(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section or unless otherwise authorized by the Administrator, no air carrier, and no pilot being used by an air carrier may, in the conduct of operations governed by this part, operate an airplane designed for at least 31 passenger seats into a land airport in any State of the United States, the District of Columbia, or any territory or possession of the United States, unless that airport is certificated under part 139 of this chapter. However, an air carrier may designate and use as a required alternate airport for departure or destination an airport that is not certificated under part 139 of this chapter.

(b) Certificate holders conducting passenger-carrying operations with airplanes designed for less than 31 passenger seats may operate those airplanes into airports not certificated under part 139 of this chapter if the following conditions are met:

(1) The airport is adequate for the proposed operation, considering such items as size, surface, obstructions, and lighting.

(2) For an airplane carrying passengers at night, the pilot may not take off from, or land at, an airport unless --

(i) The pilot has determined the wind direction from an illuminated wind direction indicator or local ground communications or, in the case of takeoff, that pilot's personal observations; and

(ii) The limits of the area to be used for landing or takeoff are clearly shown by boundary or runway marker lights. If the area to be used for takeoff or landing is marked by flare pots or lanterns, their use must be approved by the Administrator.

[Doc. No. 28154, 60 FR 65935, Dec. 20, 1995, as amended by Amdt. 121-262, 62 FR 13257, Mar. 19, 1997]