Cabin attendant fails to recognize that passenger operated portable oxygen concentrator failed to co...

Attributes
ACN	720272
Time
Date	200610
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zzz.artcc
State Reference	US
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zzz.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight attendant : on duty
ASRS Report	720272
Person 2
Function	observation : passenger
Events
Anomaly	cabin event : passenger contraband non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure non adherence : company policies
Independent Detector	other other : 1 cabin att
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Passenger Human Performance Cabin Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Passenger Human Performance

Narrative:

I was walking from first class through economy and noticed a passenger was using a nasal cannula. I inquired what he was using and he showed me his portable oxygen concentrator (poc) at his feet. He showed me the sticker stating that it was 'approved by the FAA for onboard use.' this was my first experience of having a poc onboard. I accepted the sticker at 'face value' and discussed the advancement of technology with the passenger sensitive to his needs for therapeutic oxygen. He also mentioned the fact that he turned off the poc for takeoff and landing because it operated by battery power. I made the inadvertent safety violation by not referring to my manual to check for in-flight use. This is permitted as carry-on baggage but not currently allowed for onboard use. I was wrong to surmise the first lines of defense; tsa screening and observations made while boarding by customer service personnel would 'weed out' unacceptable carry-ONS.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CABIN ATTENDANT FAILS TO RECOGNIZE THAT PAX OPERATED PORTABLE OXYGEN CONCENTRATOR FAILED TO COMPLY WITH COMPANY REGS FOR CARRY-ON BAGGAGE.

Narrative: I WAS WALKING FROM FIRST CLASS THROUGH ECONOMY AND NOTICED A PAX WAS USING A NASAL CANNULA. I INQUIRED WHAT HE WAS USING AND HE SHOWED ME HIS PORTABLE OXYGEN CONCENTRATOR (POC) AT HIS FEET. HE SHOWED ME THE STICKER STATING THAT IT WAS 'APPROVED BY THE FAA FOR ONBOARD USE.' THIS WAS MY FIRST EXPERIENCE OF HAVING A POC ONBOARD. I ACCEPTED THE STICKER AT 'FACE VALUE' AND DISCUSSED THE ADVANCEMENT OF TECHNOLOGY WITH THE PAX SENSITIVE TO HIS NEEDS FOR THERAPEUTIC OXYGEN. HE ALSO MENTIONED THE FACT THAT HE TURNED OFF THE POC FOR TKOF AND LNDG BECAUSE IT OPERATED BY BATTERY PWR. I MADE THE INADVERTENT SAFETY VIOLATION BY NOT REFERRING TO MY MANUAL TO CHK FOR INFLT USE. THIS IS PERMITTED AS CARRY-ON BAGGAGE BUT NOT CURRENTLY ALLOWED FOR ONBOARD USE. I WAS WRONG TO SURMISE THE FIRST LINES OF DEFENSE; TSA SCREENING AND OBSERVATIONS MADE WHILE BOARDING BY CUSTOMER SVC PERSONNEL WOULD 'WEED OUT' UNACCEPTABLE CARRY-ONS.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.

Cabin attendant fails to recognize that passenger operated portable oxygen concentrator failed to comply with company regulations for carry-on baggage.