WASHINGTON - Following its review of an In-Flight Entertainment 
Network System (IFEN) installed on 15 MD-11s worldwide, the 
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) today banned installation of 
the system on all U.S.-registered MD-11 airplanes. The IFEN is 
not currently installed on any U.S. airplane and is deactivated on 
Swissair aircraft.

The Canadian Transportation Safety Board (CTSB) has not yet 
determined the cause of the Swissair accident. However, 
information from the accident investigation prompted the FAA to 
review the IFEN system. While the FAA identified areas of 
concern, the CTSB has not determined that these issues are 
related to the cause of the Swissair accident.

An FAA review concluded that the IFEN system electrical power 
switching is not compatible with the design concept of the MD-11 
airplane because it limits the flightcrew's ability to respond to a 
smoke or fumes emergency. Such an emergency would call for 
removal of electrical power from all non-essential passenger cabin 
systems, including the in-flight entertainment system. Although 
the electrical power for the system would eventually be removed 
as the flightcrew proceeds down the checklist, the installation 
could be confusing and could possibly cause a delay in identifying 
the source of smoke or fumes. Pulling the system's circuit 
breakers is the only means of removing electrical power to the 
system.

The installation of the IFEN system was accomplished under the 
authority of Switzerland's Federal Office for Civil Aviation. The 
work was based on a FAA Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) 
issued by Santa Barbara Aerospace, a former FAA Designated 
Alteration Station that surrendered its STC on July 1. 

The FAA's order, in the form of a final rule Airworthiness 
Directive, is effective 15 days from publication in the Federal 
Register. The AD is intended to prevent any reactivation or new 
installation of the IFEN.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  APA 94-99  September 29, 1999  Contact: Les Dorr, Jr.  Phone: 202-267-8521

FAA Bans MD-11 In-flight Entertainment System 

WASHINGTON - Following its review of an In-Flight Entertainment 
Network System (IFEN) installed on 15 MD-11s worldwide, the 
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) today banned installation of 
the system on all U.S.-registered MD-11 airplanes. The IFEN is 
not currently installed on any U.S. airplane and is deactivated on 
Swissair aircraft.

The Canadian Transportation Safety Board (CTSB) has not yet 
determined the cause of the Swissair accident. However, 
information from the accident investigation prompted the FAA to 
review the IFEN system. While the FAA identified areas of 
concern, the CTSB has not determined that these issues are 
related to the cause of the Swissair accident.

An FAA review concluded that the IFEN system electrical power 
switching is not compatible with the design concept of the MD-11 
airplane because it limits the flightcrew's ability to respond to a 
smoke or fumes emergency. Such an emergency would call for 
removal of electrical power from all non-essential passenger cabin 
systems, including the in-flight entertainment system. Although 
the electrical power for the system would eventually be removed 
as the flightcrew proceeds down the checklist, the installation 
could be confusing and could possibly cause a delay in identifying 
the source of smoke or fumes. Pulling the system's circuit 
breakers is the only means of removing electrical power to the 
system.

The installation of the IFEN system was accomplished under the 
authority of Switzerland's Federal Office for Civil Aviation. The 
work was based on a FAA Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) 
issued by Santa Barbara Aerospace, a former FAA Designated 
Alteration Station that surrendered its STC on July 1. 

The FAA's order, in the form of a final rule Airworthiness 
Directive, is effective 15 days from publication in the Federal 
Register. The AD is intended to prevent any reactivation or new 
installation of the IFEN.