FAR 71.5 — Reporting Points
FAR 71.5 defines reporting points where pilots must report aircraft position under Part 91. Study guide for student pilots prepping for checkrides.
In Plain English
FAR 71.5 establishes the official reporting points used in the National Airspace System. These are specific geographic locations — published in subpart H of FAA Order JO 7400.11K (incorporated by reference in § 71.1) — at which the position of an aircraft must be reported in accordance with Part 91.
Why it matters operationally:
- Reporting points give ATC a structured way to track aircraft, especially in non-radar environments or on IFR flights.
- When you cross a designated compulsory reporting point (shown as a solid triangle on charts), you must make a position report unless ATC has advised "radar contact."
- Knowing where these points are — and that they are formally defined by FAA Order, not invented ad hoc — helps you correctly interpret IFR enroute charts and comply with Part 91 communication requirements.
In short, § 71.5 is the legal hook that ties charted reporting points to your duty to report position when flying under IFR or as otherwise required by Part 91.
Regulation Text
14 CFR § 71.5§ 71.5 Reporting points.
The reporting points listed in subpart H of FAA Order JO 7400.11K (incorporated by reference, see § 71.1) consist of geographic locations at which the position of an aircraft must be reported in accordance with part 91 of this chapter.
Effective Date Note:
By Docket FAA-2025-1763, Amdt. 71-57, 90 FR 41890, Aug. 28, 2025, § 71.5 was amended by removing “FAA Order JO 7400.11J” and adding in its place “FAA Order JO 7400.11K”, effective Sept. 15, 2025, through Sept. 15, 2026.
[Docket 29334, 73 FR 54495, Sept. 22, 2008, as amended by Amdt. 71-40, 73 FR 60940, Oct. 15, 2008; Amdt. 71-41, 74 FR 46490, Sept. 10, 2009; Amdt. 71-42, 75 FR 55268, Sept. 10, 2010; Amdt. 71-43, 76 FR 53329, Aug. 26, 2011; Amdt. 71-44, 77 FR 50908, Aug. 23, 2012; Amdt. 71-45, 78 FR 52848, Aug. 27, 2013; Amdt. 71-46, 79 FR 51888, Sept. 2, 2014; Amdt. 71-47, 80 FR 51937, Aug. 27, 2015; Amdt. 71-48, 81 FR 55372, Aug. 19, 2016; Amdt. 71-49, 82 FR 40068, Aug. 24, 2017; Amdt. 71-50, 83 FR 43757, Aug. 28, 2018; Amdt. 71-51, 84 FR 45652, Aug. 30, 2019; Amdt. 71-52, 85 FR 50780, Aug. 18, 2020; Amdt. 71-53, 86 FR 46963, Aug. 23, 2021; Docket FAA-2022-1022, Amdt. 71-54, 87 FR 54878, Sept. 8, 2022; Docket FAA-2023-1785, Amdt. 71-55, 88 FR 58072, Aug. 25, 2023; Docket FAA-2024-2061, Amdt. 71-56, 89 FR 68339, Aug. 26, 2024; Docket FAA-2025-1763, Amdt. 71-57, 90 FR 41890, Aug. 28, 2025]
Oral Exam Questions a DPE Might Ask
Q1What are reporting points, and where are they officially listed?
Per FAR 71.5, reporting points are geographic locations at which an aircraft's position must be reported in accordance with Part 91. They are listed in subpart H of FAA Order JO 7400.11K, which is incorporated by reference under FAR 71.1.
Q2Under what authority are you required to make a position report at a reporting point?
FAR 71.5 states that position reports at these geographic locations must be made in accordance with Part 91, which contains the specific operating rules governing when and how those reports are transmitted.
Q3If a reporting point isn't depicted on the chart you're using, does that mean it doesn't exist?
No. FAR 71.5 establishes that reporting points are those listed in FAA Order JO 7400.11K, subpart H. The order — not the chart — is the authoritative source, so a pilot should rely on current charts and the incorporated FAA Order to identify them.
Studying for a checkride?
Related Sections in Part 71