Crewmember Requirements When Passengers are Onboard

Currently, during passenger boarding and deplaning, all flight attendants are required to be on board the airplane. This final rule will allow one required flight attendant to deplane during passenger boarding, to conduct safety-related duties, as long as certain conditions are met. In addition, this rule will allow a pilot or flight engineer not assigned to the flight to substitute for a flight attendant when that flight attendant does not remain within the immediate vicinity of the door through which passengers are boarding. This rule will also allow a reduction of flight attendants remaining on board the airplane during passenger deplaning, as long as certain conditions are met. The FAA has determined that these revisions to current regulations can be made as a result of recent safety enhancements to airplane equipment and procedures. These changes have mitigated the risks to passengers during ground operations that previously required all flight attendants to be on board the airplane during passenger boarding and deplaning.