FAA requirement for working fasten seatbelt lights?
May 18, 2018, 11:27 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 42
FAA requirement for working fasten seatbelt lights?
I was on a US domestic flight yesterday that did not have working fasten seatbelt lights. They never lit up. The pilots were aware and would still trigger the chime and then announce over the PA whether the sign should be considered on or off. Is this compliant with law/regulation? Does it matter whether the issue was noticed on ground or in the air?
Thanks!
Thanks!
May 18, 2018, 12:34 pm
#3
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
I am not aware of any rule which would ground the aircraft so long as the crew made the proper announcements.
There are a broad array of maintenance issues which may be logged and deferred, but do require additional care and action by the crew.
There are a broad array of maintenance issues which may be logged and deferred, but do require additional care and action by the crew.
May 28, 2018, 5:54 pm
#4
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 5
Every US airline (121/135) operates under a Minimum Equipment List (MEL). These MELs and their cousin NEFs (Non-essential Equipment and Furnishings) allow the airline to operate aircraft with certain specific equipment inoperative. Through these FAA certified programs once an item is discovered broken and that item is listed accordingly then it can be deferred per the MEL/NEF for a specific length of time. Each deferment requires a signature and usually some type of remedial action like the voice announcement in your example. These deferment programs are highly regulated and used in all areas of the aviation industry.
May 28, 2018, 10:10 pm
#5
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§ 135.177 Emergency equipment requirements for aircraft having a passenger seating configuration of more than 19 passengers.
(a) No person may operate an aircraft having a passenger seating configuration, excluding any pilot seat, of more than 19 seats unless it is equipped with the following emergency equipment:
(2) A crash axe carried so as to be accessible to the crew but inaccessible to passengers during normal operations.
(a) No person may operate an aircraft having a passenger seating configuration, excluding any pilot seat, of more than 19 seats unless it is equipped with the following emergency equipment:
(2) A crash axe carried so as to be accessible to the crew but inaccessible to passengers during normal operations.
