PlaneSheets are Plane Friendly
While the wheels of change move very slowly in the airline industry, they do move. And as a result, I get to write about a recent change. One that came about after I wrote about the product PlaneSheets not being allowed to be used on the plane.
First, a little background.
About a month ago, I wrote about a directive put out by my airline which specifically stated that personal seat covers (like PlaneSheets) were not permitted to be used onboard the airplane.
While I have not seen PlaneSheets, they look like a slip cover for an airline seat. They claim to help prevent germs, keep allergens at bay, and to provide a cleaner environment on the plane. Originally the company website said that they attached to the plane, although this has now been changed.
A pretty spirited debate followed, in which the inventor of the product vigorously defended her product. I reiterated that they weren’t allowed, and that I wasn’t passing judgment on the usefulness or desirability of the product.
While believing that the FAA had authorized use of the product onboard, the inventors of the product wound up in the quagmire of regulations. Basically, the FAA had sent a letter saying that PlaneSheets weren’t prohibited from use, but never specifically allowing them either. It was left up to each individual airline to make a decision, and as was to be expected, many took the path of least resistance and chose not to allow them.
The FAA has reissued and clarified it’s position on the product, after some additional information was acquired and testing was done. While still leaving it up to individual airlines to make a policy, the language of their bulletin makes it a little easier for an airline to come to that decision.
It has been determined since the device does not alter the seat or its proper function, nor is the device attached to the seat. There is also no regulatory requirement that explicitly prohibits the use of such a device. There is also no regulatory requirement that an air carrier permit the use of “planesheets”. In addition, if an air carrier decides to implement an operational policy that is not inconsistent with the regulations, that prohibits the use of such a device, they have the operational flexibility to do so.
It may seem a minor change, but it’s an important one nonetheless. My airline has now changed its policy and is allowing PlaneSheets to be used onboard.
The wheels of progress actually moved fairly quickly in this situation, a little over a month, and I wish these folks well.
Photo credit: PlaneSheets
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POSTED IN: Air Travel, Products & Resources, Travel Tips
3 opinions for PlaneSheets are Plane Friendly
Geoff
Nov 20, 2007 at 9:24 am
Swiss and BA both seem to spec planes with leather seats, which give me a much higher degree of confidence that there’s nothing nasty lurking in the fibres!
Leslie Danelian
Nov 20, 2007 at 3:18 pm
Mary Jo,
Thank you for sharing your story. My husband and I did a lot of research before deciding to go forward with PlaneSheets. We made a visit to the FAA in Los Angeles and showed them our prototype. So it was with alarm that we discovered that our product was suddenly not allowed. Apparently, the FAA was under the impression that we were somehow re-designing the airline seat! PlaneSheets is a travel accessory meant to enhance a passenger’s trip. We are happy that this the airline industry is now aware of the function and benefits of our product and are confident that the passenger as well as the airlines will find that PlaneSheets are, as you perfectly put it, Plane Friendly.
Best,
Leslie Danelian
President
PlaneSheets
Mary Jo Manzanares
Nov 21, 2007 at 8:59 am
Leslie: I’m glad this has a happy ending for you, Leslie, because it was sure going sideways for awhile.
I’m afraid that you just got caught up in the administrative bureaucracy that those of us in the industry have come to expect, and abhor.
I wish you well in the continued marketing of PlaneSheets.
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