FAR 91.105 — Flight Crewmember Stations
FAR 91.105 explains when required flight crewmembers must stay at their stations and keep safety belts and shoulder harnesses fastened. Key rules for pilots.
In Plain English
FAR 91.105 sets the rules for where required flight crewmembers must be and how they must be restrained during flight. It applies to takeoff, landing, and en route operations.
The core requirements:
- Stay at your station. Each required flight crewmember must remain at their crewmember station, unless they need to step away to perform duties related to operating the aircraft or to attend to physiological needs.
- Safety belt fastened. While at the station, the safety belt must be kept fastened.
- Shoulder harness during takeoff and landing. On U.S.-registered civil aircraft, each required flight crewmember must also keep the shoulder harness fastened during takeoff and landing while at their assigned duty station.
There are two exceptions to the shoulder harness rule:
- The seat is not equipped with a shoulder harness, or
- The crewmember could not perform required duties with the shoulder harness fastened.
Why it matters: takeoff and landing are the highest-risk phases of flight. Staying restrained protects you in turbulence or a sudden impact, and remaining at your station ensures the aircraft is always actively controlled.
Regulation Text
14 CFR § 91.105§ 91.105 Flight crewmembers at stations.
(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 his or her 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.
[Docket 18334, 54 FR 34294, Aug. 18, 1989, as amended by Amdt. 91-231, 57 FR 42671, Sept. 15, 1992]
Oral Exam Questions a DPE Might Ask
Q1When are required flight crewmembers required to be at their stations with safety belts fastened?
Per FAR 91.105, required flight crewmembers must be at their crewmember station with the safety belt fastened during takeoff, landing, and while en route, unless they must leave the station for operational duties or physiological needs.
Q2What are the rules for shoulder harness use by flight crewmembers?
FAR 91.105(b) requires each required flight crewmember of a U.S.-registered civil aircraft to keep the shoulder harness fastened during takeoff and landing while at the assigned duty station.
Q3Are there any exceptions to the shoulder harness requirement?
Yes. Under FAR 91.105(b), the shoulder harness requirement does not apply if the station's seat is not equipped with a shoulder harness, or if the crewmember would be unable to perform required duties with it fastened.
Studying for a checkride?
Related Sections in Part 91