FAR 23.2500 — Airplane Systems Requirements
FAR 23.2500 sets the design and installation standards for airplane equipment and systems to ensure safe operation in Day VFR, Night VFR, and IFR conditions.
FAR 23.2500 is a top-level rule under Part 23 that governs how equipment and systems are designed and installed on small airplanes. It applies broadly unless a more specific section of Part 23 calls out particular requirements for a given piece of equipment.
The regulation breaks systems into two groups:
- Required equipment — anything needed for the airplane to safely operate in the kinds of operations it's certificated for (Day VFR, Night VFR, or IFR) must:
- Meet the level of safety appropriate to the airplane's certification and performance level, and
- Perform their intended function across the airplane's full operating and environmental limits.
- Non-required equipment — systems not covered above must be designed and installed so they do not adversely affect the airplane or its occupants, whether considered alone or in combination with other systems.
Why it matters operationally: this rule is why an IFR-certified airplane has redundancy and reliability standards that a Day VFR airplane doesn't, and why even optional installed equipment can't compromise flight safety.
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?