---
kind: "section"
citation: "49 U.S.C. § 44732"
title: "49"
title_heading: "Transportation"
number: "44732"
heading: "Prohibition on personal use of electronic devices on flight deck"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/49/44732"
units:
  - "Subtitle VII — Aviation Programs"
  - "Part A — Air Commerce and Safety"
  - "Subpart iii — safety"
  - "Chapter 447 — Safety Regulation"
---

# §44732. Prohibition on personal use of electronic devices on flight deck

- (a) **In General.—** It is unlawful for a flight crewmember of an [aircraft](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-6) used to provide [air transportation](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-5) under part 121 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, to use a personal wireless communications device or laptop computer while at the flight crewmember’s duty station on the flight deck of such an [aircraft](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-6) while the [aircraft](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-6) is being operated.
- (b) **Exceptions.—** [Subsection (a)](#a) shall not apply to the use of a personal wireless communications device or laptop computer for a purpose directly related to operation of the [aircraft](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-6), or for emergency, safety-related, or employment-related communications, in accordance with procedures established by the [air carrier](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-2) and the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration.
- (c) **Enforcement.—** In addition to the penalties provided under [section 46301](/usc/49/46301.md) applicable to any violation of this section, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration may enforce compliance with this section under [section 44709](/usc/49/44709.md) by amending, modifying, suspending, or revoking a certificate under this chapter.
- (d) **Personal Wireless Communications Device Defined.—** In this section, the term “personal wireless communications device” means a device through which personal wireless services (as defined in section 332(c)(7)(C)(i) of the Communications Act of 1934 ([47 U.S.C. 332(c)(7)(C)(i)](/usc/47/332.md?p=c-7-C-i))) are transmitted.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 112–95, title III, § 307(a), Feb. 14, 2012, 126 Stat. 61.)

## Notes

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Regulations

Pub. L. 112–95, title III, § 307(d), Feb. 14, 2012, 126 Stat. 62, provided that: “Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act [Feb. 14, 2012], the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall initiate a rulemaking procedure for regulations to carry out section 44732 of title 49, United States Code (as added by this section), and shall issue a final rule thereunder not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act.”