If an aircraft operated in Part 121 is certificated with 275 seats, but only 249 passengers are aboard, how many flight attendants are required?

• A. 4
• B. 5
• C. 6
• D. 7

Answer: (C)

To determine the required number of flight attendants for an aircraft operated under Part 121 with a specific seating capacity, regulations set forth by the FAA provide clear guidelines. An aircraft must have at least one flight attendant for every 50 seats or fraction thereof.

In this case, the aircraft is certificated for 275 seats. To calculate the necessary number of flight attendants, you would take the total number of seats (275) and divide that by 50. This results in 5.5. Since you cannot have a fraction of a flight attendant, this number is rounded up to the nearest whole number, which is 6.

However, in this scenario, since there are only 249 passengers aboard, the actual passenger count does not affect the minimum requirement for crew members. The number of flight attendants is based solely on the total seat capacity. Therefore, the regulation calls for 6 flight attendants.

This understanding is critical for compliance with safety regulations, ensuring that there are adequate personnel to assist passengers in case of emergencies or other situations that may arise during flight. Having the correct number of flight attendants is a key safety measure in airline operations.