FAR 71.901 — Reporting Points Applicability
FAR 71.901 explains how reporting points listed in FAA Order JO 7400.11K apply to airways and flight directions. Study guide for pilot students.
In Plain English
FAR 71.901 sets the ground rules for how reporting points listed in the FAA's airspace order (currently FAA Order JO 7400.11K, incorporated by reference under § 71.1) are applied along airways. Unless the FAA says otherwise, here is how to read them:
- Each reporting point in Subpart H of the order applies to all directions of flight.
- If a reporting point only applies to certain airways through that point, or only to a specific direction of flight, the FAA will spell that out by listing the affected airways or direction in the description.
- Any place name used in a reporting point description refers to the VOR or VORTAC facility with that name — not the town or airport.
Why it matters operationally: when ATC asks you to "report" a fix, this regulation tells you that the published name almost always points to a navaid, and that the requirement applies in every direction unless noted. That keeps position reporting consistent on IFR flights and along Federal airways.
Regulation Text
14 CFR § 71.901§ 71.901 Applicability.
Unless otherwise designated:
(a) Each reporting point listed in subpart H of FAA Order JO 7400.11K (incorporated by reference, see § 71.1) applies to all directions of flight. In any case where a geographic location is designated as a reporting point for less than all airways passing through that point, or for a particular direction of flight along an airway only, it is so indicated by including the airways or direction of flight in the designation of geographical location.
(b) Place names appearing in the reporting point descriptions indicate VOR or VORTAC facilities identified by those names.
Effective Date Note:
By Docket FAA-2025-1763, Amdt. 71-57, 90 FR 41890, Aug. 28, 2025, § 71.901(a) 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 55269, 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 40069, 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
Q1When you see a reporting point listed along an airway, in which directions of flight does it apply?
Per FAR 71.901(a), each reporting point listed in Subpart H of FAA Order JO 7400.11K applies to all directions of flight unless the description specifically limits it to certain airways or a particular direction.
Q2If a reporting point description uses a place name, what does that name actually refer to?
FAR 71.901(b) states that place names in reporting point descriptions indicate the VOR or VORTAC facility identified by that name, not the town or airport itself.
Q3How would you know if a reporting point only applies to a specific airway or one direction of flight?
FAR 71.901(a) says that limitation will be indicated in the designation itself — the affected airway or direction of flight will be included in the geographic location description in FAA Order JO 7400.11K.
Studying for a checkride?
Related Sections in Part 71