14 CFR § 137.53 - Operation over congested areas: Pilots and aircraft.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t14/s137.53"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "14 CFR § 137.53 - Operation over congested areas: Pilots and aircraft."
title_number: 14
title_name: "Aeronautics and Space"
section_number: "137.53"
section_name: "Operation over congested areas: Pilots and aircraft."
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: "137"
part_name: "AGRICULTURAL AIRCRAFT OPERATIONS"
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(g), 40103, 40113, 44701-44702."
regulatory_source: "Docket 1464, 30 FR 8106, June 24, 1965, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "137"
---


# 137.53 Operation over congested areas: Pilots and aircraft.

(a) *General.* No person may operate an aircraft over a congested area except in accordance with the pilot and aircraft rules of this section.

(b) *Pilots.* Each pilot in command must have at least—

(1) 25 hours of pilot-in-command flight time in the make and basic model of the aircraft, at least 10 hours of which must have been acquired within the preceding 12 calendar months; and

(2) 100 hours of flight experience as pilot in command in dispensing agricultural materials or chemicals.

(c) *Aircraft.* (1) Each aircraft must—(i) If it is an aircraft not specified in paragraph (c)(1)(ii) of this section, have had within the preceding 100 hours of time in service a 100-hour or annual inspection by a person authorized by part 65 or 145 of this chapter, or have been inspected under a progressive inspection system; and

(ii) If it is a large or turbine-powered multiengine civil airplane of U.S. registry, have been inspected in accordance with the applicable inspection program requirements of § 91.409 of this chapter.

(2) If other than a helicopter, it must be equipped with a device capable of jettisoning at least one-half of the aircraft's maximum authorized load of agricultural material within 45 seconds. If the aircraft is equipped with a device for releasing the tank or hopper as a unit, there must be a means to prevent inadvertent release by the pilot or other crewmember.

[Docket 1464, 30 FR 8106, June 24, 1965, as amended by Amdt. 137-5, 41 FR 16796, Apr. 22, 1976; Amdt. 137-12, 54 FR 34332, Aug. 18, 1989]