Avionics News December 2013 - 16

F R O M
R I C
P E R I
A EA V I C E P R ES I D E N T O F G OV E R N M E N T & I N D U ST RY A F FA I RS

The Aircraft Electronics Association's international membership continues to grow. Currently, the AEA represents avionics
businesses in more than 40 countries throughout the world. To better serve the needs of the AEA's international membership,
the "International News and Regulatory Updates" section of Avionics News offers a greater focus on international regulatory
activity, international industry news and an international "Frequently Asked Questions" column to help promote standardization.
If you have comments about this section, send emails to avionicsnews@aea.net.

UNITED STATES

News & Regulatory Updates
FAA Allows Airlines to Expand Use
of Personal Electronics
Near the end of October, Federal Aviation Administration
Administrator Michael Huerta announced the agency has
determined airlines can safely expand passenger use of portable electronic devices during all phases of flight, and it is
immediately providing the airlines with implementation guidance. While not directly applicable to the member companies
of the Aircraft Electronics Association, this change in position
indicates the exponential growth in PEDs and their expanded
use in all aircraft.
Due to differences among fleets and operations, the implementation will vary among airlines. But the agency expects
many carriers will prove to the FAA that their planes allow
passengers to safely use devices in airplane mode, gate-togate, by the end of the year.
The FAA based its decision on input from a group of
experts that included representatives from the airlines, aviation manufacturers, passengers, pilots, flight attendants and
the mobile technology industry.
Passengers will eventually be able to read e-books, play
games and watch videos on their devices during all phases of
flight, with very limited exceptions. Electronic items, books
and magazines, must be held or put in the seatback pocket
during the actual takeoff and landing roll. Cellphones should
be in airplane mode or with cellular service disabled - no
signal bars displayed - and cannot be used for voice communications based on Federal Communications Commission
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regulations that prohibit any airborne calls using cellphones. If
your air carrier provides Wi-Fi service during flight, you may
use those services. You can also continue to use short-range
Bluetooth accessories like wireless keyboards.
"We believe today's decision honors both our commitment to
safety and consumer's increasing desire to use their electronic
devices during all phases of their flights," said Transportation
Secretary Anthony Foxx. "I look forward to seeing airlines
implement these much anticipated guidelines in the near future."
"I commend the dedication and excellent work of all the
experts who spent the past year working together to give us a
solid report so we can now move forward with a safety-based
decision on when passengers can use PEDs on airplanes,"
Huerta said.
The PED Aviation Rulemaking Committee concluded most
commercial airplanes can tolerate radio interference signals
from PEDs. In a recent report, it recommended the FAA provide
airlines with new procedures to assess if their airplanes can tolerate radio interference from PEDs. Once an airline verifies the
tolerance of its fleet, it can allow passengers to use handheld,
lightweight electronic devices - such as tablets, e-readers, and
smartphones - at all altitudes. In rare instances of low visibility,
the crew will instruct passengers to turn off their devices during landing. The group also recommended that heavier devices
should be safely stowed under seats or in overhead bins during
takeoff and landing.
The FAA is streamlining the approval of expanded PED use
by giving airlines updated, clear guidance. This FAA tool will
help airlines assess the risks of potential PED-induced avionics
problems for their airplanes and specific operations. Airlines
will evaluate avionics, as well as changes to stowage rules and
passenger announcements. Each airline will also need to revise
manuals, checklists for crewmember training materials, carry-on
baggage programs and passenger briefings before expanding use

Avionics News December 2013

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Avionics News December 2013