Definition
The authority granted to a pilot in command by the Federal Aviation Regulations to deviate from any rule of 14 CFR Part 91 to the extent required to meet an in-flight emergency. Once invoked, the pilot may take whatever action is necessary for the safety of the flight, and may be required to submit a written report to the FAA upon request.
Plain English
When a real emergency happens in flight, the pilot is allowed to break the normal rules if doing so is needed to keep the flight safe. They may have to explain afterward what they did and why.
Context Anchor
Used in weather avoidance discussions when a pilot may need to turn, climb, descend, or change course immediately to stay clear of dangerous weather.
Derivation
Emergency comes from the Latin idea of something “arising” or “coming up.” Authority means the right or power to act. Together, the phrase points to the pilot’s right to act when an urgent safety problem comes up.
Why Pilots Care
Protects the pilot from regulatory action when safety demands an immediate deviation from assigned routes, altitudes, or procedures.
Intuition Check
Emergency authority does not mean the pilot can ignore rules whenever conditions are inconvenient. It applies when immediate action is needed to protect safety, and only to the extent needed for that emergency.
Example Sentence 1
When the engine began running rough over mountainous terrain, the pilot exercised emergency authority and descended below the published minimum altitude to reach a suitable landing site.
Example Sentence 2
When the engine failed, the crew exercised emergency authority and turned directly toward the nearest suitable airport without waiting for a clearance.