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Passenger allowed out of their seat during the last 30 mins of flight contrary to the washington, dc, security zone procedures.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 566641 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200211 |
| Day | Thu |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601 To 1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | intersection : oxonn |
| State Reference | MD |
| Altitude | agl single value : 4000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | IMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tracon : dca.tracon |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | Regional Jet CL65, Undifferentiated or Other Model |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | descent : holding |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Qualification | pilot : atp pilot : cfi |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 170 flight time total : 3700 flight time type : 2000 |
| ASRS Report | 566641 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | inflight encounter : weather non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | other |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Passenger Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance FAA Weather |
| Primary Problem | Weather |
Narrative:
We had just entered a hold at oxonn LOM for the ILS 1 into dca. The RVR had dropped below minimums, so a holding clearance was issued. I spoke to our flight attendant. She asked if people could leave their seats to use the lavatory. I told her no because we were inside the dca security zone where passenger must remain seated for the final 30 mins of the flight. Approximately 30 mins later she called us again. There was a child in the cabin that was about to soil themselves if he/she didn't use the lavatory. I instructed her to allow the child to use the lavatory. The flight attendant was instructed to guard the cockpit door and watch the situation. The child used the lavatory and returned to his/her seat. I understand this was a breach under the strictest definition, however, the situation was not anticipated when the rules were written. I believe some common sense flexibility must be built into the situation.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: PAX ALLOWED OUT OF THEIR SEAT DURING THE LAST 30 MINS OF FLT CONTRARY TO THE WASHINGTON, DC, SECURITY ZONE PROCS.
Narrative: WE HAD JUST ENTERED A HOLD AT OXONN LOM FOR THE ILS 1 INTO DCA. THE RVR HAD DROPPED BELOW MINIMUMS, SO A HOLDING CLRNC WAS ISSUED. I SPOKE TO OUR FLT ATTENDANT. SHE ASKED IF PEOPLE COULD LEAVE THEIR SEATS TO USE THE LAVATORY. I TOLD HER NO BECAUSE WE WERE INSIDE THE DCA SECURITY ZONE WHERE PAX MUST REMAIN SEATED FOR THE FINAL 30 MINS OF THE FLT. APPROX 30 MINS LATER SHE CALLED US AGAIN. THERE WAS A CHILD IN THE CABIN THAT WAS ABOUT TO SOIL THEMSELVES IF HE/SHE DIDN'T USE THE LAVATORY. I INSTRUCTED HER TO ALLOW THE CHILD TO USE THE LAVATORY. THE FLT ATTENDANT WAS INSTRUCTED TO GUARD THE COCKPIT DOOR AND WATCH THE SIT. THE CHILD USED THE LAVATORY AND RETURNED TO HIS/HER SEAT. I UNDERSTAND THIS WAS A BREACH UNDER THE STRICTEST DEFINITION, HOWEVER, THE SIT WAS NOT ANTICIPATED WHEN THE RULES WERE WRITTEN. I BELIEVE SOME COMMON SENSE FLEXIBILITY MUST BE BUILT INTO THE SIT.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.