FAA urges airlines to crack down on cockpit distractions
April 26th, 2010 - 10:41 pm ICT by BNO NewsWASHINGTON, D.C. (BNO NEWS) — The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Monday called on airlines to crack down on cockpit distractions such as the use of mobile phones and laptops.
In an Information for Operators (InFO) message, which is an information bulletin for operators to help them meet administrative, regulatory and operational requirements, the agency reminded airlines and crewmembers that cockpit distractions are a safety risk.
“Engaging in tasks not directly related to required flight duties, including using personal electronic devices, constitutes a safety risk,” the InFO read. “Recent incidents and accidents have revealed pilots using personal electronic devices, including laptop computers and mobile telephones, for personal activities unrelated to the duties and responsibilities required for conduct of a flight.”
The FAA mentioned Northwest Airlines Flight 188 as an example, in which two pilots overflew their destination by 150 miles because they were using laptop computers for personal activities. It also mentions another instance, in which an FAA inspector in the jump seat overheard a crewmember’s mobile phone ring during the takeoff roll.
“While personal electronic devices can be valuable tools in aviation operations, crewmembers cannot permit personal electronic devices to distract them from focusing on duties and responsibilities related to the flight,” the FAA said. “Regulations regarding sterile flight decks prohibit crewmembers from performing any duties not relating to the safe operation of the aircraft during critical phases of flight. At other phases of flight, crewmembers must avoid becoming distracted by any task not related to the safe operation of the flight, whether it involves use of a personal electronic devices or not. Maintaining the public trust is both a personal responsibility and professional requirement.”
The FAA called on operators to create a safety culture that clearly establishes guidance, expectations and requirements to control cockpit distractions, which includes the use of personal electronic devices during flight operations.
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Tags: aviation operations, bno, faa inspector, federal aviation administration, flight crewmembers, flight decks, information bulletin, jump seat, mobile phone ring, mobile telephones, northwest airlines, northwest airlines flight, operational requirements, personal activities, personal electronic devices, professional requirement, recent incidents, safety culture, safety risk, takeoff roll