FAR 91.1023 — Program Operating Manual
FAR 91.1023 explains the program operating manual requirements for fractional ownership programs, including content, distribution, and accessibility rules.
In Plain English
FAR 91.1023 sets the rules for the program operating manual that every fractional ownership program manager (Subpart K) must create and maintain. The manual is the playbook that management, flight crews, ground staff, and maintenance personnel use to run the operation safely and consistently.
Key requirements:
- Prepare and keep current a manual with policies and procedures acceptable to the Administrator.
- Keep at least one copy at the principal base of operations.
- The manual cannot conflict with U.S. regulations, applicable foreign regulations, or the program manager's management specifications.
- Furnish the manual (or relevant portions) to crewmembers and FAA representatives, and make it available to maintenance and ground personnel.
- Employees who receive a manual must keep it up to date with revisions.
- Appropriate parts must be accessible at all times while personnel are on duty, and content must be clearly displayed and retrievable in English.
If the program manager also holds a Part 121 or 135 certificate, the FAA may allow the existing operating manual to satisfy Subpart K — as long as policies match, or differences are clearly identified.
This matters because the manual is the operational backbone: it standardizes how the fleet is flown, dispatched, and maintained.
Regulation Text
14 CFR § 91.1023§ 91.1023 Program operating manual requirements.
(a) Each program manager must prepare and keep current a program operating manual setting forth procedures and policies acceptable to the Administrator. The program manager's management, flight, ground, and maintenance personnel must use this manual to conduct operations under this subpart. However, the Administrator may authorize a deviation from this paragraph if the Administrator finds that, because of the limited size of the operation, part of the manual is not necessary for guidance of management, flight, ground, or maintenance personnel.
(b) Each program manager must maintain at least one copy of the manual at its principal base of operations.
(c) No manual may be contrary to any applicable U.S. regulations, foreign regulations applicable to the program flights in foreign countries, or the program manager's management specifications.
(d) The program manager must make a copy of the manual, or appropriate portions of the manual (and changes and additions), available to its maintenance and ground operations personnel and must furnish the manual to—
(1) Its crewmembers; and
(2) Representatives of the Administrator assigned to the program manager.
(e) Each employee of the program manager to whom a manual or appropriate portions of it are furnished under paragraph (d)(1) of this section must keep it up-to-date with the changes and additions furnished to them.
(f) The program manager must ensure the appropriate parts of the manual are accessible to flight, ground, and maintenance personnel at all times when such personnel are performing their assigned duties.
(g) The information and instructions contained in the manual must be displayed clearly and be retrievable in the English language.
(h) Program managers that are also certificated to operate under part 121 or 135 of this chapter may be authorized to use the operating manual required by those parts to meet the manual requirements of subpart K, provided:
(1) The policies and procedures are consistent for both operations, or
(2) When policies and procedures are different, the applicable policies and procedures are identified and used.
[Docket FAA-2001-10047, 68 FR 54561, Sept. 17, 2003, as amended by Docket FAA-2022-0912, Amdt. 91-368, 88 FR 34443, May 30, 2023]
Oral Exam Questions a DPE Might Ask
Q1Who is required to prepare a program operating manual under Subpart K, and who must use it?
Per FAR 91.1023(a), each program manager must prepare and keep current a program operating manual, and management, flight, ground, and maintenance personnel must use it to conduct operations under Subpart K.
Q2Where must the program operating manual be kept, and to whom must it be furnished?
FAR 91.1023(b) and (d) require at least one copy at the principal base of operations, and the manual (or appropriate portions) must be furnished to crewmembers and FAA representatives, and made available to maintenance and ground personnel.
Q3If a program manager also holds a Part 135 certificate, can it use that operating manual to satisfy Subpart K?
Yes. Under FAR 91.1023(h), a program manager certificated under Part 121 or 135 may use that manual if the policies and procedures are consistent, or if differences are clearly identified and the applicable procedures are used.
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Related Sections in Part 91