Commercial Fixed Wing
Flight Attendant Current
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Other / Unknown
General None Reported / Taken
Company Policy
I do not feel safe when sitting across from customers using hand held electronic devices during taxi; takeoff and landing. Our policy is that customers can use devices during critical phases of flight such as taxi; takeoff; and landing; however; these customers are briefed and required to be 'ready; willing and able' to assist in an emergency. They are obviously not paying attention to safety demonstration/video as they are utilizing noise-cancelling headsets while watching videos on their own devices (in airplane safe mode) and cannot hear announcements made over the P.A. Further; having an iPad; other tablet or even cellphones 3 feet away from my face when there is a possibility of said device being torn from the hands of its owner and flung toward me during a possible event (even an aborted takeoff) makes me very nervous for my own safety and ability to evacuate an aircraft if need be. This is creating an unnecessary risk to safety of flight attendants.
The use of portable electronic devices during the safety briefing and during takeoff and landing is a potential safety problem.