Definition
The specific instruments, systems, and items that must be installed and operational on an aircraft for a given flight, as determined by federal regulations, the aircraft's type certificate, the equipment list, and the kind of operation being conducted (day VFR, night VFR, IFR, etc.).
Plain English
The gear the rules say must be on the airplane and working before you can legally fly it for a particular type of flight.
Context Anchor
Seen during preflight planning, aircraft inspections, and light-sport aircraft discussions about whether the airplane is legal to operate.
Derivation
Required comes from a word meaning “asked for” or “needed.” Equipment comes from older words meaning “to fit out” or “prepare.” Together, the phrase points to the items the aircraft must be fitted out with before the flight can be made.
Why Pilots Care
Determines whether the aircraft meets legal standards for the intended operation and avoids regulatory violations.
Intuition Check
Do not assume required equipment means every item installed in the airplane. It means the specific items that must be present and working for that aircraft and that planned flight.
Example Sentence 1
Before the night cross-country, she checked the required equipment list to confirm the position lights and anti-collision lights were operational.
Example Sentence 2
Light-sport aircraft operations require a minimum set of required equipment that differs from standard category airplanes.