Definition
The body of rules issued by the Federal Aviation Administration that governs all civil aviation activities in the United States, including pilot certification, aircraft airworthiness, flight operations, airspace use, and air traffic procedures. The FARs are codified in Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) and carry the force of federal law.
Plain English
The official rulebook for flying in the United States. It tells pilots what they must do to be legal and safe — how they get licensed, how aircraft must be maintained, where they can fly, and how they must operate.
Context Anchor
Seen in FAA handbooks, training materials, checklists, and discussions about what a pilot must legally do before, during, and after a flight.
Derivation
From the Latin regula, meaning 'rule' or 'straight stick used as a measure.' Federal Aviation Regulations are literally the federal measuring sticks for aviation conduct — the standards every pilot and operator is measured against.
Why Pilots Care
Pilots must know and follow the FARs to avoid violations that can result in certificate suspension or legal penalties.
Intuition Check
FAR does not mean “a long distance” here. In aviation training, FAR means the body of federal rules that govern U.S. civil aviation.
Example Sentence 1
Before her checkride, she reviewed the FARs covering pilot privileges and limitations to make sure she could answer the examiner's questions.
Example Sentence 2
The instructor explained how FAR Part 61 outlines the requirements for obtaining a private pilot certificate.