If an amateur station is installed aboard a ship or aircraft, what condition must be met before the station is operated?

According to FCC Part 97.11(a), if an amateur station is installed aboard a ship or aircraft, its operation must be explicitly approved by the master of the ship or the pilot in command. The ultimate responsibility for the safety of a vessel or aircraft lies with its commander, making their authorization an absolute requirement before any amateur transmissions take place. While avoiding interference with the vessel's main radio and maintaining safe electrical systems are good practices, the FCC rules do not mandate completely independent power supplies or restrict operations to specific sub-bands. The sole legal condition specified in this context is obtaining the commander's permission.