Space Flight Operations

FAR 91.143 — Space Flight Operations

FAR 91.143 prohibits flight in NOTAM-designated space flight operation areas without ATC authorization. Study guide for pilot students and checkride prep.

In Plain English

FAR 91.143 restricts where you can fly when space flight operations are happening. When the FAA issues a NOTAM for a space flight operation, you are not allowed to fly inside the area described in that NOTAM unless ATC authorizes you to do so.

This rule applies to:

Any aircraft of U.S. registry, anywhere it operates, and
Any aircraft you pilot using an airman certificate issued by the FAA.

Why it matters operationally: rocket launches, reentries, and other space activities create serious hazards — falling debris, large temporary airspace closures, and high-speed vehicles transiting through normal flight altitudes. Treating the NOTAM area like a hard boundary keeps you out of the way of those operations and out of trouble with the FAA.

Practical takeaway: always check NOTAMs during preflight planning. If a space flight operation NOTAM affects your route, plan to avoid the published area or coordinate with ATC for authorization before entering.

Regulation Text

14 CFR § 91.143

§ 91.143 Flight limitation in the proximity of space flight operations. When a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) is issued in accordance with this section, no person may operate any aircraft of U.S. registry, or pilot any aircraft under the authority of an airman certificate issued by the Federal Aviation Administration, within areas designated in a NOTAM for space flight operation except when authorized by ATC. [Docket FAA-2004-19246, 69 FR 59753, Oct. 5, 2004]

Oral Exam Questions a DPE Might Ask

Q1What does FAR 91.143 require regarding space flight operations?

Per FAR 91.143, when a NOTAM is issued for a space flight operation, no one may operate a U.S.-registered aircraft or pilot under an FAA airman certificate within the NOTAM-designated area unless authorized by ATC.

Q2If a NOTAM for a space flight operation is in effect, how can you legally fly through that area?

You must obtain authorization from ATC. FAR 91.143 specifically allows operations within the designated area only when ATC authorizes it.

Q3Does FAR 91.143 apply to a U.S.-certificated pilot flying a foreign-registered aircraft?

Yes. FAR 91.143 applies both to aircraft of U.S. registry and to anyone piloting an aircraft under the authority of an FAA-issued airman certificate, regardless of the aircraft's registration.

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Related Sections in Part 91

§ 91.1

Part 91 Applicability