But U.S. Court Of Appeals Says Airlines Have Jurisdiction Over Use

The Association of Flight Attendants has lost a round in court in its effort to force passengers to stow their electronic devices during takeoffs and landings.

In arguments heard Friday in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, the union held that the devices can distract passengers from safety announcement, and could become projectiles in the event of an emergency. It also argued that the FAA changed its policy on the use of the devices without steps required by law.

But the Associated Press reports that the three-judge panel disagreed, telling the AFA's attorney Amanda Dure that airlines "have always had discretion on how to handle this."

Dure had argued that the FAA's decision to allow use of Personal Electronic Devices (PEDs) during all phases of flight was in violation of the federal Administrative Procedures Act. However, the U.S. government filed court documents indicating that the FAA's action did not trigger the requirements of the act, and that the court did not have the authority to review the issue.

A written ruling will be issued at a later date, according to the report.

FMI: www.cadc.uscourts.gov/internet/home.nsf