Additional emergency equipment

This regulation covers emergency equipment requirements for Part 121 passenger aircraft beyond the basic exits themselves.

Evacuation slides: Emergency exits more than 6 feet above ground must have approved evacuation assistance (typically slides). These must be armed during taxi, takeoff, and landing if they deploy automatically.

Exit marking: All emergency exits must be conspicuously marked and recognizable from across the cabin width. Signs must be placed above overwing exits, next to floor-level exits, and on bulkheads that block views of exits. The brightness and design standards depend on when the aircraft was type certificated, with newer aircraft requiring brighter signs (250 microlamberts minimum versus 100 for older planes).

Emergency lighting: Aircraft must have an independent emergency lighting system that illuminates exit signs, provides minimum aisle lighting, and (for post-1958 aircraft certified after 1986) includes floor proximity escape path lighting. This system operates separately from main cabin lights to ensure functionality if main power fails.

*This is a plain-English summary for study only. The official 14 CFR text on this page is controlling — always read the current regulation and consult a CFI.*