Flying TV Screens: When In-Flight Entertainment Becomes Actual Flight Risk
Published Date: 1/17/2025
Proposed Rule
Summary
The FAA wants to make sure certain Boeing 737 planes are safer by fixing video monitors that can fall off during hard landings. If your plane has these monitors without backup lanyards, they’ll need to be replaced. This change affects airlines and could cost some money, with feedback due by March 3, 2025.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 3 costs, 0 mixed.
Operators Must Replace Unsafe PSU Monitors
If you operate Boeing Model 737-600, -700, -700C, -800, -900, or -900ER airplanes equipped with passenger service unit (PSU)-mounted video monitors, you must replace any PSU-mounted video monitor that does not have a secondary retention lanyard. For airplanes identified in Boeing Special Attention Requirements Bulletins 737-25-1851 RB and 737-25-1858 RB (both dated December 15, 2023), follow the compliance times in those bulletins as required by the AD; for other airplanes, replace such monitors within 60 months after the effective date of the AD using an FAA‑approved method.
Estimated Per‑Monitor and Fleet Costs
The FAA estimates 459 U.S.-registered airplanes are affected. Labor for replacement is estimated at 2 work-hours per monitor (2 x $85/hour = $170). Parts costs are listed as $2,734 per Burrana monitor (cost per monitor $2,904) and $354 per Panasonic monitor (cost per monitor $524), with other monitors up to $2,734 (cost per monitor up to $2,904). The FAA estimates fleet-level costs up to $5,401,440 for Burrana-identified airplanes, up to $5,376,240 for Panasonic-identified airplanes, and up to $4,791,600 for other identified airplanes.
Reducing Passenger Injury and Evacuation Risk
The rule addresses reports that PSU-mounted video monitors detached from PSU rails during a hard landing. Requiring monitors with secondary retention lanyards aims to prevent monitors becoming fully detached or held at an unsafe height, which could injure passengers or impede passenger and crew egress during an emergency evacuation.
Applicability Expanded to Modified Airplanes
Although the referenced Boeing bulletins are limited to certain production line numbers, this proposed AD expands applicability to include Model 737-600, -700, -700C, -800, -900, and -900ER airplanes equipped with PSU-mounted video monitors installed via supplemental type certificate or other modifications to ensure the unsafe condition is addressed across the fleet.
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Key Dates
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The FAA wants to make sure certain Boeing 757-200 and -300 airplanes are safer by fixing a problem where video monitors above passengers can fall off during hard landings. They’re proposing to replace monitors that don’t have extra safety lanyards to keep them secure. Airlines and operators should act soon, with comments due by March 3, 2025, and expect some costs to update these monitors.