FAR 21.189 — Limited Category Airworthiness

FAR 21.189 lays out exactly what an applicant must show to receive an airworthiness certificate for an aircraft in the limited category. Limited category aircraft are typically former military aircraft that have been issued a special limited category type certificate.

To qualify, the applicant must demonstrate:

• The aircraft was previously issued a limited category type certificate.
• The aircraft conforms to that type certificate (it matches the approved design).
• After an FAA inspection — which includes a flight check performed by the applicant — the aircraft is found to be in a good state of preservation and repair and in condition for safe operation.

The FAA will also prescribe any operating limitations and conditions needed to keep the aircraft safe in service. Operationally, this matters because limited category aircraft cannot be flown like standard category aircraft — they carry restrictions (for example, no carriage of persons or property for hire) that pilots must understand before operating them.