FAA Gives Carriers Six Months to Establish Limits : Airlines Told to Curb Carry-on Luggage

The Federal Aviation Administration Friday imposed regulations requiring airlines to limit carry-on baggage and make certain that items are properly stored before a jetliner leaves the boarding gate.

The agency said that “too much baggage is being taken aboard some flights (and) being stowed improperly, creating unsafe conditions,” because airlines have become “lax in their compliance” with existing baggage requirements.

Screening of Luggage

Each airline within six months must establish a specific limit on how much carry-on baggage will be allowed and put in operation a system that screens luggage before passengers board the aircraft, the agency said.

Flight attendants for years have complained that airlines allow too many bags and large items aboard aircraft, making it impossible to properly store them during flight and posing a safety hazard.

“We’ve seen truck tires, Christmas trees, even a drive shaft from a BMW and often passengers just bringing four or five bags on board, which is not only unsafe but inconveniences the other passengers,” said Matthew Finucane, safety director of the Assn. of Flight Attendants.

“Some passengers have evidently come to expect that they will be able to carry on almost anything,” the FAA added.

No Specific Limits

Although the new requirements do not establish specific limits on size and number of items that will allowed on board, the FAA told the airlines they must:

--Establish their individual, government-approved limit on the size and number of items that may be brought aboard, depending on how much space is available in various aircraft. An FAA inspector must approve the limits for each type of plane.

--Screen each passenger’s bags before boarding to ensure that the limit is not exceeded.

--Keep the aircraft at the gate and at least one cabin door open until flight attendants have confirmed that all baggage aboard the plane has been properly stored.

The FAA said it rejected recommendations from the Assn. of Flight Attendants that a single federal limit on bags be imposed because different aircraft can accommodate a different amount of carry-on items.

Luggage in Lavatories

But it said a specific standard, establishing the number of bags and size of each item, was needed so flight attendants are not forced “to stow excess baggage in lavatories, galleys and other unauthorized areas.”

Jewelers and musicians were among those critical of limiting carry-on baggage. They complained that the limitations would hamper their business because they might not be able to carry sample cases or instruments with them.

The International Assn. of Duty-Free Shops, the city of Los Angeles and the state of Hawaii complained that it would discourage people from buying duty-free items at airports. Airlines argued that preboarding baggage screening would add to delays.

In a related development, President Reagan said Friday that he will nominate T. Allan McArtor, an executive of an air courier service, to be chief of the FAA.

With Federal Express

McArtor, 44, has been senior vice president of the telecommunications division of Federal Express Corp. in Memphis since 1979.

If confirmed by the Senate, McArtor would succeed Donald D. Engen, who announced earlier this year that he was leaving the agency in July.

The announcement of McArtor’s nomination, which had been expected, was made in Venice, Italy, as Reagan prepared for a seven-nation economic summit meeting.