Definition
The body of federal aviation rules that governed civil aviation in the United States from 1938 until 1965, when they were replaced by the Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) under Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations. Some older multiengine airplanes were certificated under the CARs (notably CAR Part 3), and their certification basis still determines what performance and equipment standards apply to them today.
Plain English
An older set of U.S. aviation rules that came before today's FARs. Some older airplanes were originally certified under these rules, and that original certification still affects how they are operated and maintained.
Context Anchor
Seen in FAA handbooks, older aircraft manuals, certification references, and discussions of how older airplanes were approved for flight.
Derivation
Civil comes from a Latin word meaning citizen, and in aviation it means non-military flying. Aviation comes from a Latin word for bird. Regulation comes from a word meaning rule, which fits here because these were official rules for civilian flying.
Why Pilots Care
Pilots flying older multiengine aircraft may still encounter CAR-based certification requirements that affect performance expectations and operating limitations.
Intuition Check
Do not read civil as meaning polite or casual. Here it means non-military aviation. Also, regulations are not suggestions; they are official rules.
Example Sentence 1
This light twin was certificated under CAR 3, so its single-engine climb performance is not guaranteed to meet the standards required of airplanes certificated under later regulations.
Example Sentence 2
During the transition lesson the instructor compared CAR climb requirements with the current standards used for newer twins.