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7 Answers

FAR 91.107 interpretation. Flight crew wearing seatbelt during taxi.

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FAA Regulations, Private Pilot

I'm interested in someone else's interpretation of 91.107 (a)(3) and 91.105

 

Is the Pilot and or crew required to wear their Saftey Belt during Taxi?

 

According to FAR 91.105 the flight crew is required to wear safety belts during takeoff, landing and enroute (I am skipping the exceptions).  Taxi is not mentioned leading me to believe wearing a safety belt during taxi is not required to be worn by the Pilot and crew.

 

When I read FAR 91.107 (a)3  I can't help but interpret that the pilot and flight crew are included as a "PERSON" on board.  If the Pilot and Flight crew required are to be considered a "PERSON" on board then they are required to wear a safety belt and shoulder harness properly secured about them during movement on the surface (taxi).

 

Here are the regulations:

91.105  a) During takeoff and landing, and while en route, each required flight crewmember shall—

(1) Be at the crewmember station unless the absence is necessary to perform duties in connection with the operation of the aircraft or in connection with physiological needs; and

(2) Keep the safety belt fastened while at the crewmember station.

(b) Each required flight crewmember of a U.S.-registered civil aircraft shall, during takeoff and landing, keep the shoulder harness fastened while at his or her assigned duty station. This paragraph does not apply if—

(1) The seat at the crewmember’s station is not equipped with a shoulder harness; or

(2) The crewmember would be unable to perform required duties with the shoulder harness fastened.

91.107(3) Except as provided in this paragraph, each "PERSON" on board a U.S.-registered civil aircraft (except a free balloon that incorporates a basket or gondola or an airship certificated before November 2, 1987) must occupy an approved seat or berth with a safety belt and, if installed, shoulder harness, properly secured about him or her during movement on the surface, takeoff and landing. For seaplane and float equipped rotorcraft operations during movement on the surface, the person pushing off the seaplane or rotorcraft from the dock and the person mooring the seaplane or rotor craft at the dock are excepted from the preceding seating and safety belt requirements. Notwithstanding the preceding requirements of this paragraph, a person may: 

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7 Answers



  1. Robert Jankowski on Mar 30, 2016

    The pilots and required flight crewmembers are required to wear their seatbelts while at their stations per 91.105(a) and everyone is required to wear their seatbelts during taxi, takeoff and landing per 91.107(a)(2).

    Routinely I see flight attendants who are walking the isles doing their pre-takeoff checks of passengers wearing seatbelts and such. While I don’t know where that is permitted, I also don’t know if the FAA would push for enforcement.

    Good question!

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  2. JCBaum on Mar 31, 2016

    You need to read the regulation in context;

    Sec. 91.105

    Flight crewmembers at stations…

    b(2) The crewmember would be unable to perform required duties with the shoulder harness fastened.

    Flight attendants would not be able to perform their FAA required duties; i.e.. safety demo, seatbelt and carry on stowage compliance, checking overhead bin closure and galley prep, insuring that not more than one lap child per seat row (O2 masks), if they were seated and belted.

    In the GA world there are very few times that a crew member would have the seatbelt removed ignored to perform required duties while the aircraft is in motion.

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  3. JCBaum on Mar 31, 2016

    You need to read the entire regulation in context;

    Sec. 91.105

    Flight crewmembers at stations…

    b(2) The crewmember would be unable to perform required duties with the shoulder harness fastened.

    Flight attendants would not be able to perform their FAA required duties; i.e.. safety demo, seatbelt and carry on stowage compliance, checking overhead bin closure and securing the galleys, insuring that not more than one lap child per seat row (O2 masks), if they were seated and belted.

    In the GA world there are very few times that a crew member would have the seatbelt removed ignored to perform required duties while the aircraft is in motion.

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  4. tommytom on Mar 31, 2016

    I do not like rabbit trails…

    What has me hung up is that the regulation doesn’t read during “Taxi”. It reads during Takeoff and landing, and while en route.. Taxi isn’t part of the regulation.

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  5. JCBaum on Apr 02, 2016

    I’m not sure what you mean by “rabbit trails” but okay. The question about Flight Attendants moving around the aircraft is dealt with, as stated above, under FAR 91.105.

    Seat bests being required is covered under FAR 91.107. While the exact word “taxi” is not stated in that regulation, “movement on the surface” would certainly cover “taxiing”. See the quote from the current 14 CFR Part 91 Section 107 below. This quote begins with subsection a(2), which requires that the PIC ensure that each person has been notified to fasten their seatbelt. The “pertinent” phrasing which you seem to be looking for is found in part 3, “…must occupy an approved seat or berth with a safety belt and, if installed, shoulder harness, properly secured about him or her during movement on the surface, takeoff, and landing.”

    FAR 91.107

    a(2) No pilot may cause to be moved on the surface, take off, or land a U.S.-registered civil aircraft (except a free balloon that incorporates a basket or gondola, or an airship type certificated before November 2, 1987) unless the pilot in command of that aircraft ensures that each person on board has been notified to fasten his or her safety belt and, if installed, his or her shoulder harness.

    (3) Except as provided in this paragraph, each person on board a U.S.-registered civil aircraft (except a free balloon that incorporates a basket or gondola or an airship type certificated before November 2, 1987) must occupy an approved seat or berth with a safety belt and, if installed, shoulder harness, properly secured about him or her during movement on the surface, takeoff, and landing.

    Hope this clearifies things.

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  6. tommytom on Apr 02, 2016

    Well… I will let all this soak in…

    I believe it’s required to wear a fasten seatbelt while taxiing or occupying a crew station. I am sure it’s because of FAR 91.107 (a)(3). However it is still not clear to me yet. I’m not here to seem intelligent or argue the regs but rather to learn.

    FAR 91.107 a(2) – Requires the pilot “Notify” each person to fasten their seatbelt and shoulder harness.

    FAR 91.107 (b) – States that FAR 91.107 (a)(3) does not apply to the flight crew.

    FAR 91.107Unless otherwise stated, this section does not apply to operations conducted under part 121, 125, or 135 of this chapter. Paragraph (a)(3) of this section does not apply to persons subject to Sec. 91.105.

    Thank you for pointing it out.

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  7. tommytom on Apr 02, 2016

    Bang- It hit me!!

    91.105 (a)(2) – Keep the safety belt while at the crew member station.

    Thank you all for your help.

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