Cabin Service Stowage

FAR 91.535 — Cabin Service Stowage

FAR 91.535 explains how food, beverages, trays, carts, and movie screens must be stowed during taxi, takeoff, and landing. Plain-English summary for pilots.

In Plain English

FAR 91.535 governs how operator-furnished cabin service items must be handled whenever the aircraft is moving on the surface, taking off, or landing. The goal is to prevent loose objects from becoming hazards during the most critical phases of flight, where rapid evacuation or sudden deceleration is most likely.

During taxi, takeoff, and landing, the operator must ensure:

No food, beverage, or tableware furnished by the operator is at any passenger seat.
Every food and beverage tray and seat back tray table is secured in its stowed position.
Every passenger serving cart is secured in its stowed position.
Every movie screen that extends into the aisle is stowed.

Passengers are required to follow crewmember instructions regarding compliance. Operationally, this rule keeps aisles and seat areas clear so that loose items don't injure passengers, block egress, or interfere with emergency response if something goes wrong on the runway or during taxi.

Regulation Text

14 CFR § 91.535

§ 91.535 Stowage of food, beverage, and passenger service equipment during aircraft movement on the surface, takeoff, and landing. (a) No operator may move an aircraft on the surface, take off, or land when any food, beverage, or tableware furnished by the operator is located at any passenger seat. (b) No operator may move an aircraft on the surface, take off, or land unless each food and beverage tray and seat back tray table is secured in its stowed position. (c) No operator may permit an aircraft to move on the surface, take off, or land unless each passenger serving cart is secured in its stowed position. (d) No operator may permit an aircraft to move on the surface, take off, or land unless each movie screen that extends into the aisle is stowed. (e) Each passenger shall comply with instructions given by a crewmember with regard to compliance with this section. [Docket 26142, 57 FR 42672, Sept. 15, 1992]

Oral Exam Questions a DPE Might Ask

Q1Under FAR 91.535, what cabin items must be stowed before taxi, takeoff, or landing?

Per FAR 91.535, all operator-furnished food, beverages, and tableware must be removed from passenger seats, and all tray tables, serving carts, and aisle-extending movie screens must be secured in their stowed positions.

Q2Are passengers required to comply with crewmember instructions regarding stowage of service items?

Yes. FAR 91.535(e) requires each passenger to comply with crewmember instructions concerning compliance with this stowage section.

Q3When does FAR 91.535 apply — only in flight, or at other times as well?

FAR 91.535 applies anytime the aircraft is moving on the surface, taking off, or landing, not just in flight, because those are the phases where loose service items pose the greatest hazard.

Practice this with our AI examiner

Examiner Reed adapts to your responses and probes deeper on weak spots — full ACS coverage, not a script.

Studying for a checkride?

Private Pilot Oral Exam Guide

200+ DPE-style questions, ACS-aligned

Private Pilot Checkride Prep

Mock checkride with pass-prediction

PPL Knowledge Test Practice

Free adaptive questions

Related Sections in Part 91

§ 91.1

Part 91 Applicability