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SPO.IDE.A.160 Seats, seat safety belts and restraint systems

ANNEX VIII (Part-SPO) · Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 · EAR revision 27 Mar 2026

IRImplementing rule

SPO.IDE.A.160Seats, seat safety belts and restraint systems

Aeroplanes shall be equipped with:

(a)a seat or station for each crew member or task specialist on board;

(b)a seat belt on each seat, and restraint devices for each station;

(c)for other-than-complex motor-powered aeroplanes, a seat belt with upper torso restraint system on each flight crew seat, having a single point release for aeroplanes having a CofA first issued on or after 25 August 2016;

(d)for complex motor-powered aeroplanes, a seat belt with upper torso restraint system, incorporating a device that will automatically restrain the occupant's torso in the event of rapid deceleration:

(1)on each flight crew seat and on any seat alongside a pilot's seat; and

(2)on each observer's seat located in the flight crew compartment.

(e)The seat belt with upper torso restraint system required under point (d) shall have:

(1)a single point release;

(2)on flight crew members seats and on any seat alongside a pilot's seat, either of the following:

(i)two shoulder straps and a seat belt that may be used independently;

(ii)a diagonal shoulder strap and a seat belt that may be used independently for the following aeroplanes:

(A)aeroplanes with an MCTOM of 5 700 kg or less and with an MOPSC of nine or less that are compliant with the emergency landing dynamic conditions defined in the applicable certification specification;

(B)aeroplanes with an MCTOM of 5 700 kg or less and with an MOPSC of nine or less that are not compliant with the emergency landing dynamic conditions defined in the applicable certification specification and having an individual CofA first issued before 25 August 2016.

IR · SPO.IDE.A.160 — Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 · Regulation (EU) 2016/1199 · Air OPS Easy Access Rules · EAR revision 27 Mar 2026

AMCAcceptable means of compliance

AMC1 SPO.IDE.A.160Seats, seat safety belts and restraint systems

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UPPER TORSO RESTRAINT SYSTEM FOR OTHER-THAN COMPLEX MOTOR-POWERED AEROPLANES

(a)The following systems are deemed to be compliant with the requirement for an upper torso restraint system:

(1)A seat belt with a diagonal shoulder strap;

(2)A restraint system having a seat belt and two shoulder straps that may be used independently; and

(3)A restraint system having a seat belt, two shoulder straps and additional straps that may be used independently.

(b)The use of the upper torso restraint independently from the use of the seat belt is intended as an option for the comfort of the occupant of the seat in those phases of flight where only the seat belt is required to be fastened. A restraint system including a seat belt and an upper torso restraint that both remain permanently fastened is also acceptable. UPPER TORSO RESTRAINT SYSTEM FOR COMPLEX MOTOR-POWERED AEROPLANES

(a)A restraint system, including a seat belt, two shoulder straps and additional straps is deemed to be compliant with the requirement for restraint systems with two shoulder straps.

(b)An upper torso restraint system which restrains permanently the torso of the occupant is deemed to be compliant with the requirement for an upper torso restraint system incorporating a device that will automatically restrain the occupant’s torso in the event of rapid deceleration.

(c)The use of the upper torso restraint independently from the use of the seat belt is intended as an option for the comfort of the occupant of the seat in those phases of flight where only the seat belt is required to be fastened. A restraint system including a seat belt and an upper torso restraint that both remain permanently fastened is also acceptable.

SEAT BELT A seat belt with a diagonal shoulder strap (three anchorage points) is deemed to be compliant with the requirement for a seat belt (two anchorage points).

AMC · AMC1 SPO.IDE.A.160 — Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 · ED Decision 2016/021/R · Air OPS Easy Access Rules · EAR revision 27 Mar 2026

GMGuidance material

GM1 SPO.IDE.A.160Seats, seat safety belts, restraint systems

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EMERGENCY LANDING DYNAMIC CONDITIONS Emergency landing dynamic conditions are defined in 23.562 of CS-23 or equivalent and in 25.562 of CS-25 or equivalent.

GM · GM1 SPO.IDE.A.160 — Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 · ED Decision 2014/018/R · Air OPS Easy Access Rules · EAR revision 27 Mar 2026

All rules in SUBPART D: INSTRUMENTS, DATA AND EQUIPMENT

Consolidated from the EASA Easy Access Rules (revision 27 Mar 2026, extracted 17 Aug 2026) for convenience. Not the official publication — verify against the Official Journal of the European Union and the EASA publications before operational use.

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