Welcome to Flightinfo.com

  • Register now and join the discussion
  • Friendliest aviation Ccmmunity on the web
  • Modern site for PC's, Phones, Tablets - no 3rd party apps required
  • Ask questions, help others, promote aviation
  • Share the passion for aviation
  • Invite everyone to Flightinfo.com and let's have fun

Aircraft Category?

Welcome to Flightinfo.com

  • Register now and join the discussion
  • Modern secure site, no 3rd party apps required
  • Invite your friends
  • Share the passion of aviation
  • Friendliest aviation community on the web

fsworld

Well-known member
Joined
May 17, 2005
Posts
78
Does anyone know of a simple way to find aircraft categories?

Specifically, I'm looking for the following:
PA-15 - Piper Cub
King air 200 and 350
Falcon 10
C-210
C-206
C-303
C-402
C-421

Also, I'm assuming most small singles (c-172, pa-28) would be normal, does anyone disagree?
 
I have seen such a list but am having a hard time finding it on the web. In case you didn't already have this info, here are some regulatory bits of information about the categories relative to the information you are seeking. There are other defined aircraft categories related to instrument approaches, wake turbulence, noise, etc. With the info from Part 23, most of those on your list would be normal, with the heavier ones (above 12,500) would be utility or commuter.

From FAR 1.1:
Category:
....(2) As used with respect to the certification of aircraft, means a grouping of aircraft based upon intended use or operating limitations. Examples include: transport, normal, utility, acrobatic, limited, restricted, and provisional.

From FAR 23.3:
Airplane categories.

(a) The normal category is limited to airplanes that have a seating configuration, excluding pilot seats, of nine or less, a maximum certificated takeoff of 12,500 pounds or less, and intended for nonacrobatic operation. Nonacrobatic operation includes:
(1) Any maneuver incident to normal flying;
(2) Stalls (except whip stalls); and
(3) Lazy eights, chandelles, and steep turns, in which the angle of bank is not more than 60 degrees.
(b) The utility category is limited to airplanes that have a seating configuration, excluding pilot seats, of nine or less, a maximum certificated takeoff weight of 12,500 pounds or less, and intended for limited acrobatic operation. Airplanes certificated in the utility category may be used in any of the operations covered under paragraph (a) of this section and in limited acrobatic operations. Limited acrobatic operation includes:
(1) Spins (if approved for the particular type of airplane); and
[(2) Lazy eights, chandelles, and steep turns, or similar maneuvers, in which the angle of bank is more than 60 degrees but not more than 90 degrees.]
(c) The acrobatic category is limited to airplanes that have a seating configuration, excluding pilot seats, of nine or less, a maximum certificated takeoff weight of 12,500 pounds or less, and intended for use without restrictions, other than those shown to be necessary as a result of required flight tests.
[(d) The commuter category is limited to propeller-driven, multiengine airplanes that have a seating configuration, excluding pilot seats, of 19 or less, and a maximum certificated takeoff weight of 19,000 pounds or less. The commuter category operation is limited to any maneuver incident to normal flying, stalls (except whip stalls), and steep turns, in which the angle of bank is not more than 60 degrees.
(e) Except for commuter category, airplanes may be type certificated in more than one
category if the requirements of each requested category are met.]
 
Also, I'm assuming most small singles (c-172, pa-28) would be normal, does anyone disagree?

Numerous aircraft may be in more than one category, depending on their weights at that time.

Refer to the type certificate data sheet for details of a particular aircraft type.
 
Thanks for the comments everyone. that faa.gov link was exactly what I was looking for! Now on to completing the applications...
 

Latest resources

Back
Top