# 14 CFR 91.7: Flying only an airworthy aircraft

> No one may operate a civil aircraft that is not airworthy. The pilot in command decides whether the aircraft is in condition for safe flight and must end the flight if an unairworthy condition appears.

Source: https://www.aerscheduler.com/regulations/91-7
Official text: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/section-91.7 (eCFR, current as of 2026-10-15; section last amended 2016-12-30)

## In plain English

- Flying an unairworthy aircraft is prohibited outright. [(a)](https://www.aerscheduler.com/regulations/91-7#a)
- The pilot in command is responsible for deciding the aircraft is safe to fly, every flight. [(b)](https://www.aerscheduler.com/regulations/91-7#b)
- If a mechanical, electrical or structural problem makes it unairworthy in flight, the pilot must discontinue the flight. [(b)](https://www.aerscheduler.com/regulations/91-7#b)

## Common questions

**What does airworthy mean?**

The FAA reads it as two things: the aircraft conforms to its type design (including ADs and approved alterations) and it is in condition for safe operation. An overdue annual or an open AD fails the first test even if the aircraft flies fine.

**If the school signed the aircraft off, am I still responsible as the renter?**

Yes. Paragraph (b) makes the pilot in command responsible for determining the aircraft is in condition for safe flight, so a renter still owes a proper preflight and a look at the inspection status.

## Official text of 14 CFR 91.7

Civil aircraft airworthiness.

(a) No person may operate a civil aircraft unless it is in an airworthy condition.

(b) The pilot in command of a civil aircraft is responsible for determining whether that aircraft is in condition for safe flight. The pilot in command shall discontinue the flight when unairworthy mechanical, electrical, or structural conditions occur.

## Related

- [14 CFR 91.403: The owner is responsible for airworthiness](https://www.aerscheduler.com/regulations/91-403.md)
- [14 CFR 91.409: Annual and 100-hour inspections](https://www.aerscheduler.com/regulations/91-409.md)
- [14 CFR 91.213: Flying with inoperative equipment](https://www.aerscheduler.com/regulations/91-213.md)
- [14 CFR 91.3: Pilot in command authority](https://www.aerscheduler.com/regulations/91-3.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._