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  4. Part 121
  5. § 121.542
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14 CFR · Part 121

14 CFR § 121.542

Flight crewmember duties.

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Read in Subpart T
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)

No certificate holder shall require, nor may any flight crewmember perform, any duties during a critical phase of flight except those duties required for the safe operation of the aircraft. Duties such as company required calls made for such nonsafety related purposes as ordering galley supplies and confirming passenger connections, announcements made to passengers promoting the air carrier or pointing out sights of interest, and filling out company payroll and related records are not required for the safe operation of the aircraft.

(b)

No flight crewmember may engage in, nor may any pilot in command permit, any activity during a critical phase of flight which could distract any flight crewmember from the performance of his or her duties or which could interfere in any way with the proper conduct of those duties. Activities such as eating meals, engaging in nonessential conversations within the cockpit and nonessential communications between the cabin and cockpit crews, and reading publications not related to the proper conduct of the flight are not required for the safe operation of the aircraft.

(c)

For the purposes of this section, critical phases of flight includes all ground operations involving taxi, takeoff and landing, and all other flight operations conducted below 10,000 feet, except cruise flight.

Note: Taxi is defined as “movement of an airplane under its own power on the surface of an airport.”

(d)

During all flight time as defined in 14 CFR 1.1, no flight crewmember may use, nor may any pilot in command permit the use of, a personal wireless communications device (as defined in 49 U.S.C. 44732(d)) or laptop computer while at a flight crewmember duty station unless the purpose is directly related to operation of the aircraft, or for emergency, safety-related, or employment-related communications, in accordance with air carrier procedures approved by the Administrator.

Referenced By

Advisory Circulars (3)

  • AC 120-71B
  • AC 120-76E
  • AC 91.21-1D

Information for Operators (InFO) (2)

  • InFO 14006
  • InFO 25001

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

Regulations Referenced

14 CFR 1.1

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)