---
title: "SPO.IDE.H.160 Seats, seat safety belts and restraint systems — Part-SPO · Avioverse"
description: "Helicopters shall be equipped with: a seat or station for each crew member or task specialist on board;"
url: "https://avioverse.aero/regulations/easa/air-ops/part-spo/subpart-d/spo-ide-h-160"
---

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

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

IR Implementing rule

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

(a) Helicopters shall be equipped with:

(1) a seat or station for each [crew member](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/crew-member) or [task specialist](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/task-specialist) on board;

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

(3) for helicopters first issued with an individual CofA after 31 December 2012, a seat belt with an upper torso restraint system for each seat; and

(4) 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 on each flight crew seat.

(b) A seat belt with upper torso restraint system shall have a single point release.

IR · SPO.IDE.H.160 — Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 · Regulation (EU) No 379/2014 · Air OPS Easy Access Rules · EAR revision 27 Mar 2026

AMC Acceptable means of compliance

## AMC2 SPO.IDE.H.160 Seats, seat safety belts and restraint systems

UPPER TORSO RESTRAINT SYSTEM

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

(a) For other-than complex helicopters, a seat belt with a diagonal shoulder strap;

(b) For all helicopters, a restraint system having a seat belt and two shoulder straps that may be used independently.

(c) For all helicopters, a restraint system having a seat belt, two shoulder straps and additional straps that may be used independently.

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 · AMC2 SPO.IDE.H.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](https://avioverse.aero/regulations/easa/air-ops/part-spo/subpart-d)

Consolidated from the EASA Easy Access Rules (revision 27 Mar 2026, extracted 13 Oct 2026) for convenience. Not the official publication — verify against the Official Journal of the European Union and the EASA publications before operational use.