § 21.185§ 21.185 Issue of airworthiness certificates for restricted category aircraft.
(a)An applicant for a restricted category airworthiness certificate for an aircraft type certificated in the restricted category, that was not previously type certificated in any other category, must comply with § 21.183(a) or (b), as applicable. A used aircraft must conform to its type certificate and be in a condition for safe operation.
(b)An applicant for an airworthiness certificate in the restricted category is entitled to an airworthiness certificate if—
(1) The aircraft is type certificated for a special purpose operation in the restricted category;
(2) The aircraft was—
(i) Manufactured in accordance with the requirements of, and accepted for use by, the U.S. Armed Forces and has a service history with the U.S. Armed Forces acceptable to the FAA; or
(ii) Previously type certificated in another category; and
(3) The aircraft has been inspected by the FAA and found by him to be in a good state of preservation and repair and in a condition for safe operation.
(c)An applicant for the original issue of a special airworthiness certificate for a restricted category import aircraft is entitled to that certificate if—
(1) The aircraft is type-certificated in accordance with § 21.25 or § 21.29 and produced under the authority of another State of Manufacture;
(2) The State of Manufacture certifies, in accordance with the export provisions of an agreement with the United States for import of that aircraft that the aircraft conforms to the type design and is in condition for safe operation; and
(3) The FAA finds that the aircraft conforms to the type design and is in condition for safe operation.
(d)For propeller-driven small airplanes (except airplanes designed for “agricultural aircraft operations,” as defined in § 137.3 of this chapter, as effective on January 1, 1966, or for dispensing fire fighting materials) that have not had any flight time before the applicable date specified in Part 36 of this chapter, and notwithstanding the other provisions of this section, no original restricted category airworthiness certificate is issued under this section unless the FAA finds that the type design complies with the applicable noise requirements of Part 36 of this chapter in addition to the applicable airworthiness requirements of this section. For import airplanes, compliance with this paragraph is shown if the country in which the airplane was manufactured certifies, and the FAA finds, that the applicable requirements of Part 36 of this chapter (or the applicable airplane noise requirements of the country in which the airplane was manufactured and any other requirements the FAA may prescribe to provide noise levels no greater than those provided by compliance with the applicable requirements of Part 36 of this chapter) and paragraph (c) of this section are complied with.
[Amdt. 21-10, 31 FR 9211, July 6, 1966, as amended by Amdt. 21-32, 35 FR 10202, June 23, 1970; Amdt. 21-42, 40 FR 1034, Jan. 6, 1975; Amdt. 21-92, 74 FR 53389, Oct. 16, 2009; Amdt. 21-92, 74 FR 53389, Oct. 16, 2009; Amdt. 21-92A, 75 FR 9095, Mar. 1, 2010; Amdt. 21-109, 90 FR 35206, July 24, 2025]
Oral Exam Questions a DPE Might Ask
Q1What are the basic requirements for an aircraft to receive a restricted category airworthiness certificate?
Per FAR 21.185, the aircraft must be type certificated for a special purpose operation, must have been either built for and accepted by the U.S. Armed Forces with acceptable service history or previously type certificated in another category, and must be inspected by the FAA and found in a good state of preservation and condition for safe operation.
Q2How does the FAA handle restricted category airworthiness certificates for imported aircraft?
Under FAR 21.185(c), the imported aircraft must be type certificated under § 21.25 or § 21.29, the State of Manufacture must certify under an export agreement that it conforms to type design and is safe to operate, and the FAA must independently verify conformity and safe condition.
Q3Do noise requirements apply to restricted category aircraft?
Yes. FAR 21.185(d) requires propeller-driven small airplanes — except those for agricultural operations or firefighting — to comply with the applicable Part 36 noise requirements before an original restricted category airworthiness certificate is issued.
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Related Sections in Part 21