American Airlines Safety

Keeping the customer safe focuses on the physical well being of passengers, as well as customer service and transportation initiatives to make every experience with American Airlines a safe and enjoyable one.

Buckle Up for Safety

• In nonfatal accidents, in-flight turbulence is the leading cause of injuries to airline passengers and flight attendants.
• Approximately 60 airline passengers in the United States are injured each year by turbulence while not wearing their seat belts.
• Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) require passengers to be seated with their seat belts properly fastened during takeoff, landing and anytime the "fasten seat belt" sign is illuminated during flight. Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) require passengers to be seated with their seat belts properly fastened when:
• The aircraft leaves the gate and until it climbs after takeoff.
• During landing until the aircraft reaches the gate and comes to a complete stop.
• Whenever the "fasten seat belt" sign is illuminated.
• Severe weather conditions, such as storms or strong headwinds, may arise during a flight. For these reasons, American advises it passengers to keep their seat belts fastened loosely across their lap while seated.

Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System
The Ground Proximity Warning System (GPWS) assists pilots in avoiding navigational errors that could cause a properly functioning airplane to hit terrain. The GPWS alerts pilots when an airplane is:

• Flying too low.
• Descending too quickly.
• Banking too sharply.
• Losing altitude after a takeoff or a go-around.
• Landing with the landing gear or wing flaps in the wrong position.

Following FAA approval in 1996, American was the first carrier in the world to begin installing the Enhanced-GPWS on its entire fleet.

Delays
Flight delays or cancellations may be caused by:

• Inclement weather.
• Mechanical difficulty.
• Baggage transfer delay.
• A catering problem.
• Late arrival of an inbound flight, resulting in a delayed departure time for an outbound flight.

In the event of a cancelled flight, American Airlines will accommodate passengers on the next flight with available seats or, in some circumstances, on another airline. If unable to reroute passengers, American Airlines may provide overnight accommodations, subject to availability.

Flights are sometimes diverted, or required to land at a location other than the flight’s intended destination. Medical emergencies and severe weather conditions are examples of situations when a flight could be diverted.

On rare occasions, there may be extraordinary events that result in lengthy onboard delays. These are situations in which an aircraft is delayed on the ground (other than on an active runway or taxiway), but does have access to a terminal gate. In instances like these, American Airlines will ensure its passengers the essential needs, such as food, water, restroom facilities and basic medical assistance.

Medical Assistance
American Airlines is an industry leader – the first – to equip all aircraft with automatic external defibrillators (AEDs). State-of-the-art enhanced medical kits are also standard equipment on all aircraft.

American has introduced the SkycAAre program to provide skilled medical companions for travelers who need limited medical attention or care during their flight. All medical companions on American flights are registered nurses, usually flight nurses.

American purchased 75 percent more oxygen units to meet the increasing needs of our customers requiring oxygen.

Cabin Air Quality
Three issues that affect air quality in the cabin are:

• Ratio of outside air to recirculated air
• Ratio at which outside air is replaced
• Oxygen content

American Airlines controls the air in its passenger cabins to keep customers as comfortable as possible and focuses on air purity through the filtration of recirculated air. The air in the passenger cabins always contains more oxygen than is needed.

Oxygen makes up 20 percent of fresh air, and the normal oxygen requirement for sedentary activities, such as sitting on a plane, requires only 2.4 percent of the amount American provides – 10 cubic feet per minute (cfm).

The cabin air that passengers breathe is a mixture of fresh air drawn from outside the aircraft and air that has been recirculated within the airplane.

Deicing

• American Airlines spends approximately $30 million annually to "clean" the wings and control surfaces of the aircraft for safe flight in cold weather.
• The deicing process involves spraying various fluids on the control surfaces of the airplane’s wings and tail, the wings themselves and, in some circumstances, the fuselage.
• FAA regulations require the deicing process to be completed no more than five minutes before takeoff. The fluids used for the process do not pose significant health risks to American employees or passengers.

Transporting Hazardous Goods
To ensure passenger safety for all flights, American Airlines has approved detailed guidelines and restrictions for the safe transport of certain materials.

Electronic devices approved for transport include:

• heart regulators, hearing aids and medical devices are accepted during all phases of flight.
• cell phones may be used while parked at the gate and must be turned off during taxi, takeoff and in-flight.
• portable electronic devices such as personal computers, electronic games and toys, audio/video players, camcorders and portable typewriters may be carried on board and used after takeoff.
• Law enforcement officials may carry weapons in the passenger cabin with proper authorization.
• Unloaded firearms, packed in a crushproof container or hard-sided, locked suitcase, are allowed in checked baggage only, and must be accompanied by a declaration form. A passenger is allowed to check a maximum of 11 pounds of ammunition, properly packed in the same container as the firearm.
• Recreational paint guns, without the CO2 cartridge, are acceptable as checked baggage. It is recommended that passengers alert ATO (Air Ticket Office) if they are transporting a paint gun.

Restricted Articles

• Stun guns, knives and military swords must be in checked baggage and do not require a declaration.
• Dry ice may be transported when the passenger completes a shipper’s declaration at check-in, with a $40 USD one-way charge.
• Laser pointers should be included in checked baggage.
• Tool boxes may be transported as checked baggage only.
• Medical-assistance devices with magnetic properties require clearance by special assistance coordinators (SAC).
• Butane hair curlers, without refills, are acceptable.
• Carbon dioxide cylinders, with two cylinders fitted in a life jacket plus two spares, are acceptable.
• All items listed as Prohibited Articles in Airport Services Rules and Procedures.

Smoking
As a result of Federal legislation, effective July 1, 1997, all American Airlines flights are nonsmoking. A few of American Airlines codeshare partners do allow smoking on their planes.