108 

14 CFR Ch. I (1–1–19 Edition) 

§ 121.310 

have a minimum brightness of at least 
160 microlamberts. The color may be 
reversed if the passenger compartment 
illumination is essentially the same. 
On these airplanes, no sign may con-
tinue to be used if its luminescence 
(brightness) decreases to below 100 
microlamberts. 

(c) 

Lighting for interior emergency exit 

markings. 

Except for nontransport cat-

egory airplanes type certificated after 
December 31, 1964, each passenger-car-
rying airplane must have an emergency 
lighting system, independent of the 
main lighting system. However, 
sources of general cabin illumination 
may be common to both the emergency 
and the main lighting systems if the 
power supply to the emergency light-
ing system is independent of the power 
supply to the main lighting system. 

The emergency lighting system 

must— 

(1) Illuminate each passenger exit 

marking and locating sign; 

(2) Provide enough general lighting 

in the passenger cabin so that the aver-
age illumination when measured at 40- 
inch intervals at seat armrest height, 
on the centerline of the main passenger 
aisle, is at least 0.05 foot-candles; and 

(3) For airplanes type certificated 

after January 1, 1958, after November 
26, 1986, include floor proximity emer-
gency escape path marking which 
meets the requirements of § 25.812(e) of 
this chapter in effect on November 26, 
1984. 

(d) 

Emergency light operation. 

Except 

for lights forming part of emergency 
lighting subsystems provided in com-
pliance with § 25.812(h) of this chapter 
(as prescribed in paragraph (h) of this 
section) that serve no more than one 
assist means, are independent of the 
airplane’s main emergency lighting 
systems, and are automatically acti-
vated when the assist means is de-
ployed, each light required by para-
graphs (c) and (h) of this section must 
comply with the following: 

(1) Each light must— 
(i) Be operable manually both from 

the flightcrew station and, for air-
planes on which a flight attendant is 
required, from a point in the passenger 
compartment that is readily accessible 
to a normal flight attendant seat; 

(ii) Have a means to prevent inad-

vertent operation of the manual con-
trols; and 

(iii) When armed or turned on at ei-

ther station, remain lighted or become 
lighted upon interruption of the air-
plane’s normal electric power. 

(2) Each light must be armed or 

turned on during taxiing, takeoff, and 
landing. In showing compliance with 
this paragraph a transverse vertical 
separation of the fuselage need not be 
considered. 

(3) Each light must provide the re-

quired level of illumination for at least 
10 minutes at the critical ambient con-
ditions after emergency landing. 

(4) Each light must have a cockpit 

control device that has an ‘‘on,’’ ‘‘off,’’ 
and ‘‘armed’’ position. 

(e) 

Emergency exit operating handles. 

(1) For a passenger-carrying airplane 
for which the application for the type 
certificate was filed prior to May 1, 
1972, the location of each passenger 
emergency exit operating handle, and 
instructions for opening the exit, must 
be shown by a marking on or near the 
exit that is readable from a distance of 
30 inches. In addition, for each Type I 
and Type II emergency exit with a 
locking mechanism released by rotary 
motion of the handle, the instructions 
for opening must be shown by— 

(i) A red arrow with a shaft at least 

three-fourths inch wide and a head 
twice the width of the shaft, extending 
along at least 70

° 

of arc at a radius ap-

proximately equal to three-fourths of 
the handle length; and 

(ii) The word ‘‘open’’ in red letters 1 

inch high placed horizontally near the 
head of the arrow. 

(2) For a passenger-carrying airplane 

for which the application for the type 
certificate was filed on or after May 1, 
1972, the location of each passenger 
emergency exit operating handle and 
instructions for opening the exit must 
be shown in accordance with the re-
quirements under which the airplane 
was type certificated. On these air-
planes, no operating handle or oper-
ating handle cover may continue to be 
used if its luminescence (brightness) 
decreases to below 100 microlamberts. 

(f) 

Emergency exit access. 

Access to 

emergency exits must be provided as 

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