FAR 91.521 — Shoulder Harness Requirements
FAR 91.521 requires combined safety belts and shoulder harnesses at flight deck and flight attendant seats in transport category airplanes. Learn the rule.
In Plain English
FAR 91.521 sets shoulder harness requirements for transport category airplanes — the large jets and turboprops certificated under Part 25. It applies in two places:
- Flight deck stations: Every seat at a flight deck station must have a combined safety belt and shoulder harness meeting § 25.785, but only on airplanes type certificated after January 1, 1958.
- Flight attendant seats: Each required flight attendant seat in the passenger compartment must also be equipped with a combined safety belt and shoulder harness meeting § 25.785.
Two exceptions apply to both groups:
- Harnesses approved and installed before March 6, 1980 may continue to be used.
- Restraint systems may be designed to the inertia load factors established under the airplane's certification basis.
Why it matters: shoulder harnesses dramatically reduce upper-body injuries in survivable crashes and abrupt decelerations. For airline and corporate pilots, this rule is the operational backbone for crashworthy restraint at every crew station.
Regulation Text
14 CFR § 91.521§ 91.521 Shoulder harness.
(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.
Read the reg? Now prove it
Would you catch these on the written?
Five FAA-written-style questions. Instant explanations, every answer cites its source — no account needed.
Live demo · no account needed
1/5
You are flying VFR in Class E airspace at 8,500 feet MSL during the day. What are your minimum visibility and cloud clearance requirements?
PPL5 sample questions — in the app, the drill engine covers 88 PPL topics and every answer cites its source
Oral Exam Questions a DPE Might Ask
Q1Which airplanes are subject to the shoulder harness requirement at flight deck stations?
Per FAR 91.521(a), transport category airplanes type certificated after January 1, 1958 must have a combined safety belt and shoulder harness at each flight deck station meeting § 25.785.
Q2Do flight attendant seats need shoulder harnesses under FAR 91.521?
Yes. FAR 91.521(b) requires each required flight attendant seat in the passenger compartment of a transport category airplane to be equipped with a combined safety belt and shoulder harness meeting § 25.785.
Q3Are there any exceptions for older shoulder harness installations?
Yes. FAR 91.521(a)(1) and (b)(1) allow shoulder harnesses and combined safety belt/shoulder harnesses that were approved and installed before March 6, 1980 to continue in use.
Studying for a checkride?
Private Pilot ACS
The FAA standard scored on your checkride
VFR Weather Minimums
§91.155 visibility & cloud clearance by airspace
§91.117 Aircraft Speed Limits
250-kt, 200-kt, Class B shelf, and Class C/D airport caps
ATOMATOFLAMES Checklist
§91.205 required equipment for VFR day & night
§91.413 Transponder Recertification
24-calendar-month tests and post-maintenance checks
Private Pilot Checkride Prep
Mock checkride with pass-prediction
Related Sections in Part 91