FAR 91.525 — Carriage of Cargo
FAR 91.525 explains how cargo must be secured, packaged, and located on large/turbine aircraft to protect passengers and maintain emergency access.
In Plain English
FAR 91.525 governs how a pilot in command may carry cargo aboard an airplane. Cargo must be handled in one of three ways:
- Stowed in an approved cargo rack, bin, or compartment installed in the airplane;
- Secured by a means approved by the Administrator; or
- Carried in accordance with all of the following conditions:
- Properly secured with a safety belt or tiedown strong enough to prevent shifting under normal flight and ground conditions.
- Packaged or covered to avoid injury to passengers.
- Does not exceed load limits on seats or floor structure.
- Does not block any required emergency or regular exit, or the aisle between the crew and passengers.
- Is not placed directly above seated passengers.
If cargo is carried in a compartment that requires a crewmember to physically enter to fight a fire, it must be loaded so that a crewmember can reach all parts of the compartment with a hand fire extinguisher. This rule matters because shifting or poorly placed cargo can affect CG, block escape routes, injure occupants, or prevent inflight firefighting.
Regulation Text
14 CFR § 91.525§ 91.525 Carriage of cargo.
(a) No pilot in command may permit cargo to be carried in any airplane unless—
(1) It is carried in an approved cargo rack, bin, or compartment installed in the airplane;
(2) It is secured by means approved by the Administrator; or
(3) It is carried in accordance with each of the following:
(i) It is properly secured by a safety belt or other tiedown having enough strength to eliminate the possibility of shifting under all normally anticipated flight and ground conditions.
(ii) It is packaged or covered to avoid possible injury to passengers.
(iii) It does not impose any load on seats or on the floor structure that exceeds the load limitation for those components.
(iv) It is not located in a position that restricts the access to or use of any required emergency or regular exit, or the use of the aisle between the crew and the passenger compartment.
(v) It is not carried directly above seated passengers.
(b) When cargo is carried in cargo compartments that are designed to require the physical entry of a crewmember to extinguish any fire that may occur during flight, the cargo must be loaded so as to allow a crewmember to effectively reach all parts of the compartment with the contents of a hand fire extinguisher.
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Oral Exam Questions a DPE Might Ask
Q1What are the three acceptable ways cargo can be carried on an airplane under Part 91?
Per FAR 91.525, cargo must be carried in an approved rack, bin, or compartment; secured by a means approved by the Administrator; or properly tied down meeting specific conditions for security, packaging, load limits, exit access, and not being above seated passengers.
Q2If you tie down cargo in the cabin, where can it not be located?
Under FAR 91.525, tied-down cargo may not block any required emergency or regular exit, may not obstruct the aisle between the crew and passenger compartments, and may not be carried directly above seated passengers.
Q3What special loading requirement applies to cargo compartments that a crewmember must physically enter to fight a fire?
FAR 91.525(b) requires that cargo in such compartments be loaded so that a crewmember can effectively reach all parts of the compartment with the contents of a hand fire extinguisher.
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Related Sections in Part 91