What are the general requirements pertaining to the use of safety belts and shoulder harness?

This content is from the eCFR and is authoritative but unofficial.

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When are pilots requiremented to wear seat belts and shoulder harnesses?
Do pilots have to wear seat belts while taxiing?
The PIC must do the following:
To keep it simple I recommend you do the following:
Additional Reading:

When do pilots need to wear seat belts and shoulder harnesses? Do PICs always have to brief passengers?

The seat belt rules are pretty straight forward and leave little room for interpretation. The bottom line is always wear your seat belt!

When are pilots requiremented to wear seat belts and shoulder harnesses?

Pilots need to wear their lap belt all the time when seated at the controls.

Obviously you can take it off if you need to get up and use the bathroom or stretch. Once you get back from the bathroom and sit back down at the controls, you need to put your seat belt on.

There aren’t any exceptions to this rule according to 14 CFR 91.105.

Where you have a little fudge room is on the shoulder harnesses. You don’t have to wear them in these situations:

While en-route
If it interferes with pilot duties
If they aren’t installed

So that’s what the regulations say, but what do pilots do in real life?

Well, when I flew the King Air I made it part of my cruise checklist to take off the shoulder harness. It’s more comfortable to remove it on long flights. Now that I fly the 737, I take off teh shoulder harness off at about 1000 feet. It’s very easy to click it off.

Conversely, when I flew the King Air I put my shoulder harness on when I did the descent checklist. In the 737, I put it on when we pass through 18,000 feet on the descent.

Depending on the aircraft, it will depend on when to take the shoulder harness off and put it on. Regardless of when you choose, tie it to a checklist and always do it the same way every time.

I also put the shoulder harness on during any turbulence. Many pilots have smashed their heads on the ceiling from unexpected turbulence.

The last thing you want to fool around with in turbulence is a shoulder harness! Put it on early and keep it on until you’re sure you’re safe.

Putting your shoulder harness on before descending usually takes care of the turbulence issue. A lot of turbulence shows up during the descent below FL180.

If the entire flight is turbulent, or I am flying at lower altitudes (below FL180), I keep the shoulder harness on. Likewise if it gets really bad, I ratchet down the seat belt so I won’t go anywhere.

You only have to experience bad turbulence once before you make this a habit.

Do pilots have to wear seat belts while taxiing?

Another regulation, 14 CFR 91.107 covers surface movement. If you read 14 CFR 91.105 it says nothing about taxiing, only takeoff, landing and en-route.

The CFR is pretty straightforward: everyone in the aircraft needs to be in their seat with their seat belts fastened for taxiing, takeoff and landing.

You knew this already, though, because you have flown on a commercial airplane.

There are some exceptions for children and parachuting operations I won’t go into. Feel free to look it up yourself here: 14 CFR 91.107 (a) (3).

The regulation also says the “pilot in command” has some additional requirements. They define the “pilot in command” as the person responsible for the flight and not the person at the controls. The PIC can delegate this responsiblity, they just need to make sure it got done.

The PIC must do the following:

Ensure each person on board is briefed on how to fasten and unfasten their seat belts and shoulder harnesses (if installed)
Ensure each person on board is notified when they need to fasten their seat belts

The second one is interesting because it says nothing about making sure everyone has their seat belt on, it just says they need to be “notified.” If you can, make sure your passengers have actually put their belts on. This can be difficult in some airplanes.

Always brief your passengers on how to use the seat belt even if they have used it before. Their knowledge doesn’t absolve you of your responsibility to brief them.
Always keep your seat belt fastened when you’re at the controls (except the shoulder harness while en-route.)
Add the shoulder harness wear/removal to a checklist so you don’t forget it for takeoff and landing. (I.e. I put it on when we descend back through 18,000 feet)
Wear your shoulder harness during turbulence or if you expect turbulence.
Seriously encourage your passengers to wear their belts all the time and do this before you start your taxi and before you land.

Additional Reading:

AOPA Legal Brief: Seat Belts

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U.S.-registered civil aircraft, operating under part 91, are required to abide by a set of seat belt, shoulder harness, and child restraints
More than the physical requirement however, comes the pilot's responsibility to brief all passengers on their use
Use of a restraint however, depends on if you are a passenger or crew member

- Prior to takeoff, the pilot-in-command of a U.S.-registered civil aircraft must ensure that each person on board is briefed on how to fasten and unfasten that person's safety belt and, if installed, shoulder harness
- The act of briefing may be conducted by anyone, so long as the PIC verifies that it has occurred
- This is a one-time requirement
- The pilot-in-command must then ensure each person on board has been notified to fasten his or her safety belt and, if in stalled, his or her shoulder harness, prior to surface movement, take off, or landing
- Note that notification is required during three separate occasions (surface movement, takeoff, and landing)
- You may recognize this requirement being met on airliners between announcements when you board, videos/recordings after boarding, and final announcements before landing
No briefing or notification is required for free balloons that incorporates a basket or gondola, or an airship type certificated before November 2, 1987

Except as provided in this paragraph, each person on board a U.S.-registered civil aircraft(except a free balloon that incorporates a basket or gondola or an airship type certificated before November 2, 1987) must occupy an approved seat or berth with a safety belt and, if installed, shoulder harness, properly secured about him or her during movement on the surface, takeoff, and landing. For seaplane and float equipped rotorcraft operations during movement on the surface, the person pushing off the seaplane or rotorcraft from the dock and the person mooring the seaplane or rotorcraft at the dock are excepted from the preceding seating and safety belt requirements
Notwithstanding the preceding requirements of this paragraph, a person may:
- Be held by an adult who is occupying an approved seat or berth, provided that the person being held has not reached his or her second birthday and does not occupy or use any restraining device;
- Use the floor of the aircraft as a seat, provided that the person is on board for the purpose of engaging in sport parachuting; or
- Notwithstanding any other requirement of this chapter, occupy an approved child restraint system furnished by the operator or one of the persons described in FAR 91.107 paragraph(a)(3)(iii)(A) of this section provided that:
  - The child is accompanied by a parent, guardian, or attendant designated by the child's parent or guardian to attend to the safety of the child during the flight;
  - Except as provided in FAR 91.107 paragraph(a)(3)(iii)(B)(4) of this action, the approved child restraint system bears one or more labels as follows:
    - Seats manufactured to U.S. standards between January 1, 1981, and February 25, 1985, must bear the label: "This child restraint system conforms to all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards.";
    - Seats manufactured to U.S. standards on or after February 26, 1985, must bear two labels:
      - "This child restraint system conforms to all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards"; and
      - "THIS RESTRAINT IS CERTIFIED FOR USE IN MOTOR VEHICLES AND AIRCRAFT" in red lettering;
    - Seats that do not qualify under FAR 91.107 paragraphs(a)(3)(iii)(B)(1) and(a)(3)(iii)(B)(2) of this section must bear a label or markings showing:
      - That the seat was approved by a foreign government;
      - That the seat was manufactured under the standards of the United Nations;
      - That the seat or child restraint device furnished by the operator was approved by the FAA through Type Certificate or Supplemental Type Certificate; or
      - That the seat or child restraint device furnished by the operator, or one of the persons described in FAR 91.107 paragraph (a)(3)(iii)(A) of this section, was approved by the FAA in accordance with FAR 21.8(d) of this chapter or Technical Standard Order C-100b or a later version. The child restraint device manufactured by AmSafe, Inc. (CARES, Part No. 4082) and approved by the FAA in accordance with FAR 21.305(d) (2010 ed.) of this chapter may continue to bear a label or markings showing FAA approval in accordance with FAR 21.305(d) (2010 ed.) of this chapter
    - Except as provided in Sec. 91.107(a)(3)(iii)(B)(3)(iii) and Sec. 91.107(a)(3)(iii)(B)(3)(iv), booster-type child restraint systems(as defined in Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 213(49 CFR 571.213)), vest- and harness-type child restraint systems, and lap held child restraints are not approved for use in aircraft; and
  - The operator complies with the following requirements:
    - The restraint system must be properly secured to an approved forward-facing seat or berth;
    - The child must be properly secured in the restraint system and must not exceed the specified weight limit for the restraint system; and
    - The restraint system must bear the appropriate label(s)

- During takeoff and landing, and while en route, each required flight crewmember shall:
  - Be at the crewmember station unless the absence is necessary to perform duties in connection with the operation of the aircraft or in connection with physiological needs; and
  - Keep the safety belt fastened while at the crewmember station
- Each required flight crewmember of a U.S.-registered civil aircraft shall, during takeoff and landing, keep his or her shoulder harness fastened while at his or her assigned duty station
- - The seat at the crewmember's station is not equipped with a shoulder harness; or
  - The crewmember would be unable to perform required duties with the shoulder harness fastened

Note that while shoulder harnesses are required for takeoff, landing, and surface movement, they are not required enroute, if it interferes with pilot duties, or if not installed
These requirements for seat belts, harnesses and child restraints apply to general aviation operations
- The rules above do not apply to operations conducted under part 121, 125, or 135 of this chapter
Although much regarding seat belts and restraints is grounded in law, don't forget to show passengers how to adjust this safety equipment for their comfort
To learn more about seat belt inspection, see AOPA's Tips for Examining Your Aircraft Seat Belts
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