FAR 91.311 — Aircraft Towing Operations

FAR 91.311 is a short but important rule about aircraft towing. It says that if you want to tow anything behind a civil aircraft, you must have a certificate of waiver issued by the FAA Administrator — unless your operation is already covered under § 91.309 (which addresses towing of gliders and unpowered ultralight vehicles, and by extension banner-tow operations conducted under separate authorization).

In practice, this means:

• Glider towing and similar operations fall under § 91.309, not this section.
• Any other towing — for example, towing experimental targets, test articles, or unusual loads — requires you to apply for and hold an FAA certificate of waiver before the flight.
• Towing without that waiver is a regulatory violation, even if the operation seems harmless.

Why it matters operationally: towing changes an aircraft's handling, performance, and emergency procedures dramatically. The FAA uses the waiver process to review the equipment, pilot qualifications, and procedures before approving non-standard tow operations, keeping both the crew and people on the ground safe.