# 14 CFR 91.203: Documents required on board

> Every civil aircraft must carry a current airworthiness certificate and an effective registration certificate. The airworthiness certificate has to be displayed at the cabin or cockpit entrance where passengers or crew can read it.

Source: https://www.aerscheduler.com/regulations/91-203
Official text: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/section-91.203 (eCFR, current as of 2026-10-15; section last amended 2022-12-09)

## In plain English

- A current airworthiness certificate showing the aircraft's registration number must be on board. [(a)(1)](https://www.aerscheduler.com/regulations/91-203#a-1)
- An effective registration certificate, or for flights within the US the second copy of the registration application, must be on board. [(a)(2)](https://www.aerscheduler.com/regulations/91-203#a-2)
- The airworthiness certificate is displayed at the cabin or cockpit entrance, legible to passengers or crew. [(b)](https://www.aerscheduler.com/regulations/91-203#b)
- A fuel tank installed in the cabin or baggage compartment needs its FAA Form 337 on board. [(c)](https://www.aerscheduler.com/regulations/91-203#c)

## Common questions

**What is ARROW?**

A memory aid for the documents pilots check before flight: Airworthiness certificate, Registration, Radio station license (only for international flights), Operating limitations (the flight manual, 91.9) and Weight and balance. This section covers the A and the first R.

**Can I fly on the pink copy of the registration application?**

Within the United States, yes: paragraph (a)(2) accepts the second copy of the Aircraft Registration Application under 47.31(c) while the permanent certificate is issued.

**Does the registration certificate expire?**

Yes. Under 47.40 a certificate issued now expires seven years after the end of the month it was issued, and an expired certificate no longer satisfies this section.

## Official text of 14 CFR 91.203

Civil aircraft: Certifications required.

(a) Except as provided in § 91.715, no person may operate a civil aircraft unless it has within it the following:

  (1) An appropriate and current airworthiness certificate. Each U.S. airworthiness certificate used to comply with this subparagraph (except a special flight permit, a copy of the applicable operations specifications issued under § 21.197(c) of this chapter, appropriate sections of the air carrier manual required by parts 121 and 135 of this chapter containing that portion of the operations specifications issued under § 21.197(c), or an authorization under § 91.611) must have on it the registration number assigned to the aircraft under part 47 or 48 of this chapter. However, the airworthiness certificate need not have on it an assigned special identification number before 10 days after that number is first affixed to the aircraft. A revised airworthiness certificate having on it an assigned special identification number, that has been affixed to an aircraft, may only be obtained upon application to the responsible Flight Standards office.

  (2) An effective U.S. registration certificate issued to its owner or, for operation within the United States, the second copy of the Aircraft registration Application as provided for in § 47.31(c), a Certificate of Aircraft registration as provided in part 48, or a registration certification issued under the laws of a foreign country.

(b) No person may operate a civil aircraft unless the airworthiness certificate required by paragraph (a) of this section or a special flight authorization issued under § 91.715 is displayed at the cabin or cockpit entrance so that it is legible to passengers or crew.

(c) No person may operate an aircraft with a fuel tank installed within the passenger compartment or a baggage compartment unless the installation was accomplished pursuant to part 43 of this chapter, and a copy of FAA Form 337 authorizing that installation is on board the aircraft.

(d) No person may operate a civil airplane (domestic or foreign) into or out of an airport in the United States unless it complies with the fuel venting and exhaust emissions requirements of part 34 of this chapter.

## Related

- [14 CFR 47.40: Registration expiration and renewal](https://www.aerscheduler.com/regulations/47-40.md)
- [14 CFR 91.9: Flight manual, markings and placards](https://www.aerscheduler.com/regulations/91-9.md)
- [14 CFR 91.7: Flying only an airworthy aircraft](https://www.aerscheduler.com/regulations/91-7.md)

AerScheduler keeps each aircraft's inspections and squawks in one place, and a grounded aircraft comes off the schedule. [https://www.aerscheduler.com/features/maintenance](https://www.aerscheduler.com/features/maintenance)

_The plain-English summary is AerScheduler's reading of the rule, not legal advice. The official text above is the eCFR's, published by the Office of the Federal Register; the eCFR is the current text._