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E1A05

COMMISSION RULES · Frequency privileges; signal frequency range; automatic message forwarding; stations aboard ships or aircraft; power restriction on 630- and 2200-meter bands

E1A05§ 97.5E1A →

Who must be in physical control of the station apparatus of an amateur station aboard any vessel or craft that is documented or registered in the United States?

  1. AOnly a person with an FCC Marine Radio license grant
  2. BOnly a person named in an amateur station license grant
  3. CAny person holding an FCC issued amateur license or who is authorized for alien reciprocal operation
  4. DAny person named in an amateur station license grant or a person holding an unrestricted Radiotelephone Operator Permit
Why Section 97.5 says the station apparatus must be under the physical control of a person named in an amateur station license grant, or a person authorized for alien reciprocal operation under 97.107. Being aboard a US-documented ship or aircraft does not change that: an amateur station is still an amateur station, so an FCC amateur license (or reciprocal authorization for a visiting foreign amateur) is what counts. No commercial or marine credential is required or substituted.
Watch out The choice mentioning a Radiotelephone Operator Permit or a Marine Radio license confuses the commercial marine service rules with Part 97; those permits authorize commercial shipboard radio work, not amateur operation. The choice limited to license-grant holders alone wrongly excludes amateurs operating under alien reciprocal authority.
On a US ship or plane, the rule is still just 97.5: amateur license or reciprocal authorization, nothing marine.
HamSandwich explanation, first draft. The question and answers are the NCVEC text.
47 CFR 97.5 Station license required.

(a) The station apparatus must be under the physical control of a person named in an amateur station license grant on the ULS consolidated license database or a person authorized for alien reciprocal operation by § 97.107 of this part, before the station may transmit on any amateur service frequency from any place that is:

(1) Within 50 km of the Earth's surface and at a place where the amateur service is regulated by the FCC;

(2) Within 50 km of the Earth's surface and aboard any vessel or craft that is documented or registered in the United States; or

(3) More than 50 km above the Earth's surface aboard any craft that is documented or registered in the United States.

(b) The types of station license grants are:

(1) An operator/primary station license grant. One, but only one, operator/primary station license grant may be held by any one person. The primary station license is granted together with the amateur operator license. Except for a representative of a foreign government, any person who qualifies by examination is eligible to apply for an operator/primary station license grant.

(2) A club station license grant. A club station license grant may be held only by the person who is the license trustee designated by an officer of the club. The trustee must be a person who holds an operator/primary station license grant. The club must be composed of at least four persons and must have a name, a document of organization, management, and a primary purpose devoted to amateur service activities consistent with this part.

(3) A military recreation station license grant. A military recreation station license grant may be held only by the person who is the license custodian designated by the official in charge of the United States military recreational premises where the station is situated. The person must not be a representative of a foreign government. The person need not hold an amateur operator license grant.

(c) The person named in the station license grant or who is authorized for alien reciprocal operation by § 97.107 of this part may use, in accordance with the applicable rules of this part, the transmitting apparatus under the physical control of the person at places where the amateur service is regulated by the FCC.

(d) A CEPT radio-amateur license is issued to the person by the country of which the person is a citizen. The person must not:

(1) Be a resident alien or citizen of the United States, regardless of any other citizenship also held;

(2) Hold an FCC-issued amateur operator license nor reciprocal permit for alien amateur licensee;

(3) Be a prior amateur service licensee whose FCC-issued license was revoked, suspended for less than the balance of the license term and the suspension is still in effect, suspended for the balance of the license term and relicensing has not taken place, or surrendered for cancellation following notice of revocation, suspension or monetary forfeiture proceedings; or

(4) Be the subject of a cease and desist order that relates to amateur service operation and which is still in effect.

(e) An IARP is issued to the person by the country of which the person is a citizen. The person must not:

(1) Be a resident alien or citizen of the United States, regardless of any other citizenship also held;

(2) Hold an FCC-issued amateur operator license nor reciprocal permit for alien amateur licensee;

(3) Be a prior amateur service licensee whose FCC-issued license was revoked, suspended for less than the balance of the license term and the suspension is still in effect, suspended for the balance of the license term and relicensing has not taken place, or surrendered for cancellation following notice of revocation, suspension or monetary forfeiture proceedings; or

(4) Be the subject of a cease and desist order that relates to amateur service operation and which is still in effect.

eCFR text as of 1 Sep 2026 · read on ecfr.gov
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