Flight attendants: Initial and transition ground training

This regulation establishes the minimum ground training requirements for flight attendants when they're newly hired (initial) or transitioning to a different aircraft type.

The training must cover general subjects including the pilot's authority, passenger handling procedures (including dealing with disruptive individuals), and crew resource management. For each specific aircraft type, flight attendants must learn the airplane's physical characteristics relevant to emergencies, how to use communication systems (including during hijackings), and how to operate galley equipment and cabin environmental controls.

Flight attendants must pass a competence check demonstrating they can perform their duties. The regulation sets minimum training hours based on aircraft group: 8 hours for smaller propeller aircraft (Group I), and 16 hours for larger aircraft (Group II). These hours can be reduced under certain circumstances specified in §121.405.

This ensures all Part 121 airline flight attendants receive standardized safety training appropriate to the aircraft they'll work on.

*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.*