Narrative:

At dca I received indefinite ground hold for lga. I moved aircraft to remote spot, shut down all engines and ran electric and air from APU. I then released both seat belt and no smoking sign. Passenger were advised that smoking was on in aft cabin. Non smokers could move to front. 8-10 passenger elected to smoke. 1 passenger objected and stated that smoking was against the law. I felt that due indefinite delay, it was ok. We parted--he threatened letters. I think the regulation does not clearly define this activity. None of the crew smoked. We did this out of passenger consideration only. Prior to starting engines and taxi, aircraft was back in normal taxi state; ie, no smoking, seat belt signs on, aisles clear, etc.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PASSENGER FLT WITH EXTENDED DELAY MOVED TO GND HOLD POSITION, SHUT DOWN ENGINES, USING APU FOR AIR CIRCULATION AND POWER. CAPT ALLOWED SMOKING. SOME PASSENGERS OBJECTED AND CITED REGS.

Narrative: AT DCA I RECEIVED INDEFINITE GND HOLD FOR LGA. I MOVED ACFT TO REMOTE SPOT, SHUT DOWN ALL ENGS AND RAN ELECTRIC AND AIR FROM APU. I THEN RELEASED BOTH SEAT BELT AND NO SMOKING SIGN. PAX WERE ADVISED THAT SMOKING WAS ON IN AFT CABIN. NON SMOKERS COULD MOVE TO FRONT. 8-10 PAX ELECTED TO SMOKE. 1 PAX OBJECTED AND STATED THAT SMOKING WAS AGAINST THE LAW. I FELT THAT DUE INDEFINITE DELAY, IT WAS OK. WE PARTED--HE THREATENED LETTERS. I THINK THE REG DOES NOT CLEARLY DEFINE THIS ACTIVITY. NONE OF THE CREW SMOKED. WE DID THIS OUT OF PAX CONSIDERATION ONLY. PRIOR TO STARTING ENGS AND TAXI, ACFT WAS BACK IN NORMAL TAXI STATE; IE, NO SMOKING, SEAT BELT SIGNS ON, AISLES CLEAR, ETC.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.