Release #13.55
October 31, 2013

ALPA Statement on New FAA Guidelines for Inflight Use of Personal Electronic Devices

WASHINGTON—The Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), issued the following statement on today’s announcement by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regarding new guidelines that expand inflight use of personal electronic devices (PEDs) during commercial flights. As members of the FAA’s Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC), ALPA safety representatives contributed their expertise to help create the expanded guidelines.

“ALPA has consistently supported the expanded inflight use of PEDs, as long as it can be shown to be safe—this was ALPA’s goal in participating and remains our top priority. Use of PEDs must be free of any interference with onboard systems and with crewmembers’ ability to perform their safety duties. We believe that PEDs, like other loose items in the cabin, need to be stowed for takeoff and landing to ensure safety, and we are encouraged by the FAA’s emphasis of that need.

“While we applaud the FAA’s view that PED use must be shown to be safe before being allowed, we remain concerned that relying on passengers to selectively turn off their devices in areas of extremely poor weather is not a practical solution. We urge passengers to realize the potential seriousness of using a device at a time when any crewmember—pilot or flight attendant—has advised them that it is unsafe to do so.

“ALPA remains committed to the safe operation of aircraft at all times, and as such, we stand ready to continue our collaboration with airlines, other industry partners, and regulators to ensure that as PED use is gradually phased in, it is done with safety as the top priority.”

Founded in 1931, ALPA is the world’s largest pilot union, representing nearly 50,000 pilots at 32 airlines in the United States and Canada.

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CONTACT: ALPA Media, (703) 481-4440, media@alpa.org