Source: http://sluggoaafa.blogspot.com/2009/11/
Timestamp: 2017-06-28 10:37:42
Document Index: 754879401

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 3', 'art 121', '§ 121', 'art 91', 'art 121', 'art 91']

Sluggo's Blog: 11/01/2009 - 12/01/2009
InFO Information for Operators InFO 09018 DATE: 11/12/09
An InFO contains valuable information for (clip)... impact on safety. Subject: Stowage of Items in Seat Pockets Purpose: To clarify guidance for air carriers about the stowage of items in seat pockets.
Discussion: Existing Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) policy in FAA Order 8900.1, Volume 3, Chapter 33, Section 6, part 3-3547. CARRY-ON BAGGAGE, Section F #5, Operations—Cabin Safety, states that carry-on baggage programs should... Define properly stowed, to include overhead bin stowage and under seat stowage. For proper under seat stowage of carry-on baggage, there must be forward and side restraints to prevent bags from sliding into the aisle. Prohibit the stowage of carry-on baggage and other items in the lavatories and seat back pockets (the only items allowed in seat back pockets should be magazines and passenger information cards)... The intent of the carry-on baggage regulation, [I]Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 121, § 121.589, is to prevent carry-on items from slowing an emergency evacuation and to prevent injury to passengers by ensuring items are properly restrained. Seat pockets have been designed to restrain approximately 3 pounds of weight and not the weight of additional carry-on items. Seat pockets are not listed in the regulation as an approved stowage location for carry-on baggage. If a seat pocket fails to restrain its contents, the contents of the seat pocket may impede emergency evacuation or may strike and injure a passenger. If small, lightweight items, such as eyeglasses or a cell phone, can be placed in the seat pocket without exceeding the total designed weight limitation of the seat pocket or so that the seat pocket does not block anyone from evacuating the row of seats, it may be safe to do so. The requirements of the carry-on baggage regulation are applicable to take-off and landing. Nothing in the carry-on baggage regulation prohibits a passenger from taking out small personal items from an approved stowage location and placing them in the seat pocket after takeoff and stowing them in approved locations prior to landing. Crewmembers may still direct a passenger to stow carry-on items in an approved stowage location, during flight should they pose a hazard, such as in the case of turbulence.
It's hard to believe that many drum and bugle corps are holding their first audition and/or instructional camps this weekend. Ever since October 15th, top directors of the top 12 corps, DCI staff and other corps representatives gathered in Chicago for an annual meeting to firm up a working schedule for the 2010 Drum Corps International Tour.
It truly feels that it was just yesterday when I saw my only 2009 show in Stillwater, MN. It was all over before I knew it. Now, it's starting all over again with annual banquets, auditions, and instructional camps one weekend a month until move-in, usually around Memorial Day weekend.
Drum Corps International today announced the schedule for the 2010 DCI tour. I'm extremely happy, no, ecstatic, to see that DCI will be here in Minnesota not just for their normal Stillwater and Mankato shows, but also a new show at the University of Minnesota's TCF Bank Stadium.
Saturday, July 17 will feature a first-time DCI Premier Event in Minneapolis, MN, at the new TCF Bank Stadium which is home to the University of Minnesota’s Golden Gophers. Showcasing the performances of 24 All-Age, Open and World Class corps, this new Minnesota event will coincide with the educational System Blue Marching Band Skills Camp which will give students and educators the opportunity to learn from the members and staff of the Blue Devils and Santa Clara Vanguard.
I am so excited for this show as it will be the first biggest show with 24 corps that I have seen in a long time. (actually since I was volunteering with The Cavaliers in 2003) I may not be able to watch the first show on June 27th in Stillwater (which is a great location for a show) because it is Twin Cities Pride weekend here in Minneapolis, but you can bet your sweet bippy that I will be inside the TCF Band Stadium to witness a great night of drum corps! New events, new locations, new venues and the unprecedented excitement that only the corps of Marching Music’s Major League can deliver are all on schedule for another spectacular summer! The 2010 Drum Corps International Tour will be comprised of an impressive lineup of 113 events in 39 states taking place over a 58-day span from June through August.
So be sure to check out DCI's website to see if there is a Drum Corps show in your city!
Of all the e-mails I receive, airport security and the whole process of airport security tops the list of questions, comments and complaints. Maybe it is just that I am in tune with how airport security works that it does not phase me, but I know the whole process is confusing and frustrating to millions of air travellers around the world. So…without further ado…I present to you, The Passenger Airport Security Screening Experience…From Start To Finish. This security process is virtually identical around the world. 1) The Line Up — The Line Up is simple. It is where passengers begin to line up to enter the security-screening checkpoint. You only enter the security-screening checkpoint once you have your boarding pass (I have seen people get all the way through the security line only to be turned away because they forgot to pick up their boarding pass). 2) The ID Checker — This is the security person at the ‘entrance’ to the actual screening process. This person inspects your photo identification (usually a passport or drivers license) and your travel documents to make sure your name/face match those on your boarding pass. 3) The Barker — ‘The Barker’ is the security person who walks up and down the line ‘barking’ that you should have your boarding pass and valid photo identification out and available for inspection, that your laptop should be out of your bag for x-ray inspection and that you are only entitled to only pass through security with no more than 3oz of liquids in each container (you may actually have 3.4oz), these containers must be in one single 1-quart bag and only one bag per person (hence ‘3-1-1′ bag). “The Barker” may also split a single line into two lines, ask to see you boarding pass and at times just intimidate inexperienced travelers. 4) The Long Table — The actual x-ray and metal detector process usually begins with a long table with plastic bins. This is where you remove your shoes (if required, the TSA does require it everywhere though); your laptop (if required); your 3-1-1 bag (now
virtually universal at all security worldwide). You also want to start making sure you have no metal on you, this means place your coins, keys, mobile phone, etc in a secure pocket, or inside one of your bags. 5) The Bins — Every ‘Long Table’ has ‘The Bins.’ ‘The Bins’ are where you’ll place your jacket, laptop and other lose items. Some airports require shoes go in a bin, others do not. When it doubt, toss them in a bin. 6) The X-Ray Scanner — At the end of the ‘Long Table” is the X-Ray Scanner and its conveyor belt. You want to place your bags and bins in the X-Ray scanner. Remember that bins go in vertically NOT horizontally. Make sure you witness your bags entering the X-Ray scanner before proceeding to the next step, and from that moment never take your eyes off the ‘exit’ of the x-ray scanner! Also remember to keep your boarding pass out and in your hand, do not place that through with your bags and bins. 7) The Metal Detector — Once your bags and bins are in the x-ray scanner (and your boarding pass is in your hand!) you’ll line up for the metal detector. Always wait outside the metal detector until the security personnel have motioned for you to pass through the metal detector. Before passing through pat yourself down to check for any metal items you may have missed. If you have any loose metal items declare them before you go through the metal detector. 7a) The Metal Detector Wand (if you set off the alarm)– ‘The Wand’ is a simple hand held metal detector used by security personnel to check passengers who have set off the metal detector multiple times. You are usually hold your arms out and are ‘traced’ with the wand to find the source of the metal. 8 ) The Rollout — ‘The Roll-Out’ is the end of the X-Ray scanner where you retrieve your bags-n-bins. Pay attention that you have all your items and that they have exited the x-ray scanner before walking off. Take your items methodically from the x-ray scanner and if you must ‘put yourself back together’ do so at the chair or benches away from the x-ray scanner. By moving away from the x-ray scanner you’re not only allowing other
passengers to proceed through, but you’re also moving to a calmer environment to put your shoes on, put your laptop away, put your 3-1-1 bag away and retrieve the small metal items you have placed in a pocket or a bag. 9) The Bag Check (**NOT EVERYONE GETS A BAG CHECK**) — There seem to be few words dreaded more than hearing “BAG CHECK LANE 7″ (or whatever lane you’re in) for many passengers. Honestly, I know what my carry on bags look like and I’m personally often more concerned when I don’t here this being yelled out while the x-ray security operator is viewing my bag. A bag check is really simple. You collect all your items, just as discussed in “8 ) The Rollout” and a security screener carries one of your bags, in your full view, to a separate table. At that table you must never touch your items unless instructed to do so, the screener will look through tour bag and possibly wipe it down with a swab intended to detect explosives. This is not a big deal; when they are done you repack your bag (unless you have explosives in which case you have a lot of explaining to do and you’ll be greeted by law enforcement shortly). 10) Have A Good Flight — Make sure you have all of your possessions and head off into the terminal to have a good flight. Above is a photo of the TSA security screening process at JFK Airport’s Terminal 7.
Why don't airlines allow cell phone use when aircraft door is closed?
If you really want to see a friendly flight attendant go from nice to crabby, just keep your cell phone on and ignore them when the "Please turn off all electronic devices" public announcement is made. This will ensure a different creature comes out, but why?
Flight Attendants have to make sure that the aircraft cabin is ready for departure. Before they can inform the Captain that it's ready, all regulations that the airline must follow per the Federal Aviation Administration need to be in place, which brings us to Portable Electronic Devices.
Per FAA Title 14, Part 91.21, and Part 121.306,"Portable Electronic Devices" "no person may operate, nor may any operator or pilot in command of an aircraft allow the operation of, any portable electronic device on any of the following U.S.-registered civil aircraft:
(2) Any other aircraft while it is operated under IFR"
But the question remains, why do flight attendants get so frustrated, mad, or go 'postal' (for lack of a better word) when a passenger ignores them when asked to turn off the device? It's quite simple; If the passenger can't follow a simple rule while on the ground, then what's going to happen once they are in the air? Can't you just turn off your device for 10-30 minutes until it's ok to turn on your device back on?
ABCnews.com did a great article back in February asking this same question. Why Can't we use Cell Phones on Planes? by KI MAE HEUSSNER. The article highlights that "contrary to what most passengers think, it's the FCC – not the FAA – that implemented the cell phone ban in the first place". The article goes on describing "That before an airline could allow cell phone use in-flight, it would have to prove to the FAA that it wouldn't interfere with the airplane systems." But the FAA says the point is moot.
"As far as the wireless system goes, the final authority rests with the FCC," Les Dorr, an FAA spokesman told ABCNews.com. Since 1991, the FCC has banned the use of cell phones on airplanes because of potential interference with ground networks.
20/20 did an interview to see if Cell Phones are Dangerous in Flight: Myth of Fact. Whether it's proven that there is little to no interference from one cell phone, or one electronic device, why take the risk into your own hands? Even though there isn't proof that a cell phone can bring down a plane, until the FAA and the FCC say using cell phones in flight is safe, it's probably best to just keep those gadgets off. There is also a good video back in 2006 about Phone Safety in the Sky with Scott McCartney who writes "The Middle Seat" column with the Wall Street Journal.
What about the use of internet on board? The Internet In-Flight is new technology that is being added to planes like wild fire. It's amazing how fast airlines are adapting to the new technology, but the planes are outfitted with a system, which includes three antennas outside the plane to receive signals transmitted by AirCell cellular towers across the country.
Legit Review.com did a great article on their website about "GoGo inflight internet speed which they tested during a flight. While traveling at speeds over 500mph, Legit reported the service was "not as good as what we see at home on our Charter Cable Plus (10 Mb/s) service, but not bad for being the first generation of Wi-Fi service in an airplane."
The biggest difference between these two is cell phones continuously search for a tower. As of right now, planes do not have any antenna's for such use, so it's great to not have to listen to that business person screaming to finalize his/her deal. This way, they can do it quietly on the internet!
It's always better to turn off your device for those few minutes. One, no matter if it's your first time flying, or your 2millionth, it's always best to stop what you are doing, and watch the flight attendants do their safety demo, (or watch the video). That safety announcement is 100x more important than that text on your phone. Remember, it was less than 6minutes after take-off when USAirways flight 1549 had to ditch into the Hudson back in January.
Just remember to follow your flight attendants instructions though. Per FAA title 14, Part 91.11: "No person may assault, threaten, intimidate, or interfere with a crewmember in the performance of the crewmember's duties aboard an aircraft being operated" An incident report may be filed with the appropriate federal agency if you do. The Federal Aviation Act provides for fines of up to $10,000. In the case of interference with a crew member in the performance of crew duties, imprisonment for up to twenty years may be imposed in addition to the fine. Posted by
This is a question that Flight Attendants often get when passengers board the airplane. The only problem is, flight attendants don't know how heavy your bag is because we didn't pack it. There have been many times that I would see an elderly woman with a bag and would offer to put it into the overhead bin. The only problem is the few times I offered to help, it's heavier than expected, and heavier than my own carry-on bag. Now, the majority of flight attendants will be more than glad to assist you with your bag. Just don't expect them to actually lift it for you. I was in the back of an airplane one time and this woman asked me to assist her, so I was glad to offer my assistance. The only problem is that once we were lifting it, she completely let go and I almost dropped the bag on the passenger below. It took all my might to not drop it, and luckily it didn't fall. The only problem, I had a very sore shoulder the rest of the day because of it.
The best rule to remember is if You packed it, then You lift it. There have been too many flight attendants injured and have had to undergo surgery on their shoulders to replace their rotator cuff. If a flight attendant tears their rotator cuff due to lifting a passengers bag, they may not be covered from their insurance. This isn't good. This means that they may have to take time off from work, using their sick time and this will often be looked down upon from the airline. A torn rotator cuff is not something that many airlines will cover with insurance, hence why many crew members will not actually lift your bag. Many will be more than happy help you find a spot for your bag, but please don't expect any of them to actually lift it because a torn rotator cuff hurts. Thankfully, I haven't had to undergo this surgery yet, but I'm sure at some time/point, I might.
There have been lots of interesting news this past week: British Airways and Iberia agreeing on a combined company London arrests a UAL Pilot for being drunk before a flight to Chicago. Iberia's Flight Attendants striking for better wages.
Flight Attendants get same FMLA as 9-5 jobs. Couple jailed after stealing bags at PHX Sky Harbor Airport
Why don't airlines allow cell phone use when aircr...