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  4. Part 121
  5. § 121.317
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14 CFR · Part 121

14 CFR § 121.317

Passenger information requirements, smoking prohibitions, and additional seat belt requirements.

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Read in Subpart K
Part 121 Contents
  • Subpart A: General
  • Subpart E: Approval of Routes: Domestic and Flag Operations
  • Subpart F: Approval of Areas and Routes for Supplemental Operations
  • Subpart G: Manual Requirements
  • Subpart H: Aircraft Requirements
  • Subpart I: Airplane Performance Operating Limitations
  • Subpart J: Special Airworthiness Requirements
  • Subpart K: Instrument and Equipment Requirements
  • Subpart L: Maintenance, Preventive Maintenance, and Alterations
  • Subpart M: Airman and Crewmember Requirements
  • Subpart N: Training Program
  • Subpart O: Crewmember Qualifications
  • Subpart P: Aircraft Dispatcher Qualifications and Duty Time
  • Subpart Q: Flight Time Limitations and Rest Requirements: Domestic Operations
  • Subpart R: Flight Time Limitations: Flag Operations
  • Subpart S: Flight Time Limitations: Supplemental Operations
  • Subpart T: Flight Operations
  • Subpart U: Dispatching and Flight Release Rules
  • Subpart V: Records and Reports
  • Subpart W: Crewmember Certificate: International
  • Subpart X: Emergency Medical Equipment and Training
  • Subpart Y: Advanced Qualification Program
  • Subpart Z: Hazardous Materials Training Program
  • Subpart AA: Continued Airworthiness and Safety Improvements
  • Subpart DD: Special Federal Aviation Regulations
  • Appendix A to Part 121: First Aid Kits and Emergency Medical Kits
  • Appendix B to Part 121: Airplane Flight Recorder Specification
  • Appendix C to Part 121: C-46 Nontransport Category Airplanes
  • Appendix D to Part 121: Criteria for Demonstration of Emergency Evacuation Procedures Under § 121.291
  • Appendix E to Part 121: Flight Training Requirements
  • Appendix F to Part 121: Proficiency Check Requirements
  • Appendix G to Part 121: Doppler Radar and Inertial Navigation System (INS): Request for Evaluation; Equipment and Equipment Installation; Training Program; Equipment Accuracy and Reliability; Evaluation Program
  • Appendix H to Part 121: Advanced Simulation
  • Appendix K to Part 121: Performance Requirements for Certain Turbopropeller Powered Airplanes
  • Appendix L to Part 121: Type Certification Regulations Made Previously Effective
  • Appendix M to Part 121: Airplane Flight Recorder Specifications
  • Appendix O to Part 121: Hazardous Materials Training Requirements For Certificate Holders
  • Appendix P to Part 121: Requirements for ETOPS and Polar Operations
(a)

Except as provided in paragraph (l) of this section, no person may operate an airplane unless it is equipped with passenger information signs that meet the requirements of § 25.791 of this chapter.

(b)

Except as provided in paragraph (l) of this section, the “Fasten Seat Belt” sign shall be turned on during any movement on the surface, for each takeoff, for each landing, and at any other time considered necessary by the pilot in command.

(c)

No person may operate an airplane on a flight on which smoking is prohibited by part 252 of this title unless either the “No Smoking” passenger information signs are lighted during the entire flight, or one or more “No Smoking” placards meeting the requirements of § 25.1541 of this chapter are posted during the entire flight segment. If both the lighted signs and the placards are used, the signs must remain lighted during the entire flight segment.

(d)

No person may operate a passenger-carrying airplane under this part unless at least one legible sign or placard that reads “Fasten Seat Belt While Seated” is visible from each passenger seat. These signs or placards need not meet the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section.

(e)

No person may operate an airplane unless there is installed in each lavatory a sign or placard that reads: “Federal law provides for a penalty of up to $2,000 for tampering with the smoke detector installed in this lavatory.” These signs or placards need not meet the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section.

(f)

Each passenger required by § 121.311(b) to occupy a seat or berth shall fasten his or her safety belt about him or her and keep it fastened while the “Fasten Seat Belt” sign is lighted.

(g)

No person may smoke while a “No Smoking” sign is lighted or while “No Smoking” placards are posted, except as follows:

(1)

Supplemental operations. The pilot in command of an airplane engaged in a supplemental operation may authorize smoking on the flight deck (if it is physically separated from any passenger compartment), but not in any of the following situations:

(i)

During airplane movement on the surface or during takeoff or landing;

(ii)

During scheduled passenger-carrying public charter operations conducted under part 380 of this title; or

(iii)

During any operation where smoking is prohibited by part 252 of this title or by international agreement.

(2)

Certain intrastate domestic operations. Except during airplane movement on the surface or during takeoff or landing, a pilot in command of an airplane engaged in a domestic operation may authorize smoking on the flight deck (if it is physically separated from the passenger compartment) if—

(i)

Smoking on the flight deck is not otherwise prohibited by part 252 of this title;

(ii)

The flight is conducted entirely within the same State of the United States (a flight from one place in Hawaii to another place in Hawaii through the airspace over a place outside of Hawaii is not entirely within the same State); and

(iii)

The airplane is either not turbojet-powered or the airplane is not capable of carrying at least 30 passengers.

(h)

No person may smoke in any airplane lavatory.

(i)

No person may tamper with, disable, or destroy any smoke detector installed in any airplane lavatory.

(j)

On flight segments other than those described in paragraph (c) of this section, the “No Smoking” sign must be turned on during any movement on the surface, for each takeoff, for each landing, and at any other time considered necessary by the pilot in command.

(k)

Each passenger shall comply with instructions given him or her by a crewmember regarding compliance with paragraphs (f), (g), (h), and (l) of this section.

(l)

A certificate holder may operate a nontransport category airplane type certificated after December 31, 1964, that is manufactured before December 20, 1997, if it is equipped with at least one placard that is legible to each person seated in the cabin that states “Fasten Seat Belt,” and if, during any movement on the surface, for each takeoff, for each landing, and at any other time considered necessary by the pilot in command, a crewmember orally instructs the passengers to fasten their seat belts.

Referenced By

Interpretations of This Section (2)

  • Jimenez, 2014
  • Duncan (AFS-200), 2011

Documents that cite this section, found in their catalog metadata or text. Listed by date, not by significance.

Regulations Referenced

14 CFR 25.79114 CFR 25.154114 CFR 121.311

Reflects the eCFR edition current as of September 29, 2026. Retrieved from ecfr.gov on October 16, 2026.

Primary Source

  • Official Source (14 CFR · Part 121)