NOTICE

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION
National Policy

N 8900.240
Effective Date:
10/31/13
Cancellation Date:
10/31/14

SUBJ: Expanded Use of Passenger Portable Electronic Devices (PED)
1. Purpose of This Notice. This notice provides guidance to aviation safety inspectors (ASI) providing oversight of Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) parts 91 subpart K
(part 91K), 121, 125 (including Letter of Deviation Authority (LODA) 125M), and 135 certificate holders implementing policy that allows expanded use of passenger-supplied portable electronic devices (PEDs) throughout various phases of flight. This notice also includes information about the PED Focus Team (PFT) established to support ASIs in reviewing, evaluating, and accepting the operator’s proposals for expanded use of PEDs.
2. Audience. The primary audience for this notice is Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
Flight Standards Service (AFS) field offices (Flight Standards District Offices (FSDO)), certificate management offices (CMO), and ASIs with oversight responsibility of aircraft operations conducted under parts 91K, 121, 125, and 135. The secondary audience includes AFS divisions, branches, regions, and headquarters (HQ).
3. Where You Can Find This Notice. Inspectors can access this notice through the Flight
Standards Information Management System (FSIMS) at http://www.fsims.avs.faa.gov. Operators and the public can find this notice at http://fsims.faa.gov. This notice is available to the public at http://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/orders_notices. 4. Background. On January 7, 2013, the FAA established the PED Aviation Rulemaking
Committee (ARC) to provide a forum for the U.S. aviation community and government regulatory groups to review PED policy and guidance. This ARC was tasked with making recommendations on allowing additional passenger PED usage without compromising the continued safe operation of the aircraft. The ARC submitted its final report and recommendations to the FAA on September 30, 2013. The report contains recommendations that can be implemented in the very near term, as well as changes in policy and guidance that need additional time to be considered and implemented.
5. PED Use Determination. Sections 91.21, 121.306, 125.204, and 135.144 establish the regulatory requirements for the use of PEDs. The regulations permit the unrestricted use of portable voice recorders, hearing aids, heart pacemakers, and electric shavers. Additionally, the regulations permit the use of “any other portable electronic device that the operator of the aircraft has determined will not cause interference with the navigation or communication system of the aircraft on which it is to be used.” With the exception of the four devices listed above, the aircraft

Distribution: Electronic Only

Initiated By: AFS-200

10/31/13

N 8900.240

operator is solely responsible for determining which PEDs may be used on its aircraft. Each operator’s PED policy identifies what types of devices may be used during which phase(s) of flight. Crewmembers are responsible for informing passengers about the aircraft operator’s PED policy. 6. Guidance Documents for Operators. The PED ARC report identified a method of expanding the use of passenger PEDs beyond what is typically approved today. To support industry, the FAA has drafted InFO 13010 and an associated Aid for Operators to provide initial guidance on an acceptable method for the expanded use of passenger PEDs. This guidance and the ARC report can be found at the following links:
a. ARC Report: http://www.faa.gov/news/.
b. Expanding PED Use Guidance and FAQs: http://www.faa.gov/passengers/.
c. Aid for Operators: http://www.faa.gov/other_visit/aviation_industry/airline_operators/.
d. InFO 13010: http://www.faa.gov/other_visit/aviation_industry/airline_operators/airline_safety/info/all_infos/. 7. PED Focus Team (PFT).