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Fractional Program Equipment

FAR 91.1045 — Fractional Program Equipment

FAR 91.1045 lists required equipment for fractional ownership program flights: CVR, FDR, TAWS, TCAS, and weather radar. Study guide for pilots.

In Plain English

FAR 91.1045 sets the minimum equipment list for fractional ownership program flights under Subpart K. The required gear depends on aircraft size, and the rule cross-references Part 121 or Part 135 standards rather than creating new ones.

For large airplanes (more than 30 passenger seats or payload over 7,500 lbs), the aircraft must carry the Part 121 versions of:

  • Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) — § 121.359
  • Flight Data Recorder (FDR) — § 121.343 or § 121.344
  • Terrain Awareness and Warning System (TAWS) — § 121.354
  • Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) — § 121.356
  • Airborne weather radar — § 121.357

For smaller airplanes (30 seats or fewer and payload of 7,500 lbs or less) and all rotorcraft, the Part 135 equivalents apply: CVR (§ 135.151), FDR (§ 135.152), TAWS (§ 135.154), TCAS (§ 135.180), and either thunderstorm detection equipment (§ 135.173) or weather radar (§ 135.175).

This matters because fractional flights carry paying owners, so the FAA holds them to commercial-grade safety equipment standards even though they operate under Part 91.

Regulation Text
14 CFR § 91.1045
§ 91.1045 Additional equipment requirements. No person may operate a program aircraft on a program flight unless the aircraft is equipped with the following— (a) Airplanes having a passenger-seat configuration of more than 30 seats or a payload capacity of more than 7,500 pounds: (1) A cockpit voice recorder as required by § 121.359 of this chapter as applicable to the aircraft specified in that section. (2) A flight recorder as required by § 121.343 or § 121.344 of this chapter as applicable to the aircraft specified in that section. (3) A terrain awareness and warning system as required by § 121.354 of this chapter as applicable to the aircraft specified in that section. (4) A traffic alert and collision avoidance system as required by § 121.356 of this chapter as applicable to the aircraft specified in that section. (5) Airborne weather radar as required by § 121.357 of this chapter, as applicable to the aircraft specified in that section. (b) Airplanes having a passenger-seat configuration of 30 seats or fewer, excluding each crewmember, and a payload capacity of 7,500 pounds or less, and any rotorcraft (as applicable): (1) A cockpit voice recorder as required by § 135.151 of this chapter as applicable to the aircraft specified in that section. (2) A flight recorder as required by § 135.152 of this chapter as applicable to the aircraft specified in that section. (3) A terrain awareness and warning system as required by § 135.154 of this chapter as applicable to the aircraft specified in that section. (4) A traffic alert and collision avoidance system as required by § 135.180 of this chapter as applicable to the aircraft specified in that section. (5) As applicable to the aircraft specified in that section, either: (i) Airborne thunderstorm detection equipment as required by § 135.173 of this chapter; or (ii) Airborne weather radar as required by § 135.175 of this chapter.
Oral Exam Questions a DPE Might Ask
Q1What equipment does FAR 91.1045 require on a large fractional program airplane with more than 30 seats?
Per FAR 91.1045(a), the airplane must have a CVR, FDR, TAWS, TCAS, and airborne weather radar meeting the applicable Part 121 standards (§§ 121.359, 121.343/344, 121.354, 121.356, and 121.357).
Q2For a small fractional airplane or rotorcraft, what are the weather-detection options under FAR 91.1045?
FAR 91.1045(b)(5) allows either airborne thunderstorm detection equipment per § 135.173 or airborne weather radar per § 135.175, as applicable to the aircraft.
Q3Why does FAR 91.1045 reference Part 121 and Part 135 equipment rules if fractional flights operate under Part 91?
FAR 91.1045 imposes the same CVR, FDR, TAWS, TCAS, and weather equipment requirements as commercial operators because fractional Subpart K flights carry program owners and the FAA requires equivalent safety equipment standards.
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Related Sections in Part 91
§ 91.1
Part 91 Applicability
§ 91.1001
Fractional Ownership Applicability
§ 91.1002
Fractional Ownership Compliance
§ 91.1003
Fractional Ownership Contracts
§ 91.1005
Fractional Ownership Limitations
§ 91.1007
Fractional Program Flights
§ 91.1009
Operational Control
§ 91.101
Flight Rules Applicability
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FAR 91.1045 — Fractional Ownership Equipment Requirements