FAA Aircraft Dispatcher (ADX)Regulations (Part 121)Medium
A dispatcher is planning a Part 121 flight on a turbine-powered airplane along a route where thunderstorms are forecast. Under 14 CFR 121.357, what equipment must be installed and operable for this flight?
- AAn approved airborne weather radar system
- BA second independent altimeter system
- CAn auxiliary power unit
- DA backup magnetic compass only
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. An approved airborne weather radar system
14 CFR 121.357 requires turbine-powered airplanes to be equipped with approved airborne weather radar when operated in areas where thunderstorms or other potentially hazardous weather may be expected along the route. This allows the flight crew to detect and avoid severe convective activity.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. A second altimeter addresses altitude accuracy, not thunderstorm detection.
- C. An APU provides ground power/air, unrelated to weather radar requirements.
- D. A backup compass is a general navigation instrument, not the weather-specific requirement here.
Weather Radar Requirement (121.357)
Regulation requiring turbine-powered Part 121 airplanes to carry airborne weather radar on routes where thunderstorms may occur.
- Applies to turbine-powered airplanes
- Triggered by forecast/expected thunderstorms along the route
- Radar must be approved and operable for dispatch
Memory trick: Turbines and thunderstorms mean radar is a must.