Definition
A specific paragraph within Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR), Part 23, which contains the airworthiness standards for normal category airplanes. Section 23.2120 covers controllability requirements, and paragraph (b) specifically addresses the requirement that the airplane must be safely controllable and maneuverable during all flight phases including takeoff, climb, level flight, descent, approach, and landing.
Plain English
A rule in the FAA's airworthiness standards that requires a small airplane to be safely controllable and maneuverable through every phase of flight, from takeoff to landing.
Context Anchor
Seen in FAA handbook text when a definition or requirement is being tied back to the federal rule it comes from.
Derivation
The numbering follows a standard federal regulation format: the title (14 CFR), the part (23), the section (2120), and a lettered paragraph (b). 'Section' just identifies one numbered rule within a larger part of the regulations.
Why Pilots Care
Knowing which regulation applies helps a pilot understand why the airplane must be flown within certain limits during training and why certain recovery techniques are required.
Intuition Check
Do not read “section” here as just a general part of a chapter. In this context, it means an exact numbered rule location in the federal aviation regulations.
Example Sentence 1
The handbook references section 23.2120(b) when explaining why an airplane must remain controllable throughout takeoff, climb, cruise, and landing.
Example Sentence 2
During the preflight briefing the instructor noted that the airplane's certification under section 23.2120(b) allows for the standard power-off stall recovery procedure.