[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2745 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 2745

  To prohibit the use of personal wireless communications devices and 
   laptop computers by the flight crew of commercial aircraft on the 
        flight deck of such aircraft during aircraft operations.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            November 5, 2009

     Mr. Dorgan (for himself, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Rockefeller, Mr. 
 Lautenberg, and Mr. Franken) introduced the following bill; which was 
  read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
                             Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To prohibit the use of personal wireless communications devices and 
   laptop computers by the flight crew of commercial aircraft on the 
        flight deck of such aircraft during aircraft operations.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Distracted Flying Act''.

SEC. 2. PROHIBITION ON PERSONAL USE OF CERTAIN DEVICES ON FLIGHT DECK.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 447 of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end thereof the following:
``44730. Use of certain devices on flight deck
    ``(a) In General.--It is unlawful for any member of the flight crew 
of an aircraft used to provide air transportation under part 121 of 
title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, to use a personal wireless 
communications device or laptop computer while at the crew member's 
duty station on the flight deck of such an aircraft while the aircraft 
is being operated.
    ``(b) Exceptions.--Subsection (a) shall not apply to the use of a 
personal wireless communications device or laptop computer for a 
purpose directly related to operation of the aircraft, or for 
emergency, safety-related, or employment-related communications, in 
accordance with procedures established by the air carrier or the 
Federal Aviation Administration.
    ``(c) Enforcement.--In addition to the penalties provided under 
section 46301 of this title applicable to any violation of this 
section, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration may 
enforce compliance with this section under section 44709.
    ``(d) Personal Wireless Communications Device Defined.--The term 
`personal wireless communications device' means a device through which 
personal wireless services (as defined in section 332(c)(7)(C)(i) of 
the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 332(c)(7)(C)(i))) are 
transmitted.''.
    (b) Penalty.--Section 44711(a) of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended--
            (1) by striking ``or'' after the semicolon in paragraph 
        (8);
            (2) by striking ``title.'' in paragraph (9) and inserting 
        ``title; or''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(10) violate section 44730 of this title or any 
        regulation issued thereunder.''.
    (c) Conforming Amendment.--The table of contents for chapter 447 of 
title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end thereof 
the following:

``44730. Use of certain devices on flight deck''.

SEC. 3. REGULATIONS.

    Within 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Secretary of Transportation shall initiate a rulemaking procedure for 
regulations under section 44730 of title 49, United States Code, and 
shall issue a final rule thereunder within 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act.
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