When do federal aviation regulations apply to foreign aircraft?

Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs) apply to foreign aircraft operating within 12 miles of the coast of the United States, which aligns with the territorial seas recognized by international law. The United States exercises sovereignty over its territorial waters, which typically extends 12 nautical miles from the baseline of its coast. Therefore, any foreign aircraft operating within this zone must adhere to the same regulations as domestic aircraft to ensure safety and consistency in air traffic management.

The other options suggest different distances at which federal regulations could potentially apply, but in the context of international aviation and U.S. law, the 12-mile limit is the standard recognized for the application of federal aviation regulations to foreign aircraft.