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FAA Interpretations & Guidance

Governance  /  FAA Regulations  /  FAA Interpretations & Guidance

Formation Flight

In 1992, USPA succeeded in gaining a letter from the office of FAA’s Chief Counsel which reversed a previous finding that skydiving aircraft could not fly in formation when dropping jumpers. As a result, FAA policy is that jump pilots can fly in formation without violating Section 91.111(c) that prohibits formation flights when carrying passengers for hire.

Download a copy of the letter regarding formation flight.

Regulatory Status

In 1993, the FAA issued a combined bulletin that clarified that jump planes can carry a number of skydivers that may exceed the number of seats or passengers than that stated by the aircraft’s type design certificate, as long as weight and balance limits are observed. Though the bulletins carry an expiration date, technically the information does not expire and has been incorporated within FAA policy. These bulletins were FSAW 93-09 (Flight Standards Information Bulletin for Airworthiness) and FSGA 93-02 (Flight Standards Information Bulletin for General Aviation).

Download bulletin for Airworthiness and General Aviation.

FAA 7711-2 Instructions

Parachute demonstration or exhibitions jumps conducted into aviation events, congested areas on the surface, or open-air assemblies, require an FAA Certificate of Authorization to be issued by the FAA Flight Standards District Office with jurisdiction where the jump(s) will occur. FAA Form 7711-2 — the application for that authorization — can be found on both the FAA and USPA websites. Submit the application to the FSDO after completing the form using the FAA instructions.

Air Traffic Bulletins

Bulletins are published by FAA to brief air traffic controllers on specific issues. These two bulletins clarify how air traffic controllers should handle parachute operations.

December 1995—Parachute Jumping and July 2004—Parachute Operations

Air Traffic Control

Chapter 9, Section 7—Parachute Operations prescribes air traffic control procedures and phraseology for use by persons providing air traffic control services.

Air Traffic Facility

Chapter 18, Section 4—Parachute Jump Operations provides direction and guidance for the day-to-day operation of facilities and offices under the administrative jurisdiction of the Federal Aviation Administration's Air Traffic Organization.

Flight Standards Information Management System

This section provides guidance for FAA inspectors. It also consolidates a broad range of FAA source and reference material for easy use by all aeronautical users.