Title 49, TransportationRelease 119-102

§41738 Fitness of Air Carriers

Title 49 › SUBTITLE VII — AVIATION PROGRAMS › PART A — AIR COMMERCE AND SAFETY › subpart ii — economic regulation › CHAPTER 417 — OPERATIONS OF CARRIERS › SUBCHAPTER II — SMALL COMMUNITY AIR SERVICE › § 41738

Last updated Aug 21, 2026|Official source

Summary

An airline may serve eligible or designated places under section 41736 only if the Secretary of Transportation finds it able to do the job and its aircraft and operations meet FAA safety rules.

Full Legal Text

Title 49, §41738

Transportation, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

Notwithstanding section 40109(a) and (c)–(h) of this title, an air carrier may provide air service to an eligible place or air transportation to a place designated under section 41736 of this title only when the Secretary of Transportation decides that—
(1)the carrier is fit, willing, and able to perform the service or transportation; and
(2)aircraft used to provide the service or transportation, and operations related to the service or transportation, conform to the safety standards prescribed by the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 4173849 App.:1389(e)(1).Aug. 23, 1958, Pub. L. 85–726, 72 Stat. 731, § 419(e)(1); added Oct. 24, 1978, Pub. L. 95–504, § 33(a), 92 Stat. 1732; Dec. 8, 1983, Pub. L. 98–213, § 10, 97 Stat. 1461; Oct. 4, 1984, Pub. L. 98–443, § 9(r), 98 Stat. 1708; restated Dec. 30, 1987, Pub. L. 100–223, § 202(a)(1), (2), (b)(1), 101 Stat. 1507, 1515. In this section, before clause (1), the words “air transportation to a place” are substituted for “service to a point” for consistency with the source provisions restated in section 41733, 41735, and 41736 of the revised title. In clauses (1) and (2), the words “service or transportation” are substituted for “such service” for consistency with the source provisions restated in section 41733, 41735, and 41736 of the revised title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

49 U.S.C. § 41738

Title 49, Transportation

Last Updated

Aug 21, 2026

Release point: 119-102