P-I REPORTER
The Federal Aviation Administration has begun scrutinizing YouTube videos taken from the cockpits of Horizon Air planes.
Although most of the videos have been taken down, 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.
With the exception of filming for training, it is against federal regulations for pilots or passengers to use such devices during takeoffs and landings, as they could interfere with instrument and landing system navigation radios.
Cockpits also are supposed to be sterile environments, free of distractions, and federal regulations prohibit pilots from being engaged in any activity below 10,000 feet that is not conducive to flights.
"We do not condone anything like that," Horizon Air spokeswoman Jen Boyer said of the takeoff and landing videos that were posted.
"We are cooperating with the FAA. We were all over it right away and immediately talked to our entire pilot crew," the spokeswoman said.
FAA spokesman Allen Kenitzer said Monday that the agency had just learned of the videos and could not comment further on its investigation.
Boyer said Horizon Air knows of one recent incident under investigation. The video was still posted as recently as several days ago, but it has been removed.
It was evidently taken by someone in the cockpit's jump seat, not a pilot. It showed a takeoff from Boise with audio that said: "I was lucky enough to have a jump seater take video of me in action! We're departing Boise for Seattle."
Boyer said open jump seats can be used by airline employees or those of other airlines on reciprocal agreements, but the same rules apply.
"We have a very strict sterile cockpit policy, which includes jump seater," she said. That also means sitting quietly in silence under 10,000 feet and doing nothing to distract the crew, she said.
Я пока свое видео с ютуба не убирал но уже задумываюсь
