FAA to pilots: Turn the ear candy off!

An aviation safety inspector on a routine check of an air carrier crew recently discovered that what applies to the back of the airplane doesn't necessarily apply to the business end.

According to a US Federal Aviation Administration Safety Alerts for Operators (SAFO) released today, an air safety inspector reviewing an airline recently was riding along in the cockpit on takeoff when he experienced "an event that was categorized as a potentially serious hazard," the report reads.

Apparently during the takeoff phase, just prior to reaching V1 (the speed after which pilots generally are committed to taking off rather than aborting on the runway), a rather loud "warbling" sound was "detected" by both crewmembers.  

"It was later determined that the sound came from the first officer's cellular phone, which had been left in the ON position," the SAFO continues.

As a result the ring tone caused a distraction between the crewmembers during the takeoff phase and could have led to crew to initiate an unnecessary rejected takeoff."

It gets better.

During what was likely a surly debriefing with the pilots, the crew revealed that their airline's general operations manual (GOM) didn't address procedures prohibiting the crew -- unlike the passengers -- from having their cell phones on while at their "duty stations", contrary to federal regulations and advisory circulars. And common sense? 

"Advisory Circular 91-21, paragraph 7B states in part, 'A cell phone will not be authorized for use while the aircraft is being taxied for departure after leaving the gate. The unit will be turned off and properly stowed to prepare the aircraft for takeoff as per the operator's procedures,'" the FAA states.

To solve the problem, the FAA is recommending that the director of operations for airlines and air taxi operators "perform a review of their respective GOM to determine if appropriate procedures are in place to remind crewmembers to turn off their cellular phones in preparation for departure."

What's more the agency wants the jumpseat checklists to cover those riders turning off their cell phones while on the flight deck.