# Tenn. Code Ann. § 42-2-104: Federal airman and aircraft certificates > Tennessee · Statutes · In force URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T42_C2_S42-2-104 ## Section - **Citation:** Tenn. Code Ann. § 42-2-104 - **Heading:** Federal airman and aircraft certificates - **Jurisdiction:** Tennessee - **Kind:** Statutes - **Status:** In force - **Text as of:** August 14, 2026 - **Source:** Compiled text - **Location:** TN Code / Title 42 / Chapter 2 / Section 42-2-104 ## Text (a) Operation Without Certificate, Permit or License Unlawful. It is unlawful for any person to operate or cause or authorize to be operated any civil aircraft within this state, unless that aircraft has an appropriate effective certificate, permit or license issued by the United States, if such certificate, permit or license is required by the United States. It is unlawful for any person to engage in aeronautics as an airman in the state unless that person has an appropriate effective airman certificate, permit, rating or license issued by the United States authorizing that person to engage in the particular class of aeronautics in which such person is engaged, if a certificate, permit, rating or license is required by the United States. (b) Exhibition of Certificates. (1) Where a certificate, permit, rating or such person's license is required for an airman by the United States, it shall be kept in the airman's personal possession when the airman is operating within the state and shall be presented for inspection upon the demand of any peace officer, or any other officer of the state or of a municipality or member, official or employee of the department, authorized pursuant to § 42-2-215 , to enforce the aeronautics laws, or any official, manager or person in charge of any airport upon which the airman shall land, or upon the reasonable request of any other person. (2) Where a certificate, permit or license is required by the United States for an aircraft, it shall be carried in the aircraft at all times while the aircraft is operating in this state, shall be conspicuously posted in the aircraft where it may be readily seen by passengers or inspectors, and shall be presented for inspection upon the demand of any peace officer, or any other officer of this state or of a municipality or member, official, or employee of the department authorized pursuant to § 42-2-215 to enforce the aeronautics laws, or any official, manager or person in charge of any airport upon which the aircraft shall land, or upon the reasonable request of any person. Acts 1957, ch. 374, § 13; 1972, ch. 829, § 21; T.C.A., §§ 42-221, 42-2-120. (a) Operation Without Certificate, Permit or License Unlawful. It is unlawful for any person to operate or cause or authorize to be operated any civil aircraft within this state, unless that aircraft has an appropriate effective certificate, permit or license issued by the United States, if such certificate, permit or license is required by the United States. It is unlawful for any person to engage in aeronautics as an airman in the state unless that person has an appropriate effective airman certificate, permit, rating or license issued by the United States authorizing that person to engage in the particular class of aeronautics in which such person is engaged, if a certificate, permit, rating or license is required by the United States. nited States. It is unlawful for any person to engage in aeronautics as an airman in the state unless that person has an appropriate effective airman certificate, permit, rating or license issued by the United States authorizing that person to engage in the particular class of aeronautics in which such person is engaged, if a certificate, permit, rating or license is required by the United States. (b) Exhibition of Certificates. (1) Where a certificate, permit, rating or such person's license is required for an airman by the United States, it shall be kept in the airman's personal possession when the airman is operating within the state and shall be presented for inspection upon the demand of any peace officer, or any other officer of the state or of a municipality or member, official or employee of the department, authorized pursuant to § 42-2-215 , to enforce the aeronautics laws, or any official, manager or person in charge of any airport upon which the airman shall land, or upon the reasonable request of any other person. (2) Where a certificate, permit or license is required by the United States for an aircraft, it shall be carried in the aircraft at all times while the aircraft is operating in this state, shall be conspicuously posted in the aircraft where it may be readily seen by passengers or inspectors, and shall be presented for inspection upon the demand of any peace officer, or any other officer of this state or of a municipality or member, official, or employee of the department authorized pursuant to § 42-2-215 to enforce the aeronautics laws, or any official, manager or person in charge of any airport upon which the aircraft shall land, or upon the reasonable request of any person. (1) Where a certificate, permit, rating or such person's license is required for an airman by the United States, it shall be kept in the airman's personal possession when the airman is operating within the state and shall be presented for inspection upon the demand of any peace officer, or any other officer of the state or of a municipality or member, official or employee of the department, authorized pursuant to § 42-2-215 , to enforce the aeronautics laws, or any official, manager or person in charge of any airport upon which the airman shall land, or upon the reasonable request of any other person. (2) Where a certificate, permit or license is required by the United States for an aircraft, it shall be carried in the aircraft at all times while the aircraft is operating in this state, shall be conspicuously posted in the aircraft where it may be readily seen by passengers or inspectors, and shall be presented for inspection upon the demand of any peace officer, or any other officer of this state or of a municipality or member, official, or employee of the department authorized pursuant to § 42-2-215 to enforce the aeronautics laws, or any official, manager or person in charge of any airport upon which the aircraft shall land, or upon the reasonable request of any person. Acts 1957, ch. 374, § 13; 1972, ch. 829, § 21; T.C.A., §§ 42-221, 42-2-120. ## Nearby sections - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 42-2-101 Chapter definitions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T42_C2_S42-2-101.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 42-2-102 Purpose of chapter](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T42_C2_S42-2-102.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 42-2-103 Public purpose of activities - Immunity](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T42_C2_S42-2-103.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 42-2-104 Federal airman and aircraft certificates](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T42_C2_S42-2-104.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 42-2-105 Violation of chapter, regulations or orders - Penalty](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T42_C2_S42-2-105.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 42-2-106 Parachute jumps](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T42_C2_S42-2-106.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 42-2-107 License, tax or payment for use of publicly owned public use airports by certain aircraft prohibited - Exception - Exemption](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T42_C2_S42-2-107.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 42-2-201 Administration of chapter](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T42_C2_S42-2-201.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 42-2-202 Office and expenses of department](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T42_C2_S42-2-202.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 42-2-203 Municipal airports](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T42_C2_S42-2-203.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 42-2-204 State airports](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T42_C2_S42-2-204.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 42-2-205 Operation and use of state airports and facilities](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T42_C2_S42-2-205.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 42-2-206 State airways](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T42_C2_S42-2-206.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 42-2-207 Contracts by department of transportation](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T42_C2_S42-2-207.md) --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T42_C2_S42-2-104. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.