91.307 Ambiguity

[WLIU]

Nope. Nothing to clarify. If you are flying an aircraft with one pilot seat and one passenger seat, and you put someone in that passenger seat, you both must wear parachutes if you fly acro.

Most aircraft that fly acro have only one required crew member, the single pilot. If there were two required crewmembers, then with only those two individuals (souls) on board, no parachutes need be worn in acrobatic flight. Off the top of my head I can not think of any US civilian Acrobatic Category aircraft that have more than one required crew member.

Flight test operations, and other types of operations done under FAA Certificates of Authorization are covered by specific operating limitations that may or may not spell out required wearing of parachutes.

So in general, solo flight does not require the wearing of a parachute if aerobatics are flown.

I will note that spins are specifically exempted to be a non-acrobatic maneuver. CFI candidates must do spins. I do not see the local folks wear parachutes for that, although as someone who regularly does spins, (editorial comment) I think that they should as most of that community are under-trained in that area. That said, we do not see CFI candidates spinning into the ground.

Hope this helps,

Wes
N78PS