Regulation Text
(a) No person may operate a transport category airplane that was type certificated after January 1, 1958, unless it is equipped at each seat at a flight deck station with a combined safety belt and shoulder harness that meets the applicable requirements specified in § 25.785 of this chapter, except that—
(1) Shoulder harnesses and combined safety belt and shoulder harnesses that were approved and installed before March 6, 1980, may continue to be used; and
(2) Safety belt and shoulder harness restraint systems may be designed to the inertia load factors established under the certification basis of the airplane.
(b) No person may operate a transport category airplane unless it is equipped at each required flight attendant seat in the passenger compartment with a combined safety belt and shoulder harness that meets the applicable requirements specified in § 25.785 of this chapter, except that—
(1) Shoulder harnesses and combined safety belt and shoulder harnesses that were approved and installed before March 6, 1980, may continue to be used; and
(2) Safety belt and shoulder harness restraint systems may be designed to the inertia load factors established under the certification basis of the airplane.
The short answer
(14 CFR § 91.521) Transport category airplanes type certificated after January 1, 1958, must have a combined safety belt and shoulder harness meeting § 25.785 at each flight deck station and at each required flight attendant seat in the passenger compartment, with limited grandfathering for systems approved and installed before March 6, 1980.
Research Notes
Common Questions
Which airplanes must have shoulder harnesses at flight deck stations under § 91.521?
Transport category airplanes type certificated after January 1, 1958, must have a combined safety belt and shoulder harness at each flight deck station.
“No person may operate a transport category airplane that was type certificated after January 1, 1958, unless it is equipped at each seat at a flight deck station with a combined safety belt and shoulder harness that meets the applicable requirements specified in § 25.785 of this chapter…” — 14 CFR § 91.521(a)
Do flight attendant seats also need a combined harness?
Yes. Each required flight attendant seat in the passenger compartment must have a combined safety belt and shoulder harness meeting § 25.785.
“No person may operate a transport category airplane unless it is equipped at each required flight attendant seat in the passenger compartment with a combined safety belt and shoulder harness that meets the applicable requirements specified in § 25.785 of this chapter…” — 14 CFR § 91.521(b)
Are older harnesses grandfathered?
Yes. Shoulder harnesses and combined systems approved and installed before March 6, 1980, may continue to be used, and systems may be designed to the airplane's certification-basis inertia load factors.
“Shoulder harnesses and combined safety belt and shoulder harnesses that were approved and installed before March 6, 1980, may continue to be used…” — 14 CFR § 91.521(a)(1)
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