Federal Aviation Regulations
Sec. 121.579 — Minimum altitudes for use of autopilot.
(a) En route operations. Except as provided in paragraphs (b), (c), and (d) of this section, no person may use an autopilot en route, including climb and descent, at an altitude above the terrain that is less than twice the maximum altitude loss specified in the Airplane Flight Manual for a malfunction of the autopilot under cruise conditions, or less than 500 feet, whichever is higher.(b) Approaches. When using an instrument approach facility, no person may use an autopilot at an altitude above the terrain that is less than twice the maximum altitude loss specified in the Airplane Flight Manual for a malfunction of the autopilot under approach conditions, or less than 50 feet below the approved minimum descent altitude or DA/DH for the facility, whichever is higher, except—
(1) When reported weather conditions are less than the basic VFR weather conditions in §91.155 of this chapter, no person may use an autopilot with an approach coupler for ILS approaches at an altitude above the terrain that is less than 50 feet higher than the maximum altitude loss specified in the Airplane Flight Manual for the malfunction of the autopilot with approach coupler under approach conditions; and
(2) When reported weather conditions are equal to or better than the basic VFR minimums in §91.155 of this chapter, no person may use an autopilot with an approach coupler for ILS approaches at an altitude above the terrain that is less than the maximum altitude loss specified in the Airplane Flight Manual for the malfunction of the autopilot with approach coupler under approach conditions, or 50 feet, whichever is higher.
(c) Notwithstanding paragraph (a) or (b) of this section, the Administrator issues operations specifications to allow the use, to touchdown, of an approved flight control guidance system with automatic capability, in any case in which—
(1) The system does not contain any altitude loss (above zero) specified in the Airplane Flight Manual for malfunction of the autopilot with approach coupler; and
(2) He finds that the use of the system to touchdown will not otherwise affect the safety standards required by this section.
(d) Takeoffs. Notwithstanding paragraph (a) of this section, the Administrator issues operations specifications to allow the use of an approved autopilot system with automatic capability below the altitude specified in paragraph (a) of this section during the takeoff and initial climb phase of flight provided:
(1) The Airplane Flight Manual specifies a minimum altitude engagement certification restriction;
(2) The system is not engaged prior to the minimum engagement certification restriction specified in the Airplane Flight Manual or an altitude specified by the Administrator, whichever is higher; and
(3) The Administrator finds that the use of the system will not otherwise affect the safety standards required by this section.
[Doc. No. 6258, 29 FR 19219, Dec. 31, 1964, as amended by Amdt. 121–13, 30 FR 14781, Nov. 30, 1965; Amdt. 121–33, 32 FR 13912, Oct. 6, 1967; Amdt. 121–130, 41 FR 47229, Oct. 28, 1976; Amdt. 121–206, 54 FR 34331, Aug. 18, 1989; Amdt. 121–265, 62 FR 27922, May 21, 1997; Amdt. 121–333, 72 FR 31682, June 7, 2007]
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