5 September 2012
FAA Study of Cellphone Use on Board Aircraft
[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 172 (Wednesday, September 5, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 54651]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-21826]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
Study on the Use of Cell Phones On Board Aircraft
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of availability and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: The FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (Pub. L. 112-95)
directed the Administrator of the FAA to conduct a study on the impact
of the use of cell phones for voice communications in an aircraft
during a flight in scheduled air transportation. A draft report on this
study is currently available for review and public comment at
http://www.faa.gov/aircraft/draft_docs/.
DATES: Written comments must be received on or before November 5, 2012.
ADDRESSES: Send comments identified as Cell Phone Study Comments using
any of the following methods:
E-Mail: Send comments to CELLPHONEcomment@faa.gov.
Mail: Send comments to Avionics Maintenance Branch, AFS-
360, Flight Standards Service, Federal Aviation Administration, 800
Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20591.
Fax: Fax comments to (202) 385-6474.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions concerning this action,
contact David B. Walen, Chief Scientific and Technical Advisor for
Aircraft Electromagnetic Compatibility, Aviation Safety, Federal
Aviation Administration, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, Washington
98057; telephone (425) 917-6586; facsimile (425) 917-6590; email
dave.walen@faa.gov.
Background
The FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 \1\ directed the
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to conduct a study on the impact
of the use of cell phones for voice communications in scheduled
passenger air transportation and provide a 60-day opportunity for
public comment. The Act also requires the FAA to report to Congress on
the results of the study by Nov 10, 2012. Air carriers do not allow the
use of cell phones on their airplanes in flight in US airspace, because
Federal Communications Commission regulations prohibit the use of
certain classes of cell phones while airborne.\2\ FAA guidance \3\
supports this airborne restriction because of the potential for cell
phone interference to aircraft systems and equipment.
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\1\ FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012, H.R. 658.
\2\ 47 CFR 22.925.
\3\ FAA Advisory Circular 91.21-1B, Use of Portable Electronic
Devices Aboard Aircraft, August 25, 2006.
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The FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 section 410 directed
the FAA to conduct a study on the impact of the use of cell phones for
voice communications in scheduled passenger air transportation. The
study included--
(1) A review of foreign government and air carrier policies on the
use of cell phones during flight;
(2) A review of the extent to which passengers use cell phones for
voice communications during flight; and
(3) A summary of any impacts of cell phone use during flight on
safety, the quality of the flight experience of passengers, and flight
attendants.
FAA requested information on these subjects from the national
aviation authorities that have approved the installation of on-board
cell phone base stations, and allowed the use of cell phones in flight
on aircraft equipped with these base stations. The responses from these
national aviation authorities were documented in the FAA report to
address the requirements of FAA Modernization and Reform Act section
410.
In accordance with the Congressional direction, a report on this
study is available for review and public comment at
http://www.faa.gov/aircraft/draft_docs/.
Considerations for Comment
The FAA Modernization and Reform Act section 410 does not direct
FAA or FCC to change the existing policies and regulations that govern
the use of cell phones in flight. However, this study provides factual
information on the experience of airlines and the national aviation
authorities that allow the use of cell phones in flight. Any future
rulemaking related to airborne cell phone use will consider this study.
The FAA is interested in obtaining comments on the report that
documents the study on the use of cell phones on passenger aircraft. We
are soliciting comments in the following general areas:
Information from aircraft operators that may not have been
provided in the responses from the national aviation authorities;
Flight attendant and pilot experience with cell phone use
on aircraft equipped with on-board cell phone base stations;
Passenger experience on aircraft equipped with on-board
cell phone base stations.
Request for Comments
The FAA invites interested persons to submit written comments,
data, or views. The agency also invites comments relating to the
economic, environmental, energy, or federalism impacts that might
result from changes in our current policy. The most helpful comments
reference a specific area of concern, explain the reason for any
recommended change, and include supporting data. Commenters should
submit their comment(s) only once, in either written or electronic
form, to ensure there is no duplication.
The FAA will consider all comments it receives on or before the
closing date for comments. The FAA will consider comments filed after
the comment period has closed if it is possible to do so without
incurring expense or delay. The FAA will summarize the comments
received in a final revision of the cell phone study.
Proprietary or Confidential Business Information: Proprietary or
confidential business information must be sent or delivered directly to
the person identified in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of
this document, and marked as proprietary or confidential. If submitting
information on a disk or CD ROM, mark the outside of the disk or CD
ROM, and identify electronically within the disk or CD ROM the specific
information that is proprietary or confidential.
Under 14 CFR 11.35(b), the FAA is aware of proprietary information
filed with a comment and does not make it publically available. It is
held in a separate file to which the public does not have access. If
the FAA receives a request to examine or copy this information, it
treats it as any other request under the Freedom of Information Act (5
U.S.C. 552). The FAA processes such a request under Department of
Transportation procedures found in 49 CFR part 7.
Issued in Washington, DC on August 30, 2012.
Susan J. M. Cabler,
Asst. Manager, Aircraft Engineering Division, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-21826 Filed 9-4-12; 8:45 am]
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