Stowage of food, beverage, and passenger service equipment during aircraft movement on the surface, takeoff, and landing

This regulation requires operators to secure all food service items and equipment before the aircraft moves on the ground, takes off, or lands. Specifically:

• No food, beverages, or tableware can be at passenger seats
• All food/beverage trays and seat back tray tables must be stowed
• Passenger service carts must be secured in their stowed positions
• Aisle-extending movie screens must be stowed

Passengers must follow crew instructions regarding these requirements.

This rule exists to prevent loose items from becoming projectiles during sudden stops, rejected takeoffs, turbulence during initial climb, or hard landings—the phases when unexpected aircraft movement is most likely. A coffee cup or service cart can cause serious injury if the aircraft stops abruptly or encounters severe turbulence. The regulation applies to operations under Part 91 subpart F (large and turbine-powered multiengine airplanes and fractional ownership programs).

*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.*