Definition
Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) Part 29 — the FAA airworthiness standards for transport category rotorcraft. It sets the design, construction, performance, and equipment requirements that larger or multi-engine helicopters must meet to be certified for commercial transport operations, including IFR flight when applicable.
Plain English
The set of FAA rules that says how a large transport-category helicopter must be built and equipped before it can be certified to fly — including what extra equipment it needs to be approved for flying in the clouds.
Context Anchor
Seen in helicopter instrument flight rule certification discussions, aircraft flight manual limitations, and certification references for transport category helicopters.
Derivation
‘Part’ refers to a numbered section of Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations, the body of U.S. aviation rules. Part 29 specifically covers transport category rotorcraft — the heavier, more capable helicopters used in commercial transport.
Why Pilots Care
A helicopter must be certified under Part 29 to be legally operated in instrument meteorological conditions as a transport category aircraft.
Intuition Check
Do not read Part 29 as an aircraft part or piece of equipment. Here, part means a numbered section of federal aviation rules.
Example Sentence 1
Most medium and heavy commercial helicopters used for offshore transport are certified under Part 29.
Example Sentence 2
Part 29 standards require specific redundant systems that are not mandatory for smaller rotorcraft under Part 27.