FAA Updates No Smoking Sign Regulations for Aircraft

‍DALLAS — The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced a significant update to its regulations regarding "No Smoking" signs on commercial aircraft, finally modernizing an ancient rule. 

This change, which will take effect 60 days after its expected publication on August 23, 2024, will allow airlines to use "No Smoking" signs that remain continuously illuminated or can be turned on and off by the crew.

For nearly thirty years, the FAA has acknowledged the contradiction between the widespread ban on smoking in aircraft and the requirement for aircraft to have "No Smoking" signs that could be switched off. 

To address this, the FAA issued Equivalent Level of Safety (ELOS) findings and regulatory exemptions, allowing airlines to keep these signs permanently lit. With the new rule, these exemptions will no longer be necessary.

The need for this regulatory update became more evident six months ago when United Airlines (UA) temporarily grounded its new A321neo fleet because the "No Smoking" signs couldn't be turned off. Although the airline quickly secured an exemption from the FAA, the incident highlighted the outdated nature of the rule, prompting the agency to take action.

Delta Air Lines (DL) was the first airline to receive an exemption from this rule in 1995. Currently, there are 44 active exemptions related to the regulation. With the new rule in place, the FAA aims to eliminate the need for such exemptions and streamline airline compliance.

The FAA is publishing this revision as a "direct final rule," indicating it anticipates no opposition and believes the change will have minimal impact on the public. This update marks the end of an era as the agency continues to modernize U.S. aviation regulations.