Required instruments and equipment14 CFR 91.205 Powered civil aircraft with standard U.S. airworthiness certificates: Instrument and equipment requirements
A powered civil aircraft with a standard airworthiness certificate must have specific instruments and equipment installed and in operable condition for the kind of flight: VFR day, VFR night or IFR. The night list adds to the day list, and the IFR list adds to the day list (and to the night list for IFR at night).
By the ATIS Alerts team · Updated October 15, 2026 · Regulation text current as of October 14, 2026. A study aid based on the official regulation text, not legal advice or an FAA interpretation.
At a glance
- Everything on the list for the operation must be installed (or an FAA-approved equivalent) and in operable condition (a).
- VFR day: airspeed indicator, altimeter, magnetic direction indicator, engine gauges, fuel gauge, gear position indicator if retractable, and the other items in (b)(1) through (b)(17).
- VFR night: everything in (b) plus position lights, an anticollision light system, a landing light if for hire, an adequate electrical source and spare fuses (c).
- IFR: the (b) list (and (c) at night) plus radios, rate-of-turn and slip-skid indicators, sensitive altimeter, clock, generator or alternator, attitude and heading indicators (d).
- At and above FL 240, if VOR navigation equipment is required under (d)(2), approved DME or a suitable RNAV system is required (e).
In plain English
Section 91.205 sets the minimum instruments and equipment for a powered civil aircraft with a standard U.S. airworthiness certificate. Paragraph (a) says each item listed for the type of operation must be installed (or an FAA-approved equivalent) and in operable condition. The lists are additive: night VFR in (c) starts with everything required for day VFR in (b), and IFR in (d) starts with (b), plus (c) for night flight.
The day VFR list in (b) is airspeed indicator, altimeter, magnetic direction indicator, a tachometer for each engine, an oil pressure gauge for each engine using a pressure system, a temperature gauge for each liquid-cooled engine, an oil temperature gauge for each air-cooled engine, a manifold pressure gauge for each altitude engine, a fuel gauge for each tank, and a landing gear position indicator if the gear retracts. It also includes an anticollision light system for small civil airplanes certificated after March 11, 1996 under Part 23, flotation gear and a pyrotechnic signaling device when operated for hire over water beyond power-off gliding distance from shore, safety belts for each occupant 2 years of age or older, shoulder harnesses based on date of manufacture, and an ELT if 91.207 requires one. As an informal study aid, many pilots remember the main day items as ATOMATOFLAMES: Airspeed indicator, Tachometer, Oil pressure gauge, Manifold pressure gauge, Altimeter, Temperature gauge, Oil temperature gauge, Fuel gauge, Landing gear position indicator, Anticollision lights, Magnetic direction indicator, ELT and Safety belts. The aid leaves out the flotation gear and harness details, so the text is the final word.
For night VFR, paragraph (c) adds approved position lights, an approved aviation red or aviation white anticollision light system on all U.S.-registered civil aircraft, one electric landing light if the aircraft is operated for hire, an adequate source of electrical energy for all installed electrical and radio equipment, and one spare set of fuses or three spare fuses of each kind required, accessible to the pilot in flight. A common informal memory aid is FLAPS: Fuses, Landing light (for hire), Anticollision lights, Position lights and Source of electricity. If any anticollision light fails, (b)(11) and (c)(3) allow the flight to continue to a place where repairs or replacement can be made.
For IFR, paragraph (d) adds two-way radio communication and navigation equipment suitable for the route, a gyroscopic rate-of-turn indicator (with limited exceptions), a slip-skid indicator, a sensitive altimeter adjustable for barometric pressure, a clock showing hours, minutes and seconds with a sweep-second pointer or digital presentation, a generator or alternator of adequate capacity, a gyroscopic pitch and bank indicator and a gyroscopic direction indicator. Informally this is often memorized as GRABCARD: Generator or alternator, Radios, Altimeter (sensitive), Ball (slip-skid indicator), Clock, Attitude indicator, Rate-of-turn indicator and Directional gyro.
Common mistakes
- Reading the day anticollision light rule as applying to every airplane. In (b)(11) it covers small civil airplanes certificated after March 11, 1996 under Part 23; at night (c)(3) requires it on all U.S.-registered civil aircraft.
- Saying a landing light is always required at night. Paragraph (c)(4) requires one electric landing light only if the aircraft is operated for hire.
- Treating 91.205 as the only equipment list. Paragraph (a) sets a minimum; the aircraft's own equipment list, type certificate and other rules can require more (see 91.213(d)(2)).
The official text
14 CFR 91.205 as published on the eCFR, current as of October 14, 2026.
(a) General. Except as provided in paragraphs (c)(3) and (e) of this section, no person may operate a powered civil aircraft with a standard U.S. airworthiness certificate in any operation described in paragraphs (b) through (f) of this section unless that aircraft contains the instruments and equipment specified in those paragraphs (or FAA-approved equivalents) for that type of operation, and those instruments and items of equipment are in operable condition.
(b) Visual-flight rules (day). For VFR flight during the day, the following instruments and equipment are required:
(1) Airspeed indicator.
(2) Altimeter.
(3) Magnetic direction indicator.
(4) Tachometer for each engine.
(5) Oil pressure gauge for each engine using pressure system.
(6) Temperature gauge for each liquid-cooled engine.
(7) Oil temperature gauge for each air-cooled engine.
(8) Manifold pressure gauge for each altitude engine.
(9) Fuel gauge indicating the quantity of fuel in each tank.
(10) Landing gear position indicator, if the aircraft has a retractable landing gear.
(11) For small civil airplanes certificated after March 11, 1996, in accordance with part 23 of this chapter, an approved aviation red or aviation white anticollision light system. In the event of failure of any light of the anticollision light system, operation of the aircraft may continue to a location where repairs or replacement can be made.
(12) If the aircraft is operated for hire over water and beyond power-off gliding distance from shore, approved flotation gear readily available to each occupant and, unless the aircraft is operating under part 121 of this subchapter, at least one pyrotechnic signaling device. As used in this section, “shore” means that area of the land adjacent to the water which is above the high water mark and excludes land areas which are intermittently under water.
(13) An approved safety belt with an approved metal-to-metal latching device, or other approved restraint system for each occupant 2 years of age or older.
(14) For small civil airplanes manufactured after July 18, 1978, an approved shoulder harness or restraint system for each front seat. For small civil airplanes manufactured after December 12, 1986, an approved shoulder harness or restraint system for all seats. Shoulder harnesses installed at flightcrew stations must permit the flightcrew member, when seated and with the safety belt and shoulder harness fastened, to perform all functions necessary for flight operations. For purposes of this paragraph—
(i) The date of manufacture of an airplane is the date the inspection acceptance records reflect that the airplane is complete and meets the FAA-approved type design data; and
(ii) A front seat is a seat located at a flightcrew member station or any seat located alongside such a seat.
(15) An emergency locator transmitter, if required by § 91.207.
(16) [Reserved]
(17) For rotorcraft manufactured after September 16, 1992, a shoulder harness for each seat that meets the requirements of § 27.2 or § 29.2 of this chapter in effect on September 16, 1991.
(c) Visual flight rules (night). For VFR flight at night, the following instruments and equipment are required:
(1) Instruments and equipment specified in paragraph (b) of this section.
(2) Approved position lights.
(3) An approved aviation red or aviation white anticollision light system on all U.S.-registered civil aircraft. Anticollision light systems initially installed after August 11, 1971, on aircraft for which a type certificate was issued or applied for before August 11, 1971, must at least meet the anticollision light standards of part 23, 25, 27, or 29 of this chapter, as applicable, that were in effect on August 10, 1971, except that the color may be either aviation red or aviation white. In the event of failure of any light of the anticollision light system, operations with the aircraft may be continued to a stop where repairs or replacement can be made.
(4) If the aircraft is operated for hire, one electric landing light.
(5) An adequate source of electrical energy for all installed electrical and radio equipment.
(6) One spare set of fuses, or three spare fuses of each kind required, that are accessible to the pilot in flight.
(d) Instrument flight rules. For IFR flight, the following instruments and equipment are required:
(1) Instruments and equipment specified in paragraph (b) of this section, and, for night flight, instruments and equipment specified in paragraph (c) of this section.
(2) Two-way radio communication and navigation equipment suitable for the route to be flown.
(3) Gyroscopic rate-of-turn indicator, except on the following aircraft:
(i) Airplanes with a third attitude instrument system usable through flight attitudes of 360 degrees of pitch and roll and installed in accordance with the instrument requirements prescribed in § 121.305(j) of this chapter; and
(ii) Rotorcraft with a third attitude instrument system usable through flight attitudes of ±80 degrees of pitch and ±120 degrees of roll and installed in accordance with § 29.1303(g) of this chapter.
(4) Slip-skid indicator.
(5) Sensitive altimeter adjustable for barometric pressure.
(6) A clock displaying hours, minutes, and seconds with a sweep-second pointer or digital presentation.
(7) Generator or alternator of adequate capacity.
(8) Gyroscopic pitch and bank indicator (artificial horizon).
(9) Gyroscopic direction indicator (directional gyro or equivalent).
(e) Flight at and above 24,000 feet MSL (FL 240). If VOR navigation equipment is required under paragraph (d)(2) of this section, no person may operate a U.S.-registered civil aircraft within the 50 states and the District of Columbia at or above FL 240 unless that aircraft is equipped with approved DME or a suitable RNAV system. When the DME or RNAV system required by this paragraph fails at and above FL 240, the pilot in command of the aircraft must notify ATC immediately, and then may continue operations at and above FL 240 to the next airport of intended landing where repairs or replacement of the equipment can be made.
(f) Category II operations. The requirements for Category II operations are the instruments and equipment specified in—
(1) Paragraph (d) of this section; and
(2) Appendix A to this part.
(g) Category III operations. The instruments and equipment required for Category III operations are specified in paragraph (d) of this section.
(h) Night vision goggle operations. For night vision goggle operations, the following instruments and equipment must be installed in the aircraft, functioning in a normal manner, and approved for use by the FAA:
(1) Instruments and equipment specified in paragraph (b) of this section, instruments and equipment specified in paragraph (c) of this section;
(2) Night vision goggles;
(3) Interior and exterior aircraft lighting system required for night vision goggle operations;
(4) Two-way radio communications system;
(5) Gyroscopic pitch and bank indicator (artificial horizon);
(6) Generator or alternator of adequate capacity for the required instruments and equipment; and
(7) Radar altimeter.
(i) Exclusions. Paragraphs (f) and (g) of this section do not apply to operations conducted by a holder of a certificate issued under part 121 or part 135 of this chapter.
Test yourself
Practice questions from our free FAA written test prep that cite 14 CFR 91.205.
Instrument Rating
In addition to VFR-required equipment, IFR flight requires (among other items):
- A. a sensitive altimeter adjustable for barometric pressure and a clock with a seconds display.
- B. a second attitude indicator.
- C. an angle-of-attack indicator.
- D. onboard weather radar.
Show answer
A. a sensitive altimeter adjustable for barometric pressure and a clock with a seconds display. 14 CFR 91.205(d) adds items to the VFR list, captured by 'GRABCARDD': Generator/alternator, Rate-of-turn indicator, Attitude indicator, Ball (slip-skid), Clock (with seconds), Altimeter (sensitive, adjustable), Radios/nav appropriate, Directional gyro, plus DME or RNAV at and above FL 240 (91.205(e)).
More Instrument Rating practice →Basic Ground Instructor
Which instrument or item of equipment is required for day VFR flight in a powered civil aircraft?
- A. An airspeed indicator.
- B. An attitude indicator.
- C. A vertical speed indicator.
- D. A heading indicator.
Show answer
A. An airspeed indicator. The day VFR list in 91.205(b) includes the airspeed indicator, altimeter, magnetic direction indicator, tachometer, oil pressure gauge, fuel gauges and safety belts, among others. The gyroscopic attitude and heading indicators and the VSI are instrument-flight equipment, not day VFR requirements.
More Basic Ground Instructor practice →
Questions pilots ask
What instruments are required for day VFR?
The items in 91.205(b): airspeed indicator, altimeter, magnetic direction indicator, the engine gauges that apply to the engine type, a fuel gauge for each tank, a gear position indicator if the gear retracts, plus the anticollision light, flotation, safety belt, shoulder harness and ELT items under their stated conditions (91.205(b)(1) through (b)(17)).
Is a landing light required for night VFR?
Only if the aircraft is operated for hire (91.205(c)(4)). Position lights, an anticollision light system, an adequate electrical source and spare fuses are required for all night VFR flight (91.205(c)(2), (3), (5) and (6)).
Is an attitude indicator required for VFR flight?
It is not in the VFR lists in 91.205(b) or (c). A gyroscopic pitch and bank indicator appears in the IFR list (91.205(d)(8)). Other sources, such as the aircraft's equipment list, can still require an item (91.213(d)(2)(ii)).
What if an anticollision light fails in flight?
If any light of the anticollision light system fails, 91.205(b)(11) and (c)(3) allow operation to continue to a location or stop where repairs or replacement can be made.