PETITION TO CONDUCT RULEMAKING TO PREVENT EXTREME ONBOARD TEMPERATURES
October 10, 2018
On July 2, 2018, the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA) petitioned the Secretary of Transportation to conduct a rulemaking to establish operational temperature standards on commercial airplanes. The rule would establish limits for a comfortable cabin temperature for passenger planes operated by both U.S. and foreign carriers. The petition calls for adoption of the temperature limitations specified in Standard 161 of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers.
AFA argues that the rule would be in the public interest to prevent illnesses or injury caused by extreme temperatures. AFA stated that there have been numerous incidents of extreme temperature conditions, caused by in-flight crowding, that drew national attention. As an example, in June 2017 in Denver, Colorado, an infant was rushed by ambulance to a hospital after it was forced to endure an “oven with wings” aboard an aircraft. This incident was covered by the Associated Press and ABC News.
The petition has broad support from various labor groups and other allies, including: the Transportation Workers Union of America, AFL-CIO; FlyersRights.org; Air Lines Pilots Association; and the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO.
If you have any questions, please contact Evelyn Sahr (esahr@eckertseamans.com or 202-659-6622); Drew Derco (dderco@eckertseamans.com or 202-659-6665), or Alexander Matthews (amatthews@eckertseamans.com or 202-659-6633).
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