(a) No person may operate an airplane under VFR over routes that cannot be navigated by pilotage or for operations conducted under IFR or over-the-top, unless the airplane is equipped with that radio equipment necessary under normal operating conditions to fulfill the functions specified in §121.347(a) and to receive satisfactorily by either of two independent systems radio navigational signals from all primary en route and approach navigational facilities intended to be used. However, only one marker beacon receiver providing visual and aural signals and one ILS receiver need be provided. Equipment provided to receive signals en route may be used to receive signals on approach, if it is capable of receiving both signals.

(b) In the case of operation over routes on which navigation is based on low frequency radio range or automatic direction finding, only one low frequency radio range or ADF receiver need be installed if the airplane is equipped with two VOR receivers, and VOR navigational aids are so located and the airplane is so fueled that, in the case of failure of the low frequency radio range receiver or ADF receiver, the flight may proceed safely to a suitable airport, by means of VOR aids, and complete an instrument approach by use of the remaining airplane radio system.

(c) Whenever VOR navigational receivers are required by paragraph (a) or (b) of this section, at least one approved distance measuring equipment unit (DME) capable of receiving and indicating distance information from VORTAC facilities must be installed on each airplane when operated in the 50 states and the District of Columbia.

(d) If the distance measuring equipment (DME) becomes inoperative en route, the pilot shall notify ATC of that failure as soon as it occurs.

(e) No person may operate an airplane having a passenger seat configuration of 10 to 30 seats, excluding each crewmember seat, and a payload of 7,500 pounds or less under IFR or in extended overwater operations unless it has, in addition to any other required radio communications and navigational equipment appropriate to the facilities to be used which are capable of transmitting to, and receiving from, at any place on the route to be flown, at least one ground facility, two microphones, and two headsets or one headset and one speaker.

[Doc. No. 6258, 29 FR 19205, Dec. 31, 1964, as amended by Amdt. 121-19, 31 FR 6265, Apr. 23, 1966; Amdt. 121-130, 41 FR 47229, Oct. 28, 1976; Amdt. 121-251, 60 FR 65932, Dec. 20, 1995]