Federal Aviation Regulations
14 CFR § 91.103 — Preflight action
Volume 2 · Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations, 2025 annual edition. U.S. Government work — public domain (17 U.S.C. §105).
The regulation, in full
Sec. 91.103 Preflight action.
Each pilot in command shall, before beginning a flight, become
familiar with all available information concerning that flight. This
information must include--
(a) For a flight under IFR or a flight not in the vicinity of an
airport, weather reports and forecasts, fuel requirements, alternatives
available if the planned flight cannot be completed, and any known
traffic delays of which the pilot in command has been advised by ATC;
(b) For any flight, runway lengths at airports of intended use, and
the following takeoff and landing distance information:
(1) For civil aircraft for which an approved Airplane or Rotorcraft
Flight Manual containing takeoff and landing distance data is required,
the takeoff and landing distance data contained therein; and
(2) For civil aircraft other than those specified in paragraph
(b)(1) of this section, other reliable information appropriate to the
aircraft, relating to aircraft performance under expected values of
airport elevation and runway slope, aircraft gross weight, and wind and
temperature.What this means for the knowledge test
Our own study notes for this section — reviewed through our AI instructional-review system, not by a certificated flight instructor. Not an authoritative source.
Before beginning a flight, the pilot in command must become familiar with all available information concerning that flight. For a flight not in the vicinity of an airport, this includes weather reports and forecasts, fuel requirements, alternatives if the flight cannot be completed as planned, and any known traffic delays. For any flight it includes runway lengths and the takeoff and landing distance data for the aircraft.
14 CFR 91.103
Before beginning a flight, the pilot in command must become familiar with all available information concerning that flight. For a flight under IFR or a flight not in the vicinity of an airport, this includes weather reports and forecasts, fuel requirements, alternatives available if the planned flight cannot be completed, and any known traffic delays advised by ATC. For any flight, it includes runway lengths at airports of intended use and the aircraft’s takeoff and landing distance data.
14 CFR 91.103
Before beginning a flight the pilot in command must become familiar with all available information concerning that flight. For a flight under IFR or a flight not in the vicinity of an airport, this includes weather reports and forecasts, fuel requirements, alternatives if the flight cannot be completed, and any known traffic delays advised by ATC. For any flight, it includes runway lengths at the airports of intended use and the aircraft’s takeoff and landing distance data.
14 CFR 91.103
Lessons that cover § 91.103
- Preflight Action and Safety Belts
- Documents, Equipment and Preflight Action
- What 91.103 Requires Before Every Flight
Practice questions on § 91.103 (3)
For a cross-country flight not in the vicinity of an airport, what must preflight action include under 91.103?
Answer Weather reports and forecasts, fuel requirements, alternatives, and known traffic delays
For a flight not in the vicinity of an airport, preflight action must include weather reports and forecasts, fuel requirements, alternatives if the flight cannot be completed, and any known traffic delays.
For a cross-country flight not in the vicinity of an airport, which information must preflight action include?
Answer Fuel requirements and takeoff and landing distances
For flights not in the vicinity of an airport (and all IFR flights), preflight action must include weather reports and forecasts, fuel requirements, alternatives, and known traffic delays — while runway lengths and takeoff and landing distance data are required for every flight.
For a cross-country flight, which information does 91.103 specifically require in addition to weather and fuel?
Answer Runway lengths at airports of intended use and takeoff/landing distance data
Runway lengths and takeoff and landing distance data are required for every flight under 91.103(b); flights under IFR or away from the vicinity additionally require weather, fuel, alternatives, and known traffic delays under 91.103(a).