14 CFR § 135.160 - Radio altimeters for rotorcraft operations.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t14/s135.160"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "14 CFR § 135.160 - Radio altimeters for rotorcraft operations."
title_number: 14
title_name: "Aeronautics and Space"
section_number: "135.160"
section_name: "Radio altimeters for rotorcraft operations."
chapter_name: "FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION"
subchapter_number: "G"
subchapter_name: "AIR CARRIERS AND OPERATORS FOR COMPENSATION OR HIRE: CERTIFICATION AND OPERATIONS"
part_number: "135"
part_name: "OPERATING REQUIREMENTS: COMMUTER AND ON DEMAND OPERATIONS AND RULES GOVERNING PERSONS ON BOARD SUCH AIRCRAFT"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-04-05"
last_updated: "2026-04-05"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "49 U.S.C. 106(f), 40113, 41706, 44701-44702, 44705, 44709, 44711-44713, 44715-44717, 44722, 44730, 45101-45105; Pub. L. 112-95, 126 Stat. 58 (49 U.S.C. 44730)."
regulatory_source: "Docket 16097, 43 FR 46783, Oct. 10, 1978, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "135"
---


# 135.160 Radio altimeters for rotorcraft operations.

(a) After April 24, 2017, no person may operate a rotorcraft unless that rotorcraft is equipped with an operable FAA-approved radio altimeter, or an FAA-approved device that incorporates a radio altimeter, unless otherwise authorized in the certificate holder's approved minimum equipment list.

(b) *Deviation authority.* The Administrator may authorize deviations from paragraph (a) of this section for rotorcraft that are unable to incorporate a radio altimeter. This deviation will be issued as a Letter of Deviation Authority. The deviation may be terminated or amended at any time by the Administrator. The request for deviation authority is applicable to rotorcraft with a maximum gross takeoff weight no greater than 2,950 pounds. The request for deviation authority must contain a complete statement of the circumstances and justification, and must be submitted to the responsible Flight Standards office, not less than 60 days prior to the date of intended operations.

[Docket FAA-2010-0982, 79 FR 9973, Feb. 21, 2014, as amended by Docket FAA-2018-0119, Amdt. 135-139, 83 FR 9175, Mar. 5, 2018]