§41703 — Title 49 Transportation | U.S. Code

§41703 Navigation of foreign civil aircraft

Title 49 › Subtitle SUBTITLE VII— - AVIATION PROGRAMS › Part PART A— - AIR COMMERCE AND SAFETY › Subpart subpart ii— - economic regulation › Chapter CHAPTER 417— - OPERATIONS OF CARRIERS › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER I— - REQUIREMENTS › § 41703

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Foreign civilian aircraft may fly in the United States only if a few rules are met. The plane’s country must give the same right to U.S. planes. The pilot must hold a valid certificate from the U.S. or the plane’s country. The Secretary of Transportation must give permission. The flight must follow any conditions the Secretary sets. The Secretary will only allow it if it is in the public interest and fits any government-to-government agreement. A foreign plane that is allowed to operate here may do commercial work. But it can pick up or drop off paying passengers or cargo for travel entirely inside the U.S. only if the Secretary specifically allows that under section 40109(g), or under rules that let U.S. carriers use foreign-registered planes they lease or charter without crew. These rules do not change sections 41301 or 41302; a foreign carrier with a permit under 41302 does not need extra permission here for flights the permit already covers. Cargo moved between Alaska and another U.S. place as part of travel to or from outside the U.S., and carried by two or more carriers, is not treated as starting, ending, or breaking an international journey in Alaska. “Eligible cargo” means cargo on such trips carried under a U.S. carrier’s code or waybill, or under a term arrangement or block space agreement.

Title 49, §41703

Transportation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)A foreign aircraft, not part of the armed forces of a foreign country, may be navigated in the United States only—

(1)if the country of registry grants a similar privilege to aircraft of the United States;

(2)by an airman holding a certificate or license issued or made valid by the United States Government or the country of registry;

(3)if the Secretary of Transportation authorizes the navigation; and

(4)if the navigation is consistent with terms the Secretary may prescribe.

(b)The Secretary may authorize navigation under this section only if the Secretary decides the authorization is—

(1)in the public interest; and

(2)consistent with any agreement between the Government and the government of a foreign country.

(c)The Secretary may authorize an aircraft permitted to navigate in the United States under this section to provide air commerce in the United States. However, the aircraft may take on for compensation, at a place in the United States, passengers or cargo destined for another place in the United States only if—

(1)specifically authorized under section 40109(g) of this title; or

(2)under regulations the Secretary prescribes authorizing air carriers to provide otherwise authorized air transportation with foreign registered aircraft under lease or charter to them without crew.

(d)This section does not affect section 41301 or 41302 of this title. However, a foreign air carrier holding a permit under section 41302 does not need to obtain additional authorization under this section for an operation authorized by the permit.

(e)(1)For the purposes of subsection (c), eligible cargo taken on or off any aircraft at a place in Alaska in the course of transportation of that cargo by any combination of 2 or more air carriers or foreign air carriers in either direction between a place in the United States and a place outside the United States shall not be deemed to have broken its international journey in, be taken on in, or be destined for Alaska.

(2)For purposes of paragraph (1), the term “eligible cargo” means cargo transported between Alaska and any other place in the United States on a foreign air carrier (having been transported from, or thereafter being transported to, a place outside the United States on a different air carrier or foreign air carrier) that is carried—

(A)under the code of a United States air carrier providing air transportation to Alaska;

(B)on an air carrier way bill of an air carrier providing air transportation to Alaska;

(C)under a term arrangement or block space agreement with an air carrier; or

(D)under the code of a United States air carrier for purposes of transportation within the United States.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 41703(a)49 App.:1508(b) (1st sentence).Aug. 23, 1958, Pub. L. 85–726, § 1108(b) (1st, 2d, last sentences), 72 Stat. 798, 799. 49 App.:1551(b)(1)(E).Aug. 23, 1958, Pub. L. 85–726, 72 Stat. 731, § 1601(b)(1)(E); added Oct. 4, 1984, Pub. L. 98–443, § 3(e), 98 Stat. 1704. 41703(b)49 App.:1508(b) (2d sentence). 49 App.:1551(b)(1)(E). 41703(c)49 App.:1508(b) (3d sentence).Aug. 23, 1958, Pub. L. 85–726, § 1108(b) (3d sentence), 72 Stat. 799; Feb. 15, 1980, Pub. L. 96–192, § 20, 94 Stat. 43. 49 App.:1551(b)(1)(E). 41703(d)49 App.:1508(b) (last sentence). In subsection (a), the word “country” is substituted for “nation” for consistency in the revised title and with other titles of the United States Code. In clause (3), the words “permit, order, or regulation issued” are omitted as surplus. In clause (4), the words “conditions, and limitations” are omitted as being included in “terms”. In subsection (b)(2), the word “agreement” is substituted for “treaty, convention, or agreement” for clarity and consistency in the revised title. The words “which may be in force” are omitted as surplus. The words “or countries” are omitted because of 1:1. In subsection (c), before clause (1), the word “place” is substituted for “point”, and the word “passengers” is substituted for “persons”, for consistency in the revised title. In subsection (d), the word “affect” is substituted for “limit, modify, or amend” to eliminate unnecessary words.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2003—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 108–176 added subsec. (e).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 2003 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 108–176 applicable only to fiscal years beginning after Sept. 30, 2003, except as otherwise specifically provided, see section 3 of Pub. L. 108–176, set out as a note under section 106 of this title.