FAR 21.81 — Class I Provisional Type Certificates
FAR 21.81 sets the requirements for issuing or amending a Class I provisional type certificate, including certification, testing, limitations, and 50-hour flight time.
FAR 21.81 lays out what an applicant must do to receive (or amend) a Class I provisional type certificate — a temporary certificate that allows limited operation of an aircraft before it earns a full type certificate.
To qualify, the FAA must find no feature making the aircraft unsafe when flown within the established limitations (and the operating rules in § 91.317). The applicant must:
- Apply for a type certificate or supplemental type certificate for the aircraft.
- Certify that the aircraft was designed and built to the applicable airworthiness requirements, substantially meets flight characteristic requirements, and can be operated safely under the specified limitations.
- Submit a flight test report showing the aircraft has been flown through all maneuvers needed to demonstrate compliance.
- Establish all required operating limitations (weights, speeds, maneuvers, loading, controls, equipment), or set operating restrictions in their place.
- Set up an inspection and maintenance program for continued airworthiness.
- Show the prototype has flown at least 50 hours under an experimental certificate (§§ 21.191–21.195) or under the U.S. Armed Forces. The FAA may reduce this for amendments.
This matters because provisional certificates let manufacturers conduct demonstrations and limited operations while the full type certificate is still being finalized.
Five FAA-written-style questions. Instant explanations, every answer cites its source — no account needed.
You are flying VFR in Class E airspace at 8,500 feet MSL during the day. What are your minimum visibility and cloud clearance requirements?