Videos Recently Posted On YouTube Show Violation Of Regs

Certain amateur videos posted recently on YouTube have piqued the interest and warranted the scrutiny of the Federal Aviation Administration.

Taken from the cockpits of Horizon Air airliners, the videos are a violation of regulations prohibiting distractions in a supposed sterile cockpit environment and the use of electronic devices onboard such aircraft.

Except for the production of training films, FAA regulations do not allow pilots or passengers to use electronic equipment during takeoff or landing. Regs also prohibit pilots from engaging in activities below 10,000 feet that do not pertain to flying the plane.

The Seattle Post-Intelligencer said "the FAA and Horizon Air confirmed they are cooperating in an investigation into possible cockpit violations in which pilots allowed personal electronic devices to be used to record takeoffs and landings."

Spokesman Allen Kenitzer said Monday that the FAA could not comment further on the alleged violations under active investigation at this time.

Horizon Air spokeswoman Jen Boyer said, "We do not condone anything like that. We are cooperating with the FAA. We were all over it right away and immediately talked to our entire pilot crew."

According to Boyer, Horizon Air is aware of one recent incident under investigation. The video was still posted on YouTube as recently as several days ago, but she said it has since been removed.

It was not taken by a pilot, but by someone in the cockpit's jump seat. It featured a takeoff from Boise, including audio with someone saying, "I was lucky enough to have a jump seater take video of me in action! We're departing Boise for Seattle."

Boyer said, "We have a very strict sterile cockpit policy, which includes jump seater," which means sitting quietly in silence under 10,000 feet and doing nothing to distract the crew, she added.

FMI: www.faa.gov, www.alaskaair.com