A special flight authorization, issued on official FAA letterhead stationery, allows a foreign-registered civil aircraft that does not have the equivalent of a United States standard airworthiness certificate to be operated within the United States.

A civil aircraft registered in a country that is a member of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) only needs a special flight authorization issued by the FAA. A civil aircraft registered in a country that is not a member of the ICAO must have both an authorization from the United States Department of Transportation and a special flight authorization issued by the FAA.

How to Obtain a Special Flight Authorization

The unique application and issuance procedures are provided in FAA Order 8130.2, Airworthiness Certification of Aircraft, Chapter 22, "Special Flight Authorizations for Foreign Civil Aircraft."

Airworthiness Certification: Regulations, Policies, and Resources