FAR 91.857 — Stage 2 Operations Outside U.S.
FAR 91.857 explains how Stage 2 airplane operators flying only outside the contiguous U.S. must restrict their operations specifications. Key points for pilots.
FAR 91.857 applies to operators of Stage 2 airplanes (older, louder jets that don't meet the quieter Stage 3 noise standards) that fly only between points outside the 48 contiguous United States on or after November 5, 1990.
The rule requires these operators to add a specific statement to their operations specifications confirming that:
- The Stage 2 airplane may not be used to provide air transportation to or from any airport in the contiguous United States.
In plain terms: if you want to keep flying a noisier Stage 2 jet commercially, you can do it overseas, but you have to formally lock yourself out of the lower 48 in your ops specs. This rule supports the FAA's broader noise reduction program by phasing Stage 2 jets out of U.S. airspace while still allowing operators to use those aircraft elsewhere in the world. It matters operationally because the ops specs limitation is binding — bringing that aircraft into a contiguous U.S. airport would be a regulatory violation.