Statutes, codes, and regulations
Code of Federal Regulations
Title 14 - AERONAUTICS AND SPACEChapter I - FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATIONSubchapter G - AIR CARRIERS AND OPERATORS FOR COMPENSATION OR HIRE: CERTIFICATION AND OPERATIONSPart 121 - OPERATING REQUIREMENTS: DOMESTIC, FLAG, AND SUPPLEMENTAL OPERATIONS
Subpart AA - CONTINUED AIRWORTHINESS AND SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS
Section 121.1115 - Limit of validity

14 C.F.R. § 121.1115

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Current through September 30, 2024
Section 121.1115 - Limit of validity
(a)Applicability. This section applies to certificate holders operating any transport category, turbine-powered airplane with a maximum takeoff gross weight greater than 75,000 pounds and a type certificate issued after January 1, 1958, regardless of whether the maximum takeoff gross weight is a result of an original type certificate or a later design change. This section also applies to certificate holders operating any transport category, turbine-powered airplane with a type certificate issued after January 1, 1958, regardless of the maximum takeoff gross weight, for which a limit of validity of the engineering data that supports the structural maintenance program (hereafter referred to as LOV) is required in accordance with § 25.571 or § 26.21 of this chapter after January 14, 2011.
(b)Limit of validity. No certificate holder may operate an airplane identified in paragraph (a) of this section after the applicable date identified in Table 1 of this section unless an Airworthiness Limitations section approved under Appendix H to part 25 or § 26.21 of this chapter is incorporated into its maintenance program. The ALS must-
(1) Include an LOV approved under § 25.571 or § 26.21 of this chapter, as applicable, except as provided in paragraph (f) of this section; and
(2) Be clearly distinguishable within its maintenance program.
(c)Operation of airplanes excluded from § 26.21 . No certificate holder may operate an airplane identified in § 26.21(g) of this chapter after July 14, 2013, unless an Airworthiness Limitations section approved under Appendix H to part 25 or § 26.21 of this chapter is incorporated into its maintenance program. The ALS must-
(1) Include an LOV approved under § 25.571 or § 26.21 of this chapter, as applicable, except as provided in paragraph (f) of this section; and
(2) Be clearly distinguishable within its maintenance program.
(d)Extended limit of validity. No certificate holder may operate an airplane beyond the LOV, or extended LOV, specified in paragraph (b)(1), (c), (d), or (f) of this section, as applicable, unless the following conditions are met:
(1) An ALS must be incorporated into its maintenance program that-
(i) Includes an extended LOV and any widespread fatigue damage airworthiness limitation items approved under § 26.23 of this chapter; and
(ii) Is approved under § 26.23 of this chapter.
(2) The extended LOV and the airworthiness limitation items pertaining to widespread fatigue damage must be clearly distinguishable within its maintenance program.
(e)Principal Maintenance Inspector approval. Certificate holders must submit the maintenance program revisions required by paragraphs (b), (c), and (d) of this section to the Principal Maintenance Inspector for review and approval.
(f)Exception. For any airplane for which an LOV has not been approved as of the applicable compliance date specified in paragraph (c) or Table 1 of this section, instead of including an approved LOV in the ALS, an operator must include the applicable default LOV specified in Table 1 or Table 2 of this section, as applicable, in the ALS.

Table 1-Airplanes Subject to § 26.21

Airplane model Compliance date-months after January 14, 2011 Default LOV
[flight cycles (FC)
or flight hours (FH)]
Airbus-Existing1 Models Only:
A300 B2-1A, B2-1C, B2K-3C, B2-2033048,000 FC
A300 B4-2C, B4-1033040,000 FC
A300 B4-2033034,000 FC
A300-600 Series6030,000 FC/67,500 FH
A310-200 Series6040,000 FC/60,000 FH
A310-300 Series6035,000 FC/60,000 FH
A318 Series6048,000 FC/60,000 FH
A319 Series6048,000 FC/60,000 FH
A320-100 Series6048,000 FC/48,000 FH
A320-200 Series6048,000 FC/60,000 FH
A321 Series6048,000 FC/60,000 FH
A330-200, -300 Series (except WV050 family) (non enhanced)6040,000 FC/60,000 FH
A330-200, -300 Series WV050 family (enhanced)6033,000 FC/100,000 FH
A330-200 Freighter Series60See NOTE.
A340-200, -300 Series (except WV 027 and WV050 family) (non enhanced)6020,000 FC/80,000 FH
A340-200, -300 Series WV 027 (non enhanced)6030,000 FC/60,000 FH
A340-300 Series WV050 family (enhanced)6020,000 FC/100,000 FH
A340-500, -600 Series6016,600 FC/100,000 FH
A380-800 Series72See NOTE.
Boeing-Existing1 Models Only:
7176060,000 FC/60,000 FH
727 (all series)3060,000 FC
737 (Classics): 737-100, -200, -200C, -300, -400, -5003075,000 FC
737 (NG): 737-600, -700, -700C, -800, -900, -900ER6075,000 FC
747 (Classics): 747-100, -100B, -100B SUD, -200B, -200C, -200F, -300, 747SP, 747SR3020,000 FC
747-400: 747-400, -400D, -400F6020,000 FC
7576050,000 FC
7676050,000 FC
777-200, -3006040,000 FC
777-200LR, 777-300ER7240,000 FC
777F7211,000 FC
Bombardier-Existing1 Models Only:
CL-600: 2D15 (Regional Jet Series 705), 2D24 (Regional Jet Series 900)7260,000 FC
Embraer-Existing1 Models Only:
ERJ 17072See NOTE.
ERJ 19072See NOTE.
Fokker-Existing1 Models Only:
F.28 Mark 0070, Mark 01003090,000 FC
Lockheed-Existing1 Models Only:
L-10113036,000 FC
1883026,600 FC
382 (all series)3020,000 FC/50,000 FH
McDonnell Douglas-Existing1 Models Only:
DC-8, -8F3050,000 FC/50,000 FH
DC-9 (except for MD-80 models)30100,000 FC/100,000 FH
MD-80 (DC-9-81, -82, -83, -87, MD-88)3050,000 FC/50,000 FH
MD-906060,000 FC/90,000 FH
DC-10-10, -153042,000 FC/60,000 FH
DC-10-30, -40, -10F, -30F, -40F3030,000 FC/60,000 FH
MD-10-10F6042,000 FC/60,000 FH
MD-10-30F6030,000 FC/60,000 FH
MD-11, MD-11F6020,000 FC/60,000 FH
Maximum Takeoff Gross Weight Changes:
All airplanes whose maximum takeoff gross weight has been decreased to 75,000 pounds or below after January 14, 2011, or increased to greater than 75,000 pounds at any time by an amended type certificate or supplemental type certificate30, or within 12 months after the LOV is approved, or before operating the airplane, whichever occurs latestNot applicable.
All Other Airplane Models (TCs and amended TCs) not Listed in Table 272, or within 12 months after the LOV is approved, or before operating the airplane, whichever occurs latestNot applicable.

1 Type certificated as of January 14, 2011.

Note: Airplane operation limitation is stated in the Airworthiness Limitation section.

Table 2-Airplanes Excluded From § 26.21

Airplane model Default LOV
[flight cycles (FC) or flight hours (FH)]
Airbus:
Caravelle15,000 FC/24,000 FH
Avions Marcel Dassault:
Breguet Aviation Mercure 100C20,000 FC/16,000 FH
Boeing:
Boeing 707 (-100 Series and -200 Series)20,000 FC
Boeing 707 (-300 Series and -400 Series)20,000 FC
Boeing 72030,000 FC
Bombardier:
CL-44D4 and CL-44J20,000 FC
BD-70015,000 FC
Bristol Aeroplane Company:
Britannia 30510,000 FC
British Aerospace Airbus, Ltd.:
BAC 1-11 (all models)85,000 FC
British Aerospace (Commercial Aircraft) Ltd.:
Armstrong Whitworth Argosy A.W. 650 Series 10120,000 FC
BAE Systems (Operations) Ltd.:
BAe 146-100A (all models)50,000 FC
BAe 146-200-0750,000 FC
BAe 146-200-07 Dev50,000 FC
BAe 146-200-1150,000 FC
BAe 146-200-07A47,000 FC
BAe 146-200-11 Dev43,000 FC
BAe 146-300 (all models)40,000 FC
Avro 146-RJ70A (all models)40,000 FC
Avro 146-RJ85A and 146-RJ100A (all models)50,000 FC
D & R Nevada, LLC:
Convair Model 221,000 FC/1,000 FH
Convair Model 23M1,000 FC/1,000 FH
deHavilland Aircraft Company, Ltd.:
D.H. 106 Comet 4C8,000 FH
Gulfstream:
GV40,000 FH
GV-SP40,000 FH
Ilyushin Aviation Complex:
IL-96T10,000 FC/30,000 FH
Lockhead:
300-50A01(USAF C 141A)20,000 FC

14 C.F.R. §121.1115

Doc. No. FAA-2006-24281, 75 FR 69785, Nov. 15, 2010, as amended by Amdt. 121-360, 77 FR 30878, May 24, 2012; Admt. 121-360A, 77 FR 55105, Sept. 7, 2012; Doc. No. FAA-2022-1355; Amdt. 121-387, 87 FR 75847, Dec. 9, 2022
Doc. No. FAA-2022-1355; Amdt. 121-387, 87 FR 75847, 12/9/2022