A foreign-registered aircraft entering the United States must follow which Administrator regulations?

• A. FAR 135 (general)
• B. FAR 121 (airline)
• C. Own country rules
• D. Own country rules if privately operated

Answer: (B)

When a foreign-registered aircraft enters the United States to operate as an airline service, it must comply with the FAA’s airline operation rules, found in Part 121 of the FARs. Part 121 governs scheduled air carriers and large-aircraft operations, covering the standards for flight operations, crew qualifications, dispatch, maintenance, and safety oversight that apply to these services in U.S. airspace. This is the appropriate regulatory framework for airline-type operations, regardless of the aircraft’s registration.

Part 135 is for on-demand or commuter operations and does not apply to typical airline service. Relying on the aircraft’s own country rules isn’t sufficient for operations within U.S. airspace. While foreign carriers have their own set of rules (Part 129) in practice, the option that aligns with the common airline operation framework is Part 121.