Emergency equipment for extended over-water operations

This regulation specifies emergency equipment required for Part 121 airline flights over extended water distances where land is not readily accessible for emergency landing.

Aircraft must carry:

• A life preserver with survivor locator light for every person aboard
• Enough life rafts (with locator lights) to hold everyone, with capacity to handle loss of the largest raft
• At least one pyrotechnic signaling device per raft
• An approved survival-type emergency locator transmitter with properly maintained batteries
• A survival kit attached to each raft, equipped appropriately for the route

All this equipment must be easily accessible for ditching and installed in clearly marked, approved locations—meaning passengers and crew can reach it quickly without extensive preparation if the aircraft must land on water.

The Administrator may require additional equipment or approve deviations for specific operations by amending the carrier's operations specifications. This ensures airlines operating over oceans have adequate resources for passenger survival if a water landing becomes necessary.

*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.*