United Airlines is seeking an exemption from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), via a filing made on February 12, to allow its A321 aircraft to operate without the ability to turn off No Smoking signs.
The exemption relates to the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations with the 2003 FAA issued Equivalent Safety Findings (ESF) memo 14 CFR §121.317(a), which states that ""the signs must be constructed so that the crewmembers can turn them on and off"" in order to be compliant with 14 CFR § 25.791. United Airlines' A321 aircraft's smoking information signs are ""enabled to stay illuminated at all times.""
United state that while unable to turn off and on, the signs are compliant with 14 CFR §121.317(c) which states that the signs ""must be illuminated during the entire flight.""
In its exemption petition, United also asked for the public comment phase to be waivered under Title 14 CFR Part 11.87(a), which states that the FAA may not request comment if the good cause to not delay the petition is found. One factor in making that decision is whether granting the petition ""would set a precedent."" United said: ""There is no precedent being set with this request as it is granting the same relief as has been previously allowed by United and other operator’s exemptions for similarly equipped aircraft.""
The filing said that the on/off switch was at ""the lowest level"" of United's measured risk assessment and that it ""found no adverse effects to public safety"". It added that the lack of an on/off switch is in fact safer due to preventing the sign ""from being inadvertently turned off.""
United seeks A321 No Smoking sign ""on and off"" exemption
